Using External Folders Shortcut bar (as per Outlook XP)

[nsaflin]

I have been an avid fan of Outlook XP (2002) because it allows me to create
shortcut links in the Outlook bar to external folders on my hard disk (ie NOT
folders in the outlook PST file, but external ones like for example "C:\My
Documents\Customers\Customer A\")

This means that if I want to file an e-mail message for future
reference/safekeeping
, it is a simple case of dragging and dropping onto the shortcut bar, and
Outlook simply creates a *.msg file in the external folder on my hard disk.

This keeps my PST file nice and small, and I can still keep years worth of
messages, (filed in subject reference on my disk) without having a huge PST
file, or needing to keep dozens of backup PST files and then having to search
for messages in them.

Unfortunately, this feature seems to have been removed in Outlook 2003 and
now 2007.

I can still (it appears) make a shortcut in the "shortcuts" link, but it
won't allow me to drag/drop messages onto this link if it is a folder outside
of the PST file.

Am I missing something here, or have Microsoft removed an extremely useful
feature from Outlook? I realise that Outlook XP will fall by the wayside soon
enough, and I would love to move to 2007, but this feature was an
indespensible way our office has set up its filing system, and if we could
replicate this in 2007 I would be extremely grateful.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I have been an avid fan of Outlook XP (2002) because it allows me to
create shortcut links in the Outlook bar to external folders on my
hard disk (ie NOT folders in the outlook PST file, but external ones
like for example "C:\My Documents\Customers\Customer A\") ....snip...
Unfortunately, this feature seems to have been removed in Outlook
2003 and now 2007.
Correct.

Am I missing something here, or have Microsoft removed an extremely
useful feature from Outlook?

The latter.

I realise that Outlook XP will fall by
the wayside soon enough, and I would love to move to 2007, but this
feature was an indespensible way our office has set up its filing
system, and if we could replicate this in 2007 I would be extremely
grateful.

Keeping mail in the Windows file system is hardly more efficient than
leaving it in Outlook. What you wish to do requires nothing more than two
extra clicks of the mouse button on on the shortcut to open the folder
before you deposit the messages. However, as an alternative, just put
shortcuts to the folders on your Desktop. Then you can drag-and-drop as you
did before; nothing has changed operationally, only the location of the
shortcuts.