outlook 2003 help

coreyk67 · #1 April 21st, 2007, 02:50 AM

Is it possible to have 2 computers both running outlook on the same email account, but when a change is made on either pc it will be in sync still on both computers?

Kind of like having an outlook "server" so to speak. Similar to how you can access a program like quick books from multiple computers.

i hope you get what i am trying to ask here

FrEaKmAn · #2 April 21st, 2007, 10:57 AM

right now I'm working on this, but I'll try to combine outlook and thunderbird or something similar...

oracle128 · #3 April 21st, 2007, 06:18 PM

It's possible, and there may be a couple of ways you can do so.
One is to store the PST file (where Outlook stores its data) on a network share. This configuration is not advised and is specifically not recommended or supported by MS (see here). A home-network workaround to this may be to store the file on a network share, but transfer the file to the local machine when needed, each time (transferring it back when finished). This will still be inefficient though. But you could also store the PST on a flash drive, which should be fine as long as your PST doesn't get over 2/4GB (Whatever size flash drive you get).

Another option that's feasible for a home user is to use a third-party Outlook synchronization tool. However this will cost you because I don't think there are many free ones, and the ones that are free are fairly limited, but may do the job (Example, see this).

coreyk67 · #4 April 23rd, 2007, 02:51 AM

i am going to attempt the network share option. On the second outlook account do i just need to tell outlook where to find the .pst or do i need to import it from the shared location.

oracle128 · #5 April 23rd, 2007, 03:23 PM

If you go to Outlook->Tools->Options->Mail Setup->Data Files, you should be able to add the shared PST to the list.

DonBB · #6 April 23rd, 2007, 09:27 PM

I've tried moving the .pst file to a network share, and I seem to remember Outlook not letting me do it.

oracle128 · #7 April 24th, 2007, 10:57 AM

Testament to Outlook not liking its data store on a network share. You will need to map the network share.

DonBB · #8 April 24th, 2007, 09:03 PM

I actually tried it on a mapped share, and it would not let me move the file. Or maybe I'm thinking of Outlook Express???

oracle128 · #9 April 25th, 2007, 04:49 PM

Outlook lets you use a PST on a network, even though it doesn't like it. Outlook Express however uses a different storage mechanism, and may not let you do it at all.