Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Processor:
Intel Email Client: imap Entourage is dead slow when I search my inbox
for an email. When I enter a search criterion in the search box, it
takes about 15 seconds to do the search. If I change the search from
"Subject" to "From" (actually, from anything to anything else), it
takes about 15 seconds and then an additional 15 seconds to do the
search once I enter the criterion. I have about 12,000 emails in my
inbox and keep them there because I am constantly searching for old
emails.
Why is search so slow and what can I do to speed it up?
Simply put, the search yuo are using (what we normal refer to as the
'quick filter') is so slow simply because you have 12,000 emails in the
inbox.
'Quick Filter' works by filtering on the _displayed_ data in the
relevant columns in the mail view. In order to do this, it has to parse
that data first before it displays the emails - with 12,000 lines to
parse this takes a little time.
The true 'search' function in Entourage is powered by Spotlight
technology and is much, much faster. You can access it by using the
search box in the entourge window toolbar, and can restrict it's
application by using keywords such as:
subject:"Monday's Meeting"
from:"Barry Wainwright"
from:
[email protected]
What is more, this search can work across multiple mailboxes, so there
isno need to keep all 12,000 emails in one place - file them in
subfolders that make more logical sense - by project, by person, even
by date! That way, you can narrow your search much more effectively
before you even start to search.
--
Barry Wainwright
Microsoft MVP
(see
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com for more information)
Like most MVPs, I am responding to your query through the public
newsgroup channel (NNTP). Microsoft is planning to close the public
newsgroups which would effectively disable this channel and may affect
the number of answers that are given. Please post any concerns you have
about these plans in this newsgroup so we can forward them on to
Microsoft.
