.nk2 file when using an exchange server?

[usenetdg]

I started a new job recently, and noticed right away that when I quit
Outlook 2003 then restarted it, all my autocomplete information was
gone. The autocomplete feature works for Outlook 2003, but only saving
the addresses/nicknames/whatever that I use in a session. They're
dumped once I quit Outlook.

Did some digging and learned about the .nk2 file. But I guess we have
an Exchange server at my office, and my PST file is located on the
server, not on my local computer. Our administrator says that I can
get the autocomplete to work by making a profile that keeps my Outlook
stuff on my computer - but I'd then lose the data if the computer
crashed. Is this true? That is, is it not possible to have
autocomplete stuff saved upon quitting Outlook if your mailbox resides
on a server?

I cannot find a .nk2 file for myself either on my machine or on the
server. I know where it's supposed to be on my machine, but where
would it be on the server?

Or more importantly, how would I make my autocomplete not lose its
cache every time I quit Outlook?

 

[volleyballmel]

It shouldn't matter whether you are on an Exchange server or not for
the .nk2 file. Myself and all my users are on an Exchange server and
ours works. You ned to make sure Show hidden files and folders is
checked and Hide protected operating system files is unchecked to see
the file. It should be located under Doc...Settings/User
Profile/Application Data/Microsoft/Outlook. Hope this helps!

TechGirl

 

[usenetdg]

I checked my folder options and I am showing hidden files and folders,
and hide protected os files is unchecked.

In the Outlook folder (in my user profile under docs/settings etc.) are
four files:

1. MS Exchange Settings.FAV
2. MS Exchange Settings.NICK
3. MS Exchange Settings.srs
4. MS Exchange Settings.xml

The .xml file is time stamped the last time I quit Outlook.

The .srs file is time stamped one week ago today, when I started
Outlook that morning.

The other two files are time stamped longer ago than those two.

No .nk2 file. Just those four files.

 

[volleyballmel]

I think you need the .nick file. Here is an article from MS about it,
maybe that will help.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=287854

TechGirl

 

[usenetdg]

Actually it was the opposite. The EXISTENCE of the .NICK file was what
was messing me up. When I closed Outlook and renamed it to .oldNICK,
opened Outlook again and sent some messages, then quit Outlook, it put
a brand-spankin-new .NK2 file in the profile directory. And when I
opened Outlook again, all the addresses to which I'd sent in my
previous session worked with autocomplete.

The article you referenced helped me figure it out.

Thanks!

 

[Brian Tillman]

I started a new job recently, and noticed right away that when I quit
Outlook 2003 then restarted it, all my autocomplete information was
gone. The autocomplete feature works for Outlook 2003, but only
saving the addresses/nicknames/whatever that I use in a session.
They're dumped once I quit Outlook.

This is a sign of a damaged mail profile. Create a new one, rename your NK2
file to match the new mail profile name, and it should work again.

Did some digging and learned about the .nk2 file. But I guess we have
an Exchange server at my office, and my PST file is located on the
server, not on my local computer.

People using Exchange often don't have PSTs.

Our administrator says that I can
get the autocomplete to work by making a profile that keeps my Outlook
stuff on my computer - but I'd then lose the data if the computer
crashed. Is this true?

It has nothing to do with where Outlook keeps the data. Your administrator
has incomplete understamding of the autocompletion feature.

That is, is it not possible to have
autocomplete stuff saved upon quitting Outlook if your mailbox resides
on a server?

Certainly it's possible.

I cannot find a .nk2 file for myself either on my machine or on the
server. I know where it's supposed to be on my machine, but where
would it be on the server?

It's always on your client machine, in %AppData%\Microsoft\Outlook. Open
Windows Explorer and enter that string in the Address field. Click Go.
It's a hidden folder.

Or more importantly, how would I make my autocomplete not lose its
cache every time I quit Outlook?

Broken mail profile.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I think you need the .nick file.

Nope. The NICK file was from Outlook 2000 and it was for retention of
autoresolution data. Later Outlooks didn't use it.