sharing a .PST file over a network

C

Chad

Is it possible to access a .PST file on a remote system?
We are NOT running Exchange server, yet we want 2
Outlooks running on 2 different systems to have access to
the same .PST file. Both machines run XP Home with
OUtlook 2003.

In attempting open the .PST file with Outlook on the
remote system I get a "You do not have permission" type
of error.

I have tried to remove the read-only attribute on the
parent folder, but it seems to continually revert back to
read-only. HOwever, if the folder is in fact READ-ONLY
then why doesn't the local Outlook have any access issues?

Any insight into this issue would be much appreciated.
 
C

Chad

I have to run my own mail server just to share the same
inbox? Isn't Office about collaboration? I know I can
access the same Excel database file over a network, why
not Outlook? For the love of god, there must be a better
way! Is nothing sacred?
 
M

Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook requires exclusive read/write access to the .pst file at all times.
It is unlike other Office programs in that the .pst file actually is a
database that requires constant updating (.pst = personal storage table, as
in a database table.)

You cannot share a .pst file natively but there are applications that will
let you fake it - see this page for some ideas:
http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/share.htm



--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to
the (insert latest virus name here) virus, all mail sent to my personal
account will be deleted without reading.

After searching google.groups.com and finding no answer, Chad asked:

| I have to run my own mail server just to share the same
| inbox? Isn't Office about collaboration? I know I can
| access the same Excel database file over a network, why
| not Outlook? For the love of god, there must be a better
| way! Is nothing sacred?
|
|| -----Original Message-----
|| Chad,
|| For this functionallity on your systems you would need at minimum
|| Exchange and Windows XP Pro on both machines.
||
|| Chris Schatte
||
|| use the Office Online web based newsreader here:
|| http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en- us/default.mspx
|| In Office System 2003 applications:
|| Help/Assistance Pane/open Communities
||
|| "Chad" wrote:
||
||| Is it possible to access a .PST file on a remote system?
||| We are NOT running Exchange server, yet we want 2
||| Outlooks running on 2 different systems to have access to
||| the same .PST file. Both machines run XP Home with
||| OUtlook 2003.
|||
||| In attempting open the .PST file with Outlook on the
||| remote system I get a "You do not have permission" type
||| of error.
|||
||| I have tried to remove the read-only attribute on the
||| parent folder, but it seems to continually revert back to
||| read-only. HOwever, if the folder is in fact READ- ONLY
||| then why doesn't the local Outlook have any access issues?
|||
||| Any insight into this issue would be much appreciated.
|||
|| .
 
B

Brian Tillman

Chad said:
Is it possible to access a .PST file on a remote system?
We are NOT running Exchange server, yet we want 2
Outlooks running on 2 different systems to have access to
the same .PST file. Both machines run XP Home with
OUtlook 2003.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's possible (though not supported), but not with both Outlooks open
at the same time. Outlook needs exclusive access to the PST.
In attempting open the .PST file with Outlook on the
remote system I get a "You do not have permission" type
of error.
Click to expand...

If the other Outlook is open, I can understand this. If it's not, you do
not have your network share defined properly.
I have tried to remove the read-only attribute on the
parent folder, but it seems to continually revert back to
read-only.
Click to expand...

The protection on the parent folder has no bearing on it (although the
network shares I create always have read/write access). The access on the
PST does.
Isn't Office about collaboration? I know I can
access the same Excel database file over a network, why
not Outlook?
Click to expand...

However, if you open the same spreadsheet on two different machines, you can
certainly mess up the sheet. Person A opens it. So does person B. Person
A makes some changes and saves it. Person B makes some changes and saves
it. Now Person A's changes are gone.
 
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