Where does my Entourage Identity live and canI delete older identities from finder? ?

[canoeboater]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel
Email Client: Exchange

When I root around in the folders on my MacBook hard drive, I see two folders that appear to relate to my Entourage Main Identity. The paths are:

users/...[my name].../documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2008 identities/

Users/...[my name].../library/caches/metadata/microsoft/entourage/2008/

Which one or both of these folders contain my current, active identity?

I ask because I would like to know where to go if I want to manually backup my identity. Do I need to copy both of these folders, or just one?

Also, regarding identities, I see that when I run the MS Database Utility and Compact and Backup my database, it creates a file with a name that includes "Backed Up" with a date. From the look of the other files in the same folder, It appears the utility creates a copy of the database before proceeding with the Compact process. It also appears that, when the Compact process is complete, the file with the name that includes "Backed up..... [date]" becomes the active identity database.

Is that a correct read of the process? If so, are the older files now completely out of use? Can I delete them from finder without screwing up Entourage? They are large, and if allowed to accumulate, would clog the drive.

 

[Diane Ross]

When I root around in the folders on my MacBook hard drive, I see two folders
that appear to relate to my Entourage Main Identity. The paths are:

users/...[my name].../documents/Microsoft User Data/Office 2008 identities/

This contains your Identity. Named Main by default.

Users/...[my name].../library/caches/metadata/microsoft/entourage/2008/

These are the cache files created for Spotlight. If you delete them, they
can be rebuilt by Spotlight.

I ask because I would like to know where to go if I want to manually backup my
identity. Do I need to copy both of these folders, or just one?

Only your Main Identity needs backup.

See this series on how to backup Entourage. The first one covers the basics.

Also, regarding identities, I see that when I run the MS Database Utility and
Compact and Backup my database, it creates a file with a name that includes
"Backed Up" with a date. From the look of the other files in the same folder,
It appears the utility creates a copy of the database before proceeding with
the Compact process. It also appears that, when the Compact process is
complete, the file with the name that includes "Backed up..... [date]" becomes
the active identity database.

The Database Utility is not a backup solution. Compression is not advised
unless you are running out of disk space. It doesn't stuff or compress the
data. It eliminates what's called 'wasted space'.

Rebuilding your database is not recommended unless you are having problems.
In fact, it could end up causing problems. Like surgery where even simple
surgery has the risk of death, rebuilding can cause problems and loss of
data. If you need to reduce your mail on your server, move the messages to
folders "On My Computer".

AutoArchive Exchange Account to "On My Computer"

Move all e-mail older than 60 days from your Exchange account folders to
archive folders within the "On My Computer" folder tree.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/exchange/autoarchive.html>

Since you use Leopard, you'll need to use the third party product listed on
that page.

Is that a correct read of the process? If so, are the older files now
completely out of use? Can I delete them from finder without screwing up
Entourage? They are large, and if allowed to accumulate, would clog the drive.

Yes, you can delete them. As far as your understanding of the process, it's
a work in progress. Be sure to read the backup article on basics and read
over these two links:

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/get_started/index.html>

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/index.html>

Please continue to ask questions. Hopefully, the links will help clarify the
process.