Backup / Export Color Categories Master List

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Where is the list of available color categories stored in OL2007? Before I
spend any time developing a set of meaningful color / label pairs, I want to
know that I can back these up and import them to another PC. (So I don't mean
the categories that are assigned to each mail item - that is obviously part
of the .PST. I mean the master list of color categories that I pick from when
assigning to an individual item).

Are they stored (i) in the .PST file, (ii) in the registry (like the 2003
Master Category List), (iii) in another stand-alone file, (iv)... ?

Thanks,
James
 
It's stored in a hidden item in your Calendar folder. Backing up your ..pst file backs up the categories list as well.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
 
Thanks

Obscure, undocumented feature, that is counter-intuitive.

But your answer is very helpful - I'm reassured I can back these things up!

James
 
It's only counterintuitive if you didn't know that Outlook 2003 stores is calendar color code list, from which the OL2007 color categories list is descended, as a hidden item in the Calendar folder. :)

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
 
I've just transferred my OL 2007 pst folder and three associated E-mail
account folders to a new machine and, boo, the color categories have all
disappeared. I still have all of the files on the "old" machine, which I
have for a few days before returning it to our friends at Dell. Is there
another way I can get my color-coded categories back?
 
How did you transfer the .PST file? Did you import it? If you did, that's
why you lost colors. Here's what else you would lose with a .PST import:

1. Custom Forms
2. Custom Views
3. Connections between contacts and activities
4. Received dates on mail
5. Birthdays and anniversaries in calendar
6. Journal connections
7. Distribution Lists

Importing a .PST almost always corrupts the Outlook profile, too. The
correct way to go about a .PST transfer is to make a copy of it with Outlook
closed. Take that copy to the new machine and put it in a folder where it
will NOT OVERWRITE any existing .PST files. Open Outlook and connect it to
the copy using 'File|Open|Outlook Data File'. This preserves all
information and doesn't hose the Outlook profile.

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-Print/Imaging -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
KVOA Television, Tucson, AZ. NBC Channel 4
Live at Hot Licks - www.badnewsbluesband.com

David Kirk said:
I've just transferred my OL 2007 pst folder and three associated E-mail
account folders to a new machine and, boo, the color categories have all
disappeared. I still have all of the files on the "old" machine, which I
have for a few days before returning it to our friends at Dell. Is there
another way I can get my color-coded categories back?
Click to expand...
is calendar color code list, from which the OL2007 color categories list is
descended, as a hidden item in the Calendar folder. :)
 
Thanks, Hal. maybe there's still hope for me. I followed very precise
instructions from Dell technical support. Here's what I did:

Copied the my .pst file (named "David.pst") to the new computer. Opened
Outlook and set-up one of my three e-mail addresses using the start-up
dialogue that presents itself when you first start-up OL. Then I did exactly
as you say and opened my pst file. This, of course, leaves me with two sets
of folders and, despite online instructions that say I can right click the
unwanted one and close it, the "close" option is grayed out. Anyway ...

Since none of my three IMAP e-mail accounts' histories came along for the
ride, I then individually created the other two email accounts and then, one
by one, imported the associated pst files for each of the three accounts.
This brought in all of my e-mail folders. (This is the part that Dell tech
support guided me through.)

My category codes did not survive the trip, however. Is there a way to go
retireve them from the original, still-intact pst file? Other options?
 
David Kirk said:
Thanks, Hal. maybe there's still hope for me. I followed very
precise instructions from Dell technical support. Here's what I did:

Copied the my .pst file (named "David.pst") to the new computer.
Opened Outlook and set-up one of my three e-mail addresses using the
start-up dialogue that presents itself when you first start-up OL.
Then I did exactly as you say and opened my pst file. This, of
course, leaves me with two sets of folders and, despite online
instructions that say I can right click the unwanted one and close
it, the "close" option is grayed out. Anyway ...
Click to expand...

You can't close the delivery location PST. Change the delivery PST to the
one you want, stop and restart Outlook, and then you'll be able to close the
unwanted one.
Since none of my three IMAP e-mail accounts' histories came along for
the ride, I then individually created the other two email accounts
and then, one by one, imported the associated pst files for each of
the three accounts.
Click to expand...

IMAP folders never have to mbe migrated. Outlook will recreate them based
on the data on the server. Moreover, as you were informed, NEVER export to
or import from a PST. It's unnecessary, you WILL lose data, and possibly
corrupt your mail profile.
My category codes did not survive the trip, however. Is there a way
to go retireve them from the original, still-intact pst file? Other
options?
Click to expand...

Categories for some versions of Outlook ate not in the PST, but in the
registry. See this:
http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/olcat.asp
 
Thanks, Brian. Two questions:

1. How do I change the "delivery location" to the pst I want so that I can
close the unwanted one?

2. My indexing does not seem to be working, despite having restarted it
several times. Do I need to add my desired pst file to a list of files to be
indexed somewhere and, if so, where is that somewhere?

I'll check out the KB article you references -- hope I find my categories
afterward.
 
David Kirk said:
Thanks, Brian. Two questions:

1. How do I change the "delivery location" to the pst I want so that
I can close the unwanted one?
Click to expand...

With Outlook closed, use the Mail applet in Control Panel. Click the E-mail
Accounts button. You should see a list if the accounts and have the ability
of specifying which PST the account should use for delivery.
2. My indexing does not seem to be working, despite having restarted
it several times. Do I need to add my desired pst file to a list of
files to be indexed somewhere and, if so, where is that somewhere?
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar enough with indexing to answer (it just works for me and I
haven't messed with it). I'm sure someone else will chime in.
 
Thanks, Brian. The KB article worked for my categories; I right-clicked on
the root folder of my desired pst folder and "upgraded to color categories"
and all of my colors re-appeared. In this process I discovered another
problem, undoubtedly because I still have the Outlook-created pst folder open
as well: the Outlook Today view is apparenetly attached to the undesired pst
folder and, when I select it's root folder, OL Today throws a script error:

Line: 298
Char: 1
Error: Class not registered
Code: 0
URL: Outlook Today

Any ideas on this one?
 
David Kirk said:
Thanks, Brian. The KB article worked for my categories; I
right-clicked on the root folder of my desired pst folder and
"upgraded to color categories" and all of my colors re-appeared. In
this process I discovered another problem, undoubtedly because I
still have the Outlook-created pst folder open as well: the Outlook
Today view is apparenetly attached to the undesired pst folder and,
when I select it's root folder, OL Today throws a script error:

Line: 298
Char: 1
Error: Class not registered
Code: 0
URL: Outlook Today
Click to expand...

"Outlook Today" is, by definition, the root of whatever PST you've chosen to
be your delivery location. Change your delivery location to be the PST you
want, stop and restart Outlook, and Outlook Today will move to that PST.
You can then right-click>Close the unwanted PST.
 
Thanks again, Brian. Worked like a charm. I changed the default delivery
destination and was able to close the Outrlook-created pst as a result. I do
get the same script error, however. Any ideas about that?
 
I've seen reports that this article works for the line 298 error:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320763/en-us
You receive an "A runtime error has occurred" message when you open the
Outlook Today page

Hal
--
Hal Hostetler, CPBE -- (e-mail address removed)
Senior Engineer/MIS -- MS MVP-Print/Imaging -- WA7BGX
http://www.kvoa.com -- "When News breaks, we fix it!"
KVOA Television, Tucson, AZ. NBC Channel 4
Live at Hot Licks - www.badnewsbluesband.com
 
I'm having a run of bad luck with Dell computers this year: my new XPS 410
went crazy (blue screen of death loop) so Dell swapped for a new system.
After barely two months, that system's hard drives are crashing and I'm
expecting replacements today. (I might as well add that the Dimension 9400
that I upgraded to Vista, which mess precipitated my purchase of the first
new XPS, just had its hard drives and motherboard replaced, too!) Meanwhile
I'm working off my laptop and my pst file. When I transfer OL back to the
new hard drives on the XPS, I need to solve the same problem to which you
responded, below. Unfortunately, I failed to make a note to remind me how to
"Change your delivery location to be the PST you want ..." Would you be so
kind as to remind me? Thanks!
 
David Kirk said:
Unfortunately, I failed to make a note to remind me
how to "Change your delivery location to be the PST you want ..."
Would you be so kind as to remind me? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Tools>Account Settings>Data Files tab should have a place to select a
specific PST as the default delivery location.
 
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