large number of messages in the in-box

[pretzel]

Hi,
I have a user with over 20,000 (yes that is correct) messages in their in-box.

Processes like sorting by name usually fail. And other facilities like
having an OST file (when remotely accessing) are not an option due to the
size of their mail store.

MS Support could only tell me they should create Folders, then Rules, then
run the rules. MS would not send me this info in an email so I have nothing
to show the user.

However the user (big boss) wants all the emails in a single folder. This
helps him use his Blackberry (he does not want to sort through folders on
that either).

So what is the maximum (suggested) number of emails in a folder, or a
complete mail box?

Is there anywhere that will show me figures/numbers/sizes as teh limits for
being able to utilise functions like sorting?

The Outlook is 2003 and the server Exchange 2003 Enterprise.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

There are no available published metrics for this and no hard-and-fast limits. The practical maximum size of a mailbox is related to the amount of time it would take to restore that mailbox (or that mailbox's server) from backup. What's an acceptable time for this big boss, given your current backup tools and procedures?

Beyond that, your user's own experience is your guide.

You also may get more input if you ask on an Exchange forum like microsoft.public.exchange.clients.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[pretzel]

Hi Sue,

So does that mean the best (most likely option) for the user is to create
Folders, Rules and then apply them?

I have also made a posting in another folder as suggested.

Can I presume that the ability of Outlook to sort email (view by
Sender/Date/etc) is related to the Outlook/Exchange applications rather than
the RAM/CPU speed of the Client/Host? That is, even if we got him the fastest
PC on the planet, it would still be unlikely to sort 20,000 plus emails?

thanks

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

You are correct that since the user is working online against the server and not with an .ost file, his local machine isn't a big performance factor.

I have to question whether anyone searching through 20,000 messages in one folder is able to find anything productively. Using Cached Exchange mode to give him an offline store and using rules and folders to break the data into more manageable chunks would be useful things to try. With multiple folders holding the data, search folders become a key tool for organizing information.

But then you have the Blackberry issue to contend with, which is a whole different issue.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers