Outlook 2003 Nickname cache *.NK2

[graeme_smith77]

Hi all,
I'm in the process of moving a number of users from a small Notes
setup to our organisation's Exchange installation.
Their addresses (formally contacts in our AD) are changing and this is
causing chaos with our Outlook 2003 users.
Anyone previously sending to these contacts have them stored in their
Nickname cache, but this is now incorrect.

Although I'm able to force through Address book updates, the nickname
cache is still holding the old contact information and is going to
cause real headaches as I've around 10 different sites to move over
and multiple users that may have mailed these people previously.

I know I can manually delete individual entries and even the whole
*.nk2 file but looks like I've going to be having to get around 1000
users to be doing this almost every day for the next couple of weeks.

Is there something I'm missing here or is the Nickname cache just
something that is a nice idea but a real pain in the real world?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

Regards
Graeme

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Remove individual addresses from the autocompletion cache by highlighting
the entry when presented in the suggested names list (use your arrow key to
migrate to the entry) and then hitting your Delete key before you tab out of
the field.
To clear the entire cache, follow the instructions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q287623

 

[graeme_smith77]

Many thanks for the reply. I was aware of these processes but was
looking for more of a 'magic button' that would allow me to wipe out
incorrect(out-of-date) entries in all of our outlook clients :-(
I guess it was just wishful thinking.

Regards

Graeme

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Then you need to look into a third party tool with which you can edit the
NK2 file:
http://www.ingressor.com/

 

[David Webb]

Here's a utility that allows one to view, edit, and delete entries in the NK2
file. If you download the demo version you can view the contents of the NK2 file
only, all other features are disabled. This, in itself, is sometimes good info
to know.

http://www.ingressor.com/desktop.htm

As an alternative, you can have your users repopulate the NK2 file with the
contents of their Contacts file (assuming it's be updated with the latest
address changes). To do this, simply delete the existing NK2 file (with Outlook
closed), then launch Outlook again and open a new message. Fill the To field
with any or all addresses from the Contacts file and then click on Tools > Check
Names from the menu. This will populate the NK2 file with these addresses.
Cancel the new message and it's done.

Note that the above procedure is based on Outlook 2002, so the Check Names
feature may or may not be named differently.

| Hi all,
| I'm in the process of moving a number of users from a small Notes
| setup to our organisation's Exchange installation.
| Their addresses (formally contacts in our AD) are changing and this is
| causing chaos with our Outlook 2003 users.
| Anyone previously sending to these contacts have them stored in their
| Nickname cache, but this is now incorrect.
|
| Although I'm able to force through Address book updates, the nickname
| cache is still holding the old contact information and is going to
| cause real headaches as I've around 10 different sites to move over
| and multiple users that may have mailed these people previously.
|
| I know I can manually delete individual entries and even the whole
| *.nk2 file but looks like I've going to be having to get around 1000
| users to be doing this almost every day for the next couple of weeks.
|
| Is there something I'm missing here or is the Nickname cache just
| something that is a nice idea but a real pain in the real world?
|
| Any thoughts much appreciated.
|
| Regards
| Graeme
|