How to rebuild your identity database in Entourage
This article describes how to rebuild and repair your Entourage
database.
IMPORTANT : You must determine that the hard disk on your Apple
Macintosh computer contains sufficient free space to allow for the
procedure in this article because database maintenance replicates the
existing information store. Rebuilding the Entourage database should
not be considered as a substitute for a sufficient backup. You are
encouraged to back up critical data regularly. For more information
about data file locations in Entourage, click the following article
number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
268323 Storage locations for Entourage user data
MORE INFORMATION
When you create an Entourage information store, hard disk space is
allocated for the data that the information store receives as you work.
When you add and delete messages, appointments, tasks, and notes, the
database can develop wasted space. Over time, inconsistencies may
result from this condition.
Symptomatically, a database that needs rebuilding may not respond when
you try to move or delete items from any of the specialized folders.
You may also experience issues when you start Entourage.
To start the Database Utility in all versions of Entourage, hold down
the OPTION key on the keyboard, and then start Entourage. The Database
Utility window opens. In the Database Utility window, you have the
option to select the database that you want to maintain.
Entourage 2004 includes the following four maintenance activity
options:
·
Verify database integrity: Use this option to check database
corruption. If problems are found, you can choose to rebuild the
database. If the database is working correctly, no changes will be
made.
·
Compact database: Use this option to compact and to back up the current
database files. You can use this option to help you recover some space
from the database.
·
Rebuild database: Use this option to perform repairs, to compact
database files, and to back up the current database. If you have
Hotmail, MSN, IMAP, or Exchange accounts, you must download the folder
list and the messages from the server again.
·
Set database preferences
In addition to these options, you can choose to first select the
identity on which you want to run the maintenance wizard. For example,
if you have multiple identities for the same user, you have to select
the identity.
How to determine when to use the Rebuild feature
When you use the Verify database integrity option, you might be
prompted to perform a rebuild operation if any corruptions are found.
Note When you perform an advanced rebuild of the database, Entourage
removes all your Internet Mail Access Protocol (IMAP), Hotmail, and
News messages from the local cache. Download these messages again from
the server, and then reset your folder column preferences for these
message folders. Re-enter your settings for your news and mail
schedules, and then update any rules that copy or move messages into
IMAP or Hotmail folders.
Note Pictures that were attached to contacts in your Address Book are
lost.
Both the typical and advanced rebuild processes copy the existing
database and other elements of the information store and use the new
copy for the rebuild process. The original copy is retained and renamed
"Old Database" and "Old Messages." Additionally, a copy of the Database
Cache is made with the word "Old" added, and the Database (Rebuild)
Cache is retained.
How to prepare for a database rebuild
Before you perform any database maintenance, determine that you have at
least two times as much hard disk space available as the current size
of the information store. For example, if the information store is 10
megabytes (MB), there should be at least 20 MB of free space available
on the hard disk.
To determine the size of the information store, use one of the
following methods.
Entourage 2004
1.
Locate the Documents folder in the following location:
Users: username
ocuments
2.
Open the Documents folder, and then open the Microsoft User Data
folder.
3.
Open the Office 2004 Identities folder.
4.
Locate and then click your identity folder. Your identity folder has
the same name as the identity that you first set up in Entourage. If
there is only one user, locate the Main Identity folder in the Office
2004 Identities folder.
5.
On the File menu, click Get Info, and then click Get Information.
6.
If any Office programs are active, you receive the following message:
Do you want to quit MSN Messenger and all the Microsoft Office programs
so that the Database Utility can run?
7.
Save any Office document that is open, and then click Quit Office
Programs.
Entourage 2001
1.
Locate the Documents folder on your Macintosh hard disk.
2.
Double-click the Documents folder, and then double-click the Microsoft
User Data folder.
3.
Double-click the Office 2001 Identities folder.
4.
Locate, and then click your identity folder. Your identity folder has
the same name as the identity that you first set up in Entourage.
5.
On the File menu, click Get Info, and then click Get Information.
The size of this folder is displayed.
For more information about database rebuilding (in Entourage 2001
only), click the following article number to view the article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
278948 Error message that you cannot rebuild your Entourage database
Entourage X
1.
Locate the Documents folder in the following location:
Users: username
ocuments
2.
Open the Documents folder, and then open the Microsoft User Data
folder.
3.
Open the Office X Identities folder.
4.
Locate, and then click your identity folder. Your identity folder has
the same name as the identity that you first set up in Entourage. If
there is only one user, locate the Main Identity folder in the Office X
Identities folder.
5.
On the File menu, click Get Info, and then click Get Information.
This article applies to:
·
Microsoft Entourage 2004 for Mac
·
Microsoft Entourage X
·
Microsoft Entourage 2001 for Mac
·
Microsoft Exchange Update for Entourage X (Office v. X 10.1.4 Update)
