Using Outlook data on 2 pcs (OL2K SR1)

[DMc]

I want to be able to use my main outlook.pst file on my work computer as well as my home computer (By copying it to my USB external drive).
But when I open outlook at work having used the file at home & replaced it at work, Outlook acts as if I've made it change primary files, and says the location for delivering email has changed & resets the shortcuts.
And even worse - intellisync for palm seems to need retraining as to which folders I want sync'd between OL & my PalmVx.
Can anyone suggest how to stop it thinking it's a different file.
Is it because the file size & date aren't the same as when it closed it?

Maybe someone can suggest a simpler way to be able to access all my OL data @ home & work without having to carry my laptop every day?? My external drive is so light compared to a laptop plus accessories when cycling! <img src=/S/smile.gif border=0 alt=smile width=15 height=15>
HELP!

[OldDog]

Sounds like you're trying to share either an ost file or the or the primary delivery point on your home system. That won't work. I think, unless you can set up a connection from home to your work system, your best bet is to set up personal folder service on each system. You copy (or use rules to copy) items from the primary folders to the pst file. Then carry this file with you.

With luck, somebody will have a better idea.

[DMc]

Thanks for the comments.
What I'm trying to do is simply use the 1 pst file on both pcs - manually moving it with me, so I don't have to keep track of which pc I used to send things. It's only the pst file that I copy & replace.
Funnily enough, I copied it back to the home pc last night & it didn't notice I'd used it at work since the home pc last opened it. But I didn't have the courage to risk wasting time at work today by replacing the work file with the new copy. I'll take my work laptop home tonite & try it then!
Surely the config should only look at the file name & path, which never change??
I actually keep all my read mail in a 3rd pst file which I also copy & open from each pc.
The main hassle is actually tasks & appointments. I want to be able to update my work tasks @ home & then access the updated items from work next day etc.

[OldDog]

Well, this gets into the deep and dark bowels of the program, and I'm not entirely sure what's going on. I can't find any documentation on it. But I know an ost file, the primary store for working off line, has a unique ID that ties it to a particular installation/user. If you try and swap it you can get exactly the behavior that you describe. I know that doesn't get you a solution, but it suggest to me that you can't do it the way you want to.

[MaryJ]

This is a pst, correct, not an exchange server ost?

The sync utilities set a mark and it may be getting unset or changed and that confuses the sync utilities. Markers are set when new mail arrives etc and if you put it on one machine but didn't use it (or didn't use a feature that sets the markers), then took it back, the markers weren't changed.

I haven't looked closely at how activesync does it, but most utilites either set a file on the HD, a reg key or a hidden message in the top of the info store to use as an index so it knows what it last synced and what needs synced.

[Keely]

Hi David:

I'm particularly interested in the first part of your problem. I've noticed the same behaviour when moving .pst files myself, which for me happens when I'm copying the most recent data from desktop to notebook and back. In addition to being prompted that the mail delivery location has changed and that the Outlook Bar needs to recreate the shortcuts, all of my rules have to be reset to point at their respective destination folders again, despite the fact that the subfolders are identical. Obviously there is something in the .pst that interacts with other more obscure Outlook data files that contain information on rules, mail delivery locations and OLBar shortcuts. I have tried copying over the other contents from the ...Local SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook folder but that doesn't seem to help, and often causes more problems with missing add-ins where the two computers have different programs (i.e. AV) installed. Any ideas from anyone?

[OldDog]

I did some digging on technet and msdn and could not find anything directly on point. But a lot of articles indicate the behavior you describe is what you will get when you use the delivery point pst (c.f. Q197263, Q195723, Q195782, Q197752). I think you will have to make a secondary pst file and move it between sytems.

[DMc]

I've been doing more testing, and outlook has settled down a bit since the first couple of moves.
I guess the thing to do is have a minimal primary pst and filter all incoming email to a 2ndary file.
That's almost what I do already, but I'll keep trying.
BTW, Keely, I use exlife for mail filtering - it hasn't complained as much as the built in filters which I gave up on when Mary J introduced me to Exlife. (Thanks MJ)