how to remove unwanted PST file default categories assigned to many calendar entries

Status
Not open for further replies.

PhilBurton

Senior Member
OS Version(s)
  1. Windows
Outlook version
Outlook 365 64 bit
Email Account
IMAP
Recently Outlook added some default categories like "important" or "business" to hundreds and hundreds of my calendar entries, which are not in my "Master List" of categories. I categorize all my calendar, contacts, and reminders according to categories I set up myself, so these entries now have two categories. I found the default categories such as "business" or "important" useless for my purposes. I found the default categories such as "business" or "important" useless for my purposes. I found the default categories such as "business" or "important" useless for my purposes.

How can I remove those unwanted category assignments for all the affected calendar entries in one step? For example, I have about 900 calendar entries with "important" category, and if I view calendar entries as a list, I can see all the entries in each category. I can't just delete all those entries. I just want to remove the unwanted categories.

I use Outlook 2013 on two systems, desktop and laptop, with a total of five PST files for various categories of messages, and with different backup frequencies. If I need to use my laptop, I simply copy over all the PST files, and it all works great.

About two years ago, I switched my Comcast email from POP3 to IMAP because my PCs, and my tablet and phone meant that I had a mail account on four devices. I found it convenient to set one the PST files as the default for my calendar, contacts, and reminders. That is due to the limitations on reminders, lack of calendar and other support in IMAP. Again, that all works great.

Phil Burton
 
i have no idea what happened to add the categories, but use a group by category view, select one category group you want to remove, right click and untick the category. repeat for the other category.
 
I have done that already, but the bogus category did not appear in my list of all categories. So then I hit on the idea of ADDING the bogus category to my list of all categories and clicking OK. After Outlook "added" that category, then I opened up the list of all categories again, selected and unclicked the bogus category. Call it magic, but this time I was able to remove the bogus category.

Yes, I have about nine more bogus categories to remove using this approach, but at least I have a feasible, reasonably quick solution. Thank you.

Phil Burton
 
That is an option, but it should work even if they are not in the master list - if the category is not listed, you'll need to go into All categories to untick it.

in this test example, the category was at the top of the list naturally - you may need to scroll to find it.
2018-07-30_0-23-07.png
 
Diane,

This approach worked for me ONLY for one calendar entry at a time, and I had close to 2000 miscategorized entries in all. :eek: The approach I took in my message #3 above did work to remove the unwanted categories for the entire category in only a few steps.

So I think my issue is solved, at least for now. Before I found this solution, I would ahve upgraded to Office 2016 Professional Pro if that would have gfiven me a solution. Since I have a desktop and a laptop, that would have been pricey (but as a self-employed consultant, I could have taken a tax deduction.)

Phil Burton
 
This approach worked for me ONLY for one calendar entry at a time, and I had close to 2000 miscategorized entries in all.
Really? I was able to remove whole categories.
 
Really? I was able to remove whole categories.
Diane,

I wish I could have done what you said. It would have saved me some time. I'm still on Outlook 2013, and maybe that capability appeared only in Outlook 2016.

Phil Burton
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
H Cannot remove unwanted fields from form Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 9
E Edit incoming emails to remove a certain sentence added by the "system" Using Outlook 1
O VBA - Regex - remove double line spacing Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 1
TomHuckstep Remove Send/Receive All Folders (IMAP/POP) button from Outlook 365 Ribbon Using Outlook 2
Rupert Dragwater How to permanently remove an email address Using Outlook 9
D Auto Remove [EXTERNAL] from subject - Issue with Macro Using Outlook 21
E Remove flag automatically Using Outlook 4
N Can't create NEW GROUP and add/remove a member from existing Group in Outlook Using Outlook 1
Timmon Remove just one attachment before AutoForward Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 0
Z Remove GMAIL IMAP account from Outlook 2016 Using Outlook 2
C-S-R Manage Add-ins (Remove Wunderlist) Using Outlook 6
O Remove duplicates within two accounts Using Outlook 2
D How to remove a folder, option grayed out Using Outlook 4
T Outlook 2016 remove envelope icon for certain folders Using Outlook 5
M In Outlook Calendar remove the buttons: 'Today' and '<' (Back a day) and '>' (Forward a day) that are below the Ribbon and above the calendar display. Using Outlook 0
P [SOLVED] Auto remove [EXTERNAL] from subject Using Outlook 16
P Add, remove, & reorder folder pane Using Outlook 6
W Remove specific contacts from contact list Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 3
T Cannot remove needless PST Using Outlook 1
Healy Consultants Macro to remove inside organization distribution list email address when reply to all recepients Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 0
S Unable to remove rule outlook 2010 Using Outlook 0
N How to remove signature formatting from Text in Word (accidentally taken from Outlook) Using Outlook 0
B Remove Subject Residual Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 3
J Remove text to Clean Up Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 1
B Automatically Forward Emails and Remove/Replace All or Part of Body Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 8
D Remove text in subject using VBA Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 4
T Remove Old Location From Tasks Pane Using Outlook 1
A remove or turn off outlook.com contact folder from outlook 2016 Using Outlook 4
R Chancing / remove “ something ” in the subject, online archive Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 8
Morgan Fowler Remove Signature Using Outlook 1
M How to remove a list of specific contacts from Outlook Using Outlook 18
R New Links on Navigation Pane, How to Remove? Using Outlook 1
M VBA to remove deferred delivery on a MeetingItem Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 2
J Remove extra line above signature in reply Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 5
Diane Poremsky How to Remove RSS Support from Outlook Using Outlook 0
Diane Poremsky Remove Attachments From Messages Using Outlook 0
Diane Poremsky Remove Office 2013 Update Banner Using Outlook 0
O Remove duplicate mail items Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 6
Diane Poremsky Remove a password from an Outlook *.pst File Using Outlook 3
G VBA/Macro to remove page colour when replying or forwarding email Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 2
L Fake reminder apperaring (not in calendar) - how to remove? Using Outlook 5
J Your IMAP server wants to alert you to the following: cannot remove system folder Using Outlook 3
A Auto Insert of filename when selecting 'Remove Attachment' Using Outlook 1
C how to remove icons on right hand side outlook 2013 Using Outlook 2
K Remove Manage APPS button for users Exchange Server Administration 1
P Remove name and parenthses from email Using Outlook 1
G Outlook calendar entry corrupted. Constant pop up when you open outlook. Unable to delete or remove. Using Outlook 2
Diane Poremsky How to remove the primary account from Outlook 2010/2013 Using Outlook 0
Diane Poremsky Remove an Address from Reply All Using Outlook 0
Diane Poremsky Remove Outlook apps from Outlook Using Outlook 0

Similar threads

Back
Top