Outlook File Format

[Remove ABCD from Email address to reply]

I am using Outlook 2003 in a single user environment. I previously was
using older versions and just continued using the same pst file. When I
look at the profile it shows my file format is "Outlook 97-2002 Personal
Folders File (.pst)". I see that there is also a file format of "Office
Outlook Personal Folders File(.pst)".

I would like to know the difference between the 2 formats and if I should
be switching and how to switch.

Thanks,
Neil

 

[Patrick Schmid]

Office Outlook Personal Folders file is a newer format referred to as
Unicode PST. Outlook 97-2002 PST is called ANSI PST.
ANSI PSTs have certain limitations, e.g. they can only be 2 GB in size.
More generically, ANSI refers to what system is used to encode
characters which dictates what characters can be stored in a PST. ANSI
is limited to Latin-based languages (Western languages mainly).
Languages such as Arabic, Japanese cannot be represented in ANSI
natively. Unicode is a standard that allows text and symbols of all
languages (more formally writing systems) of the world to be represented
by computers.
It isn't going to hurt you to keep using an ANSI PST (as long as you
don't hit the 2 GB limit). If you were to install Outlook 2007 Beta 2,
I'd extremely suggest to go to Unicode, as it seems to me the current
Beta has a little bit better performance with them.
If you want to upgrade, create a new Unicode PST. Then copy all email
folders over (and repeat the same process for all contacts, calendars,
etc). Do not use Import/Export. That feature doesn't work reliably.
Once you are done, close Outlook and switch PST files via Control Panel,
Mail, Data Files.

Patrick Schmid

 

[BillR [MVP]]

The newer format is Unicode and supports PST files in excess of 2 GB in
size.

 

[pete]

I am using Outlook 2003 in a single user environment. I previously was
using older versions and just continued using the same pst file. When I
look at the profile it shows my file format is "Outlook 97-2002 Personal
Folders File (.pst)". I see that there is also a file format of "Office
Outlook Personal Folders File(.pst)".

I would like to know the difference between the 2 formats and if I should
be switching and how to switch.

A quick and easy way to switch is using my Upstart utility which you
can find at:

www.maclean.com/upstart

Pete Maclean