Outlook Maintenance

[-Alias-]

I am thinking about changing from Outlook Express to Outlook 2000. OE
needs to have its messages compacted and other things as routine
maintenance. What needs to be done to maintain Outlook properly?

Thanks!

Alias

 

[Brian Tillman]

I am thinking about changing from Outlook Express to Outlook 2000. OE
needs to have its messages compacted and other things as routine
maintenance.

There's no REQUIREMENT in OE for you to perform any routine maintence.

What needs to be done to maintain Outlook properly?

Backing up your PST regularly is a good idea. Compacting the PST
occasionally (similar to compacting OE's folders) is probably worthwhile if
you perform deletions and the moving of messages between folders with any
regularity. The biggest thing you need to guard against with OL 2000 is to
keep the size of your PST under about 1.25 to 1.5 GB. This means that from
time to time you should either archive or delete items you no longer need to
address.

In other words, proper maintence of your data store in Outlook is really no
different that proper maintenace of ANY of the data on your PC (including
that in Outlook Express). Back things up, remove items you don't need,
organize in a fashion you find logical.

 

[-Alias-]

There's no REQUIREMENT in OE for you to perform any routine maintence.


Backing up your PST regularly is a good idea. Compacting the PST
occasionally (similar to compacting OE's folders) is probably worthwhile
if you perform deletions and the moving of messages between folders with
any regularity. The biggest thing you need to guard against with OL
2000 is to keep the size of your PST under about 1.25 to 1.5 GB. This
means that from time to time you should either archive or delete items
you no longer need to address.

In other words, proper maintence of your data store in Outlook is really
no different that proper maintenace of ANY of the data on your PC
(including that in Outlook Express). Back things up, remove items you
don't need, organize in a fashion you find logical.

How does one compact the PST?

Thanks again,

Alias

 

[-Alias-]

There's no REQUIREMENT in OE for you to perform any routine maintence.

It's a good idea to compact messages and keep .dbx files under 100MB.

Backing up your PST regularly is a good idea.

How does one do that?

Alias

 

[Kiran]

Right click on the PST --- properties -- click on ADVANCED... you will find
a compact now.. button

 

[-Alias-]

Right click on the PST --- properties -- click on ADVANCED... you will find
a compact now.. button
Thanks,

Alias

 

[Brian Tillman]

How does one compact the PST?

In Outlook, right-click the root of the PST, select Properties, click
Advanced, then Compact Now.

 

[Brian Tillman]

It's a good idea to compact messages and keep .dbx files under 100MB.

Perhaps, but there's no requirement to do so. In your original message you
said "OE _needs_ to have its messages compacted." It may be a good idea,
but it does not NEED compaction.

How does one do that?

With Outlook closed, copy the PST to a safe place. There is other data
outside of your PST that can be backed up, but losing it isn't a trauma like
losing mail, contacts, calendar, and so on. See this:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm and this:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

 

[-Alias-]

Perhaps, but there's no requirement to do so. In your original message
you said "OE _needs_ to have its messages compacted." It may be a good
idea, but it does not NEED compaction.

I don't want to quibble.

With Outlook closed, copy the PST to a safe place. There is other data
outside of your PST that can be backed up, but losing it isn't a trauma
like losing mail, contacts, calendar, and so on. See this:
http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm and this:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

Final? question: How do I transfer everything from OE to OL?

Alias

 

[Kiran]

simple, open OE and click on export-->messages .. u get a messag click on
OK.. and ther u are .... all messages should be in outlook now...
but contacts should be exported as a .csv file from OE and imported into
outlook.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I don't want to quibble.

Fine, but words DO have specific meanings.

Final? question: How do I transfer everything from OE to OL?

It depends a little on whether or not you're using more than one identity in
OE, but the general process is to use Outlook's File>Import and
Export>Internet Mail Accounts to import your accounts, File>Import and
Export>Import Interney Mail and Addresses to import your contacts and rules
(NOT mail) and Outlook Express's File>Export>Messages to export your mail to
Outlook.

 

[Brian Tillman]

but contacts should be exported as a .csv file from OE and imported
into outlook.

Nope.

 

[-Alias-]

Fine, but words DO have specific meanings.

And others are ambiguous ;-)

It depends a little on whether or not you're using more than one
identity in OE, but the general process is to use Outlook's File>Import
and Export>Internet Mail Accounts to import your accounts, File>Import
and Export>Import Interney Mail and Addresses to import your contacts
and rules (NOT mail) and Outlook Express's File>Export>Messages to
export your mail to Outlook.

Thanks, very helpful.

Alias