size of the OLK folder

[Herbert W. Richards]

Does anyone know how to increase the size of the OLK folder that stores
opened files from Outlook 2003. I have several end users who receive a large
number of attachments related to their job. These users are constantly
running out of space. When they run out of space they can NOT do their jobs
until I am able to clean out the folder.

Is there a way to increase the size of the folder, or is this hard coded
into the OS? If there is a hex or binary value that be changed in the
registry I would appreciate knowing where it is located. Any help is
appreciated.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

There is no limit to the size of the folder. However, there is a limit to
the amount of times a file with the same name can be stored there (99). This
cannot be modified. When this occurs, you'll have to empty the OLK folder.
See http://www.howto-outlook.com/faq/securetemp.htm

 

[Herbert W. Richards]

Is there a way to modify the registry to allow a greater value than 99 times
a file with the same name can be stored there? I am already having to clean
the folders regularly. I can write a bat file to delete the contents, but it
seems MS should enable a way to come up with a more permanent solution.
Thank you.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

No, as I said; there is no way to modify this.

I have an application ready which will be launched very soon (within a few
days; only the public download page still needs to be created) which can
clean the folder for you via a command line and can be scripted for a
scheduled task as well. It's called OutlookTempCleaner.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Is there a way to modify the registry to allow a greater value than 99
times
a file with the same name can be stored there? I am already having to
clean
the folders regularly. I can write a bat file to delete the contents, but
it
seems MS should enable a way to come up with a more permanent solution.

This problem may be helped operationally. Making sure any attachments are
closed before closing the message window may help this situation, I believe.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

No, every time you open an attachment (even the same one from the same
message) a new temp file of the attachment is generated in the OLK folder to
make sure you are looking at the original instead of one you modified while
reading it previously. Especially when you receive automated reports or
faxes as attachments, the names of the files are always the same. When it is
your job to process these, your folder can get filled with 99 files with the
same names quite easily.

As a solution/workaround, you could consider adding a timestamp to the
attachments name before the automated email is sent.

If needed, OutlookTempCleaner can be configured via Window's Tasks to run
multiple times a day to make sure the folder is made empty again before you
reach the limit of 99 identical files. It will be released shortly.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

No, every time you open an attachment (even the same one from the same
message) a new temp file of the attachment is generated in the OLK folder
to make sure you are looking at the original instead of one you modified
while reading it previously.

Clearly, though, the temporary files are supposed to be cleaned out at some
point and, in general, it seems to happen if I'm careful about closing
things in reverse order of how I opened them. I open attachments from
within Outlook frequently and when I checked my OLK folder, it was empty.
Do you know the algorithm Outlook uses for handling this folder? When does
it actually create the file (seems like when the attachment is opened) and
when does it delete the file?

 

[Roady [MVP]]

The application is now available for download (free) via;
http://www.howto-outlook.com/products/outlooktempcleaner.htm

 

[Roady [MVP]]

The algorithm is very irregular or buggy at best. The behavior highly
depends on how you open and close the attachment in question;
-open directly via Reading Pane and Attachment Previewer
-open the message in it's own window and then view attachment in Attachment
Previewer
-open the attachment directly by double clicking on it in the Reading Pane
-open the message in it's own window and then open the attachment directly
by double clicking on it

-close the attachment with the email still selected
-close the attachment while another email is selected
-close attachment while email is still open
-close attachment while email is closed

Opening the message in its own window, then opening the attachment, then
closing the attachment and then finally closing the message (without saving
changes) gives the highest chance of leaving no residue and is the intended
order. Any other method is likely to leave some residue.

Interestingly enough, when previewing a picture attachment in the Reading
Pane (and some other opening combinations), 2 temp files are being created
of that 1 picture. After selecting another email only 1 item is being
cleaned up.

Outlook has no "autocleanup" feature of the Temp folder. Once a file is left
there, it's orphaned. To "autocleanup" the folder you can use
OutlookTempCleaner;
http://www.howto-outlook.com/products/outlooktempcleaner.htm

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Opening the message in its own window, then opening the attachment, then
closing the attachment and then finally closing the message (without
saving changes) gives the highest chance of leaving no residue and is the
intended order. Any other method is likely to leave some residue.

And that's what I meant by "operationally". So you've indicated that I was
correct.

Interestingly enough, when previewing a picture attachment in the Reading
Pane (and some other opening combinations), 2 temp files are being created
of that 1 picture. After selecting another email only 1 item is being
cleaned up.

Not only with images. I noticed it with a zip file as well. Two copies
created and one cleaned up.