Compacting an Outlook PST file ...
(refer to images below)
It seems that only occasionally when clicking on Compact (in Data File Maintenance/Settings) does a compact actually happen. When it does, it usually takes a few minutes, and the PST file size is reduced significantly.
However, most of the time when I first come into Data File Maintenance ... and click compact, it just goes through the motions, and nothing really happens ... taking only a second or two, and the PST file size does not change at all.
What am I missing here ?
thx.mx
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It seems that only occasionally when clicking on Compact (in Data File Maintenance/Settings) does a compact actually happen. When it does, it usually takes a few minutes, and the PST file size is reduced significantly.
However, most of the time when I first come into Data File Maintenance ... and click compact, it just goes through the motions, and nothing really happens ... taking only a second or two, and the PST file size does not change at all.
What am I missing here ?
thx.mx
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Is there any way to Compact from the command line prompt (with Outlook closed), like you can Access ...?
It may be reorganizing when syncing, so there may be nothing for Compact to do. I have not ever seen Compact fail, so perhaps keep track of when it works and does not (apparently). .... Thinkpads_User
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Outlook has command line switches. I do not see Compact among them. Here is the list for Outlook 2010 (and there are lists for other versions).
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/command-line-switches-for-outlook-2010-HP010354956.aspx
... Thinkpads_User
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/command-line-switches-for-outlook-2010-HP010354956.aspx
... Thinkpads_User
Well ... 'syncing' is a misnomer, sorry. There is no direct 'syncing' between systems.
Backup O2003, save PST to folder on O2010 system, Import.
I don't think ... ABS Outlook Back is compacting, because the backup only takes a couple of minutes max. But, I don't know that for sure ... and I always do a backup before running Compact. I guess it would make sense ... for ABS to compact on the fly, and that could be what is going on. I will look into that.
But ... come to think of it, the ABS backup file is slightly larger than the PST, so it would not appear that any compacting is being done, but ..... it could be, and the larger file size could be some other overhead.
mx
Backup O2003, save PST to folder on O2010 system, Import.
I don't think ... ABS Outlook Back is compacting, because the backup only takes a couple of minutes max. But, I don't know that for sure ... and I always do a backup before running Compact. I guess it would make sense ... for ABS to compact on the fly, and that could be what is going on. I will look into that.
But ... come to think of it, the ABS backup file is slightly larger than the PST, so it would not appear that any compacting is being done, but ..... it could be, and the larger file size could be some other overhead.
mx
@edster9999:
Yeah, pretty much the same thing that happens in a Access DB ... and how Compact works.
Also, I *do* delete stuff often, pretty daily - several times.
mx
Yeah, pretty much the same thing that happens in a Access DB ... and how Compact works.
Also, I *do* delete stuff often, pretty daily - several times.
mx
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@GillesT:
Yes, I quite familiar with compacting in having worked with Access database for 19+ years now.
As noted above, I delete emails in various folder frequently during the day (many that I get from EE).
No need for a corporate solution. At the moment, I'm trying to determine if ABS backup is doing a Compact on the PST on the fly while backing up, although that doesn't seem to be the case.
mx
Yes, I quite familiar with compacting in having worked with Access database for 19+ years now.
As noted above, I delete emails in various folder frequently during the day (many that I get from EE).
No need for a corporate solution. At the moment, I'm trying to determine if ABS backup is doing a Compact on the PST on the fly while backing up, although that doesn't seem to be the case.
mx
fyi ... still running some tests
mx
mx
Sorry for the delay, but I wanted to be sure what was happening. Apparently, I must have done a compact not that long before posting the Q. In the last 3 weeks, I went through several cycles of deleting and compacting, which took varying amounts of time depending on how much was deleted.
Conclusion: There is no issue, an thinkpads_user's initial post pretty much described the situation.
thx.mx
Conclusion: There is no issue, an thinkpads_user's initial post pretty much described the situation.
thx.mx
Thank you, and I was happy to assist. .... Thinkpads_User
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However, I have not done it for some time now (2-3 months - I have to remember). So ... I just went in to do so, and got the 'quick' effect I described. So, something must be up ...
I do backup often with ABS Outlook Backup 3, and then import that on to my other laptop (OL 2010) - to more or less keep in sync