Reducing PST file size

[expect_ed]

I understand that when a personal folder gets larger than 1.8 GB it starts to
create problems. I had one that was about 2 GB so I moved a couple sub
folders and deleted a bunch of items so now when I right click the folder,
choose properties, and then folder size, it says the folder is 1.38 GB, But
when I look at the file on the server it has only been reduced slightly, down
to 1.8 GB. I presume that ,not unlike a database, Outlook must somehow
recompile the file to get it to be reduced further. Is there some way to
force that to happen? I tried a full restart with no luck.

Thanks in advance for your help.
ed

 

[K. Orland]

What version of Outlook and what type of account?

 

[dlw]

in outlook, right click the folder, properties, advanced, compact now

 

[Sulasno]

best to compact it a number of times for the first time

 

[expect_ed]

Thanks to everyone for your help. Once again the office discussions groups
come to the rescue when my corporate help desk falls flat on its face.

The file is compressing now.
Not sure what you mean about using IMAP? I keep the personal folders on a
shared drive on a server where I presume they are backed up regularly.

Thanks again for the help.
ed

 

[Brian Tillman]

I keep the personal folders
on a shared drive on a server where I presume they are backed up
regularly.

Make sure YOU make good copies of the PST from time to time. Network access
to a PST is not supported and can lead to corruption of the PST. What I do
is keep my PST local and the copy it to a network share after closing
Outlook. That way I know the local copy and the remote copy are good and
that the backup software will make a copy of something I know I can recover
if need be.

 

[gilles]

Make sure YOU make good copies of thePSTfrom time to time.  Network access
to aPSTis not supported and can lead to corruption of thePST.  What I do
is keep myPSTlocal and the copy it to a network share after closing
Outlook.  That way I know the local copy and the remote copy are good and
that the backup software will make a copy of something I know I can recover
if need be.

Don't hesitate to try BackupMyFolder! that allow you to backup even if
Outlook is started !
As BackupMyFolder! only copy new messages to the backup file, you
don't need to copy 2GB each day, only few MB

Regards
Gilles

 

[expect_ed]

I spoke too soon. Even after compacting there is a 300 MB differential
between the PST folder in Win Explorer and the result from Right
CLick/Properties/Folder Size. Any other ideas???

 

[gilles]

Keeps the mail out of the personal folders.

Some explanations :
Check that you don't have messages in Deleted Items folder.

The compacting process does not remove all the free space from the
file. It leaves either 16 kilobytes (KB) or 4 percent (%) of the file
size (before compacting) whichever is greater. In your case, you can
accept 80 MB differential between the two sizes.

The size you see when you right click on the folder in Outlook is an
estimation based on MAPI properties. This "estimation" doesn't include
the structure inside the PST file. That's can explain the difference

Gilles