Automatic configuration of Outlook when a user logs into a new com

[PM]

Here is my situation:

Users in the company I am working with have Exchange/Outlook. Outlook was
manually configured with their Exchange Server/User Name when we set them up.
If any of these users log into another computer, Outlook is not
automatically configured, so I must configured their Exchange profile again.

My question is: Since Office is already deployed, what options do I have
for automatic configuration of users? Based on my research, it looks like an
OPS file is correct, but I am unsure of how to use it to AUTOMATICALLY
configure Outlook for a person the first time they log into a PC that they've
never been on before.

Can anyone help?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

No, an .ops file has nothing to do with Outlook mail profiles. Microsoft uses text files with a .prf extension and a highly structured format to provide information to OUtlook that enables Outlook to create or modify a mail profile. You can create such .prf files with the Custom Installation Wizard or Custom Maintenance Wizard tools in the Office Resource Kit. For more details, including a variety of .prf deployment methods, read the excellent white paper "Configuring Outlook Profiles by Using a PRF File" at http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?assetid=HA011403051033&QueryID=pHm7c_60I&respos=3

The page at http://www.slipstick.com/exs/olroam.htm includes information on other profile tools and resources.

 

[PM]

Thanks for the reply! I read the entire document, and want to make sure I
understand something.

I'll be creating a .PRF file, which will basically do nothing but set the
exchange profile for the current user. I'll put this PRF file in a network
share where all can access it.

I still don't quite understand how to make the PRF automatically apply to
the new profile. I noticed some registry keys that looks like they are the
solution, is that correct?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Yes, if you want a PRF file's settings to be applied automatically, the next time the user starts Outlook, then you would use the registry values detailed in the paper.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54

 

[PM]

Thanks for your help. I'd like to ask a follow-up question:

It looks like the registry keys would be applied each and every time the
user logs in, which seems inefficient to me. Basically, the Outlook profile
would be re-created at every user log in. Am I correct in this? I'd think
that there should be a way to just have it run at the very first launch of
Outlook.