Will .msg files be unsupported/inaccessable in future MS email app

[George R.]

I saved .msg files to our network using Outllook 2007. What would prevent me
from opening or accessing these files in the future? I assume as long as
Outlook was installed, it would open (being the native application) along
with the .msg file when someone double clicked on the .msg file or icon.

Is there any reason this file would not open due to IT deciding to save
network space or disabling something. Any plans by Microsoft to prevent
future users with a Microsft Outlook or updated Outlook replacement product
from opening these files?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I saved .msg files to our network using Outllook 2007. What would prevent me
from opening or accessing these files in the future?

Changing technology guarantees that, eventually, no matter what method of
storage you use, at some point it will become obsolete and will no longer be
accessible to then-current technologies. Who has 6 inch floppies any more,
for example? I haven't seen a card reader in ages.

In my opinion, unless it's not possible to use, the most universal format is
Plain Text.

Any plans by Microsoft to prevent
future users with a Microsft Outlook or updated Outlook replacement product
from opening these files?

I'm confident that as technology and formats change, that Microsoft, if it
still exists. it will provide conversion tools, just as it has provided tools
for interoperability between Office 2003 and 2007.

 

[John Mayson]

I seem to have missed the original message. I'm replying more to George
R. than Brian.

Changing technology guarantees that, eventually, no matter what method of
storage you use, at some point it will become obsolete and will no longer be
accessible to then-current technologies. Who has 6 inch floppies any more,
for example? I haven't seen a card reader in ages.

Until I lost the tape, I had emails in the mbox file format going back to
the 1980s that I could still read using several email clients. In fact I
replied to an email 15 years later (I had to change the address of course)
which just floored my friend.

The Microsoft formats, for better or worse, are proprietary, digital
formats. Microsoft could well decide they will no longer support one of
their earlier formats which means unless you have a copy of the early
software, you're out of luck. To put this into more concrete terms,
Microsoft could decide that with Outlook 2015 they'll no longer support
any .pst pre-Outlook 2003. Not saying they will do it, it's just a
possibility.

Brian hits on a good point too. I mentioned my tape. While I could today
read an mbox file, I could use a text editor need be, I no longer have a
way to read that particular cartridge tape.

Future-proofing your data is of course important, but it strays beyond the
purpose of this newsgroup. The short answer is stick to open formats and
review your archival solution. When floppies were going out of style you
should've switched to optical (CD or DVD). I suppose someday those will
be phased out and replaced with something else. Move our data over to the
new medium.

John