Rebuilding Entourage database ???

[shrinkingmusic]

Help! I have a PowerBook G4 10.3.9, and I use Microsoft Office for Mac,
specifically the Entourage program for mail, calendar, addresses, etc.

Last night I was prompted by my computer to download the new security
upgrade, so I did. After the mandatory re-start, I noticed that I no
longer had access to the internet, because my airport card was failing.
I tried to restart again.

At that point, I got a prompt (while I was attempting to shut it down)
saying that I needed to change something in my "airport keychain" or
something like that. I assumed that was what was keeping me from
getting online, so of the two boxes (one said "Don't Change" and the
other said, "Change All"), I chose "Change All." The computer
re-started, and I was able to get online again. However, when I tried
to load my entourage, I got a prompt saying:

Entourage cannot access your data. to attempt to fix the problem,
rebuild your database.

There is only one button to click, and it says, "OK." When I click
"OK," I receive another prompt that says:

To rebuild the database, quit all other Microsoft Office programs and
try again.

Again, there is only one button to click, and it says, "OK." When I
click "OK," it disappears and nothing else opens.

I have no idea how to rebuild my database or what that involves, but
I'm sure that this problem was brought on directly by the security
download and the "keychain" question that followed it. Can someone help
me figure out how to rebuild my database or do whatever needs to be
done?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Richard H]

Help! I have a PowerBook G4 10.3.9, and I use Microsoft Office for Mac,
specifically the Entourage program for mail, calendar, addresses, etc.

I have no idea how to rebuild my database or what that involves, but
I'm sure that this problem was brought on directly by the security
download and the "keychain" question that followed it. Can someone help
me figure out how to rebuild my database or do whatever needs to be
done?

Frome the Help (in Office X, anyway):

1. Quit all Microsoft Office programs, including Entourage.

2. With CAPS LOCK off, hold down OPTION and start Entourage.

3. In the dialog box, do one of the following:
€ To optimize data storage and reduce the size of the Entourage
database, click Typical Rebuild.
€ To fix corrupted data and reduce the size of the Entourage database,
click Advanced Rebuild.
Caution Some of your data might be lost if you choose the Advanced
Rebuild option. You should use this option only if you have already
performed a typical rebuild and continue to experience problems starting
Entourage or storing data.

4. Click Rebuild.

Note When you rebuild the database, Entourage adds two files to your
identity folder in the Documents/Microsoft User Data/Office X Identities
folder: Old Database and Old Database Cache. After you determine that
rebuilding the database fixed the problems, you can move these files to the
Trash or keep them as a backup copy of the database.

 

[shrinkingmusic]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for your rapid reply to help me out! I have a follow-up question
to your instructions before I follow them -- will doing this erase my
data? I don't want to lose my addresses, emails, and appointments if at
all possible.

Thanks!

 

[Diane Ross]

Thanks for your rapid reply to help me out! I have a follow-up question
to your instructions before I follow them -- will doing this erase my
data? I don't want to lose my addresses, emails, and appointments if at
all possible.

During the rebuild your data is duplicated. Old files are named:

Entourage 2004: Old Database"

Entourage X: "Old Database Cache" and "Old Database"

Entourage 2001: "Old Database Cache", "Old Database", and "Old Messages." In
addition, Database (Rebuild) Cache is retained.

Your data should not be erased, but if something fails during this process
data could be lost. To be doubly sure duplicate your Identity folder.

For more details on rebuilding the database see:
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/rebuild.html>

From previous post:

1. Quit all Microsoft Office programs, including Entourage.

Be sure to note that Notifications is an Office application and needs to be
quit.

Options to turn off Microsoft Database daemon:

* In Entourage Menu select "Turn off Office Notifications"

* Double-click the Office Notifications program, located in the Microsoft
Office X/Office folder. On the Office Notifications menu, click Turn Off
Office Notifications.

* Fire up 'Process Viewer' (Panther renames to Activity Monitor), look for
'database daemon' and choose 'quit process' from the processes menu (just do
a normal quit, not a forced quit).

*Easiest way.....use this script:
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/downloads/scripts/quit_daemon.sit>

More on the Microsoft Database daemon:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/glossary/daemon.html>

--
Diane Ross, Microsoft Mac MVP
Entourage Help Page
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
The Entourage Blog lists the EHP as one of the top five Microsoft Entourage
resources.
<http://blogs.msdn.com/entourage/>