Export an email profile to PST

[John L.]

We are using Microsoft Outlook in cached exchange mode. The email profiles

are using OST files.

Is there a way to export an email profile (email, contacts, tasks, schedules

etc.) using VBA code?

Thank you for the help.

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

You can copy the folders and items in the mailbox OST to a PST file, but

that won't include the profile information such as email accounts. Many

things in Outlook are stored in hidden items, which you won't be able to

copy in many cases, so things like global custom views probably won't make

it over.

Exactly what are you trying to accomplish? Have you considered looking for

commercial backup programs for Outlook?

"John L." <JohnL> wrote in message

news:F760178E-76D0-415D-800E-CE17F611EFCF@microsoft.com...
> We are using Microsoft Outlook in cached exchange mode. The email
> profiles
> are using OST files.

> Is there a way to export an email profile (email, contacts, tasks,
> schedules
> etc.) using VBA code?

> Thank you for the help.
>

 

[John L.]

Hi Ken,

Thank you for the info. We'd like to specifically obtain a backup of the

email (most importantly by far is the email in the inbox, deleted items, sent

items etc.) and calendar information if possible (tasks appointments etc.).

Is there a way to do this with VBA even though we are using Cached Exchange

Mode. We'd like to see a VBA code example that can run from a sub proc that

would export this.

We would rather not consider commercial solutions until we are sure that

this cannot be done with VBA. Auto Archive does not meet needs to make a

long story short. Thanks Ken.

John.
wrote:


> You can copy the folders and items in the mailbox OST to a PST file, but
> that won't include the profile information such as email accounts. Many
> things in Outlook are stored in hidden items, which you won't be able to
> copy in many cases, so things like global custom views probably won't make
> it over.

> Exactly what are you trying to accomplish? Have you considered looking for
> commercial backup programs for Outlook?

> >

>

> "John L." <JohnL> wrote in message
> news:F760178E-76D0-415D-800E-CE17F611EFCF@microsoft.com...
> > We are using Microsoft Outlook in cached exchange mode. The email
> > profiles
> > are using OST files.
> > Is there a way to export an email profile (email, contacts, tasks,
> > schedules
> > etc.) using VBA code?
> > Thank you for the help.
> >

>

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

Well, Deleted Items holds trash, if your users keep items there that should

be retained they need some education in how to use Outlook.

Copying items to a PST file will change various properties on the items,

you'll have to accept that. It will also make backup more difficult since

each machine would need to be backed up as PST files are not supported for

storage on network shares or devices.

The basic idea would be to use the AddStore() method to add or create a new

PST file. Then you'd find the Inbox folder for both stores (creating it as

needed) and get each item in the folder and copy it to the new store. When

finished you can remove the store (PST file), although it will remain locked

by Outlook until Outlook is closed.

The code for Inbox would look something like this:

Sub BackupInbox()

Dim oBackup As Outlook.MAPIFolder

Dim oInbox As Outlook.MAPIFolder

Dim oBackInbox As Outlook.MAPIFolder

Dim oNS As Outlook.NameSpace

Dim colInboxItems As Outlook.Items

Dim colBackupInboxItems As Outlook.Items

Dim obj As Object 'Inbox items can be various types

Dim oCopy As Object

Set oNS = Application.GetNameSpace("MAPI")

Set oInbox = oNS.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox)

Set oBackup = oNS.AddStore("C:\Backup.PST") 'whatever path

Set oBackInbox = Nothing

Set oBackInbox = oBackup.Folders("Inbox")

If oBackInbox Is Nothing Then

Set oBackInbox = oBackup.Folders.Add("Inbox", olFolderInbox)

End If

Set colInboxItems = oInbox.Items

Set colBackupInboxItems = oBackInbox.Items

For Each obj In colInboxItems

' get the item type here and make the new item the same as the old

one.

' needs a long series of if then tests not shown here

' example shows just a mail item

Set oCopy = colBackupInboxItems.Add(olNoteItem)

Next

End Sub

That doesn't have error handling or releasing objects, but it shows the type

of code needed for what you want.

"John L." <JohnL> wrote in message

news:CD71DDE4-F57A-400F-8DBA-AF41E000EE85@microsoft.com...
> Hi Ken,

> Thank you for the info. We'd like to specifically obtain a backup of the
> email (most importantly by far is the email in the inbox, deleted items,
> sent
> items etc.) and calendar information if possible (tasks appointments
> etc.).
> Is there a way to do this with VBA even though we are using Cached
> Exchange
> Mode. We'd like to see a VBA code example that can run from a sub proc
> that
> would export this.

> We would rather not consider commercial solutions until we are sure that
> this cannot be done with VBA. Auto Archive does not meet needs to make a
> long story short. Thanks Ken.

> John.