default path for outlook.pst

[BorisS]

is there any way for me to set the default path for my outlook.pst file to
something other than what it's at? The reason is that I use a laptop and
desktop and synch the two with the briefcase function. I successfully have
my personal .pst folders linked, and so they update each time I go from to
the other, thereby keeping me current. The problem is that the outlook.pst
(which I understand is the file that calendar, contacts, inbox, and all
others are kept in) downloads certain messages, and unless I sort them all
into the personal .pst folder, then when I get home in the evening, as
example, I don't have the day's emails on my desktop. I end up having to
take all the notebook mails, shuffle them into a 'temp' folder in one of my
..pst folders, then once that .pst folder synchs with the desktop, I shuffle
the 'temp' folder into the desktop's inbox, and start working. I know I can
successfully copy the outlook.pst from one computer to the other (and only
found this out bc I had a corrupt outlook file on my laptop, so tried to just
replace it with the good desktop one). But can I tell the notebook to go to
my briefcase, for example, where I'd synch the desktop's outlook.pst along
with the other .pst files?

Sorry for the long-winded explanation, but wanted to make sure I painted the
right picture.

Thanks.

 

[Brian Tillman]

is there any way for me to set the default path for my outlook.pst
file to something other than what it's at?

Sure. With Outlook closed, move the PST to wherever you'd like it. When
Outlook starts again, it will complain that it can't find the folders and
give you a browse window in which you can browse to the new location, select
the PST, and click OK.

The reason is that I use
a laptop and desktop and synch the two with the briefcase function.
I successfully have my personal .pst folders linked, and so they
update each time I go from to the other, thereby keeping me current.
The problem is that the outlook.pst (which I understand is the file
that calendar, contacts, inbox, and all others are kept in) downloads
certain messages, and unless I sort them all into the personal .pst
folder, then when I get home in the evening, as example, I don't have
the day's emails on my desktop. I end up having to take all the
notebook mails, shuffle them into a 'temp' folder in one of my .pst
folders, then once that .pst folder synchs with the desktop, I
shuffle the 'temp' folder into the desktop's inbox, and start
working. I know I can successfully copy the outlook.pst from one
computer to the other (and only found this out bc I had a corrupt
outlook file on my laptop, so tried to just replace it with the good
desktop one). But can I tell the notebook to go to my briefcase, for
example, where I'd synch the desktop's outlook.pst along with the
other .pst files?

You may want to see if anything here helps:
http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/sync.htm

 

[BorisS]

Brian, thanks. Any idea if event coloring labels are stored as part of the
outlook.pst? Also, what's the difference between the .pst and the .ost? Is
the .ost for exchange, when I used to synch up for offline use? Whereas .pst
is the one for pop access?

 

[BorisS]

Brian, one more question, if you know. I just tried to get the "To:" button
to pop up my address list, and it came back with a message: "the address
list could not be displayed. the contacts folder associated with this
address list could not be opened; it may have been moved or deleted, or you
do not have permissions. for information on how to remove this folder from
the outlook address book, see microsoft outlook help."

I am guessing this is a direct result of my replacing my .pst. Do you, by
chance, know the short answer to 1) why this happens and 2) how it's solvable
in an environment where I'm going to attempt to constantly use a synched copy
of the outlook.pst file from my desktop?

Thanks so much.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Brian, thanks. Any idea if event coloring labels are stored as part
of the outlook.pst?

I don't know.

Also, what's the difference between the .pst and
the .ost? Is the .ost for exchange, when I used to synch up for
offline use? Whereas .pst is the one for pop access?

Yes, the OST is an image of your Exchange mailbox for you to use while
working offline or to speed up mailbox access while online (cached Exchange
mode). PSTs can be used in an Exchange environment for storage of messages
off the Exchange server. If you're in an Exchange environment with the
delivery location being the Exchange mailbox, POP mesages will get placed in
Exchange as well. In a non-Exchange environment, the PST is the delivery
location.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Brian, one more question, if you know. I just tried to get the "To:"
button to pop up my address list, and it came back with a message:
"the address list could not be displayed. the contacts folder
associated with this address list could not be opened; it may have
been moved or deleted, or you do not have permissions. for
information on how to remove this folder from the outlook address
book, see microsoft outlook help."

I am guessing this is a direct result of my replacing my .pst.

Good guess.

Do
you, by chance, know the short answer to 1) why this happens

The address book is tied to the particular contacts folder. Change the
contacts folder location and the address book can't find it any more.

and 2)
how it's solvable in an environment where I'm going to attempt to
constantly use a synched copy of the outlook.pst file from my desktop?

A third-party sync tool seems your best bet, to me.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Calendar color label names are stored as a hidden folder property, so yes, they're in the store, whether that's a .pst file, mailbox, or .ost mailbox replica.

 

[BorisS]

on your note below about the contacts folder changing. The time before when
I tried this, I had not changed the folder location. I just copied another
file into the same location (the one from the desktop), and it was named the
same thing. So nothing changed. What I intend to do is change the location,
but that had not happened.

That said, is there a way to point the contacts to a particular folder and
file so that it knows where it should be looking?

thanks again.

 

[Brian Tillman]

on your note below about the contacts folder changing. The time
before when I tried this, I had not changed the folder location. I
just copied another file into the same location (the one from the
desktop), and it was named the same thing. So nothing changed.

Not true. The file changed. Overwriting a PST that's part of a mail
profile will usually corrupt the profile.

What I intend to do is change the location, but that had not happened.

That said, is there a way to point the contacts to a particular
folder and file so that it knows where it should be looking?

Your delivery location PST is where your default Contacts folder resides.
You can have other contacts folders in that PST and in other PSTs that the
address book service will use if you set them up that way.