Working with Data files in Outlook

Outlook 365 2016 2013 2010 2007
Although Outlook automatically creates Data Files as needed when you add accounts, you might want to add your own Data Files (PSTs) to a profile. For example, perhaps you use an Exchange Server account for your primary Outlook store, but want a set of personal folders to serve as an archive; or perhaps you have an Exchange Server account and are adding a POP3 account.

Follow these steps to add a set of personal folders to your profile:

   1.   To open the Outlook Data Files dialog box, do one of the following:

  • If Outlook is not running:
    • right-click the Outlook icon and then choose Properties,
    • open the Mail applet from the Control Panel.
    Data Files in Outlook 2003

    Click Data Files to open the Outlook Data Files dialog box.

  • If Outlook is running, choose File -> Data File Management....
Outlook 2003 Data Files

   2.   Click Add... to display the New Outlook Data File dialog box:

New Outlook 2003 Data File
  • Office Outlook Personal Folders File (.pst). Choose this option to create a PST that is not compatible with previous Outlook versions, but which supports a larger PST file size and multilingual Unicode data.
  • Outlook 97-2002 Personal Folders File (.pst). Choose this option to create a PST that is compatible with other Outlook versions. Use this type of PST if you need to share a PST between different versions of Outlook.

   3.   In the Create or Open Outlook Data File dialog box, choose a location and file name for the PST, and click OK.

Create or Open Outlook 2003 Data File

   4.   In the Personal Folders dialog box, enter settings according to the following list:

Personal Folders in Outlook 2003
  • Name - Specify the name for the PST as you want it to appear in the Outlook folder list.

    Using a unique name will help you identify the set of folders more easily.

  • Encryption Setting - Choose:
    • No Encryption if you don't want to use encryption for the PST.
    • Compressible Encryption to use encryption that also allows the PST to be compressed to conserve disk space (this is the default).
    • Best Encryption to provide extra security at the expense of losing compression capability for the PST.
  • Password - Enter and confirm an optional password to protect the PST and choose the Save This Password in Your Password List to have Outlook cache the PST password in your password cache. Use this option if you are concerned that others might be able to access your computer and view the items in the personal folders.

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