Outlook 2000 and 2003 pst file 2 way exchanging

[GeorgeG]

I have been running Outlook 2000 on multiple machines for years. I routinely
copy the pst files from the active machine to one of the others as my work
location changes by merely dragging and dropping the pst files to the Outlook
folder of the new computer. This has worked without issue for 8 years. Now I
must upgrade one of the machines to Outlook 2003 to be compatible with some
new software but I do not plan to upgrade any of the other computers. I
understand the ANSI/2000 vs UNICODE/2003 issue regarding compatibility. I
want my pst file to remain as transportable across all machines as before.

If I merley drop the ANSI pst file into the Outlook 2003 directory, will
it's format remain unchanged and will it be completely useable by the Outlook
2000 machines after new data has beed added by Outlook 2003?

Will I be better served by uninstalling Office 2000 and installing the full
Office 2003 version or installing Office 2003 over the current 2000
installation?

Is there any point in considering upgrading only Outlook and not the other
Office programs (in case there are other file compatibility issues?

Thanks,

George

 

[Pat Willener]

The OL2000 PST file is compatible with OL2003/2007, as you probably
know, so you can use this format to exchange data between the two
Outlook versions.

However, if the OL2003 upgrade creates a new Unicode PST file, *don't*
overwrite this with your ANSI PST file! But my guess is - since you
have used this procedure before - that the OL2003 upgrade will not touch
your PST file, and that you can continue as before.

 

[GeorgeG]

If I just move my ANSI OL2000 pst file into the OL2003 directory and point to
it, will OL2003 modify it in any way that would make it a problem going back
to an OL2000 machine? I have read for instance that OL2003 has more fields
than OL2000.

Thanks,

George

 

[Pat Willener]

No, OL2003 will treat your 97-2002 PST file as such, and you will be
able to use/move this file between the two OL versions.