AutoComplete addressing resets every time I retsrat Outlook. Why?

[SparkyMarky]

I love the AutoComplete addressing feature in Outlook but it has changed
since I changed to Outlook 2003. Previously (Outlook XP?) the cache would be
accessed all the time but now everyime I restart Outlook, AutoComplete
addressing cannot access previous entries. Why?

In other words I send a message to Joe.bloggs@ whatever and thereafter if I
just type in 'joe' it displays the full email address for me to simply click
on. Great. However this only lasts as long as my Outlook session: if I
restart Outlook I lose Joe and everyone from the list. This did not happen
with previous versions: joe would be stored somewhere and saved, so
AutoComplete addressing would work for Joe forever. How can I ensure the
file or cache where this is stored does not get reset and cleared everytime i
restart Oulook?

Mark.

 

[Mary]

Have you enabled this option in Tools, Options, Preferences, email options,
advanced email options?

 

[Mark]

In Advanced e-mail options do you have suggest names while completeing to, cc
and bcc fields checked?

 

[Brian Tillman]

I love the AutoComplete addressing feature in Outlook but it has
changed since I changed to Outlook 2003. Previously (Outlook XP?)
the cache would be accessed all the time but now everyime I restart
Outlook, AutoComplete addressing cannot access previous entries.
Why?

Something is interfering with the correct operation of autocompletion. The
first thing to try is (with Outlook closed) to delete the NK2 file in the
(hidden) folder
%AppData%\Microsoft\Outlook and let Outlook recreate it. If that doesn't
work, create a new mail profile, pointing it at your existing PST, if that's
what you use for mail storage, and recreating your account(s).

 

[SparkyMarky]

Thanks Mary, but yes,

AutoComplete addressing works, but it clears out all the entries in the
cache or hidden file everytime it restarts. BUT it only 'remembers' the email
addresses until you restart Outlook.

Mark.

 

[SparkyMarky]

Thanks Mark, but yes,

AutoComplete addressing works, but it clears out all the entries in the
cache or hidden file everytime it restarts. It only 'remembers' the email
addresses until you restart Outlook.

Mark.

 

[SparkyMarky]

Thanks Brian,

I looked in Explorer and no NK2 file! Checked Explorer and I am looking for
hidden files. Started Outlook, and still no NK2 file. Checked my old
computer (where everything worked swimmingly) and found the NK2 file, so I am
sure its not being created by outlook.

I will copy the file across and see if it works., any other suggestions?


Mark.

 

[SparkyMarky]

Thanks Brian,

I looked in Explorer and no NK2 file! Checked Explorer and I am looking for
hidden files. Started Outlook, and still no NK2 file. Checked my old
computer (where everything worked swimmingly) and found the NK2 file, so I am
sure its not being created by outlook.

I will copy the file across and see if it works., any other suggestions?


Mark.

 

[SparkyMarky]

Got it!

I copied across the NK2 file and tried it, but no good. I then renamed it
from mark.nk2 to mark crew.nk2 (this now matched the .SRS file and .FAV file
in outlook) on my new laptop)

AND IT WORKED!

Thanks Brian, another triumph of hope over expectation.

Mark.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I copied across the NK2 file and tried it, but no good. I then
renamed it from mark.nk2 to mark crew.nk2 (this now matched the .SRS
file and .FAV file in outlook) on my new laptop)

Yes. It must match the name of your mail profile, as you discovered.

 

[Cheryl G.]

It sounds like this is the same problem I am having with the AutoComplete in
my Outlook 2003.

Everything seemed to be working fine up until a few months ago.
AutoComplete was working just fine. Then overnight it seemed to change, it
wasn't remembering the changes I had made the previous day after shut down
(IE addresses I had deleted the previous day were restored after I turned my
computer on in the morning.) I did a search for this problem and the general
consensus was that I had a corrupt profile. So I went in and deleted the NK2
file in my outlook, thinking this would correct my problem. This cleared all
the addresses that were cached up, now AutoComplete works only until I shut
my computer down then when I login in the morning everything has been erased.


Did you get an answer for your problem? How was it resolved?

I have opened a ticket with our IT department and they had my computer for
an entire day but still could not figure out the problem. Its driving me
crazy, I hadn’t realized just how much I used that feature until it was
gone!!

HELP!

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Deleting the NK2 file has never been recommended as a solution for this
problem nor is that the same as creating a new profile. Creating a new
profile might work if you want to try it, but the problem might very well
reappear.
A common cause for this problem is Outlook's failing to exit completely, so
the new entries never get written to the autocompletion cache. Use Task
Manager to see if Outlook is exiting completely.