When I run Exmerge 6.5.7529 to merge data into an existing PST it renames the 
info store (NOT the physical file name) to EXMERGE - Last, First instead of 
the "Personal Folders" it began as in the Outlook folder view pane.

I was looking for one of two solutions: A way to tell Exmerge NOT to do this 
-OR- a script to rename the information store that does NOT require Outlook 
to be present (we're planning to run on a server).

This is all being done from a script so the INI file setting would be the 
most helpful but I can find this if you happen to also know the GUI setting.

On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:10:00 -0700, Rick E
 wrote:

>When I run Exmerge 6.5.7529 to merge data into an existing PST it renames the 
>info store (NOT the physical file name) to EXMERGE - Last, First instead of 
>the "Personal Folders" it began as in the Outlook folder view pane.
>
>I was looking for one of two solutions: A way to tell Exmerge NOT to do this 
>-OR- a script to rename the information store that does NOT require Outlook 
>to be present (we're planning to run on a server).
>
>This is all being done from a script so the INI file setting would be the 
>most helpful but I can find this if you happen to also know the GUI setting.

I'm not entirely clear what you mean here.
A PST file will show up in Outlook as "Personal Folders" unless it was
changed when you created the PST.
A Mailbox will show up in Outlook as however the display name is
formatted, be that "John Doe" or "Doe, John". That's nothing to do
with exmerge.
If you're merging data into a mailbox with a PST from Exmerge you
won't get anything renamed.
Can you clarify a little more on what you mean unless I've explained
it sufficiently that you know what's going on.

When we have a 'Personal Folder' setup in the Outlook profile, you're right.  
But then when we use EXMERGE to move data into the SAME PST the next time we 
go into Outlook it no longer shows as Personal Folders, it now reads 
'EXMERGE-Last,First' which confuses the users.

"Mark Arnold [MVP]" wrote:

> On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:10:00 -0700, Rick E
>  wrote:
> 
> >When I run Exmerge 6.5.7529 to merge data into an existing PST it renames the 
> >info store (NOT the physical file name) to EXMERGE - Last, First instead of 
> >the "Personal Folders" it began as in the Outlook folder view pane.
> >
> >I was looking for one of two solutions: A way to tell Exmerge NOT to do this 
> >-OR- a script to rename the information store that does NOT require Outlook 
> >to be present (we're planning to run on a server).
> >
> >This is all being done from a script so the INI file setting would be the 
> >most helpful but I can find this if you happen to also know the GUI setting.
> 
> I'm not entirely clear what you mean here.
> A PST file will show up in Outlook as "Personal Folders" unless it was
> changed when you created the PST.
> A Mailbox will show up in Outlook as however the display name is
> formatted, be that "John Doe" or "Doe, John". That's nothing to do
> with exmerge.
> If you're merging data into a mailbox with a PST from Exmerge you
> won't get anything renamed.
> Can you clarify a little more on what you mean unless I've explained
> it sufficiently that you know what's going on.
>

Rick E  wrote:
> When we have a 'Personal Folder' setup in the Outlook profile, you're
> right. But then when we use EXMERGE to move data into the SAME PST
> the next time we go into Outlook it no longer shows as Personal
> Folders, it now reads 'EXMERGE-Last,First' which confuses the users.

I've never seen this happen when I run exmerge to do ersatz "brick-level" 
backups - hmmm.

Perhaps OT, but may I ask why you're using PST files at all, and if you're 
using them for regular backup purposes, why your users are regularly loading 
them in Outlook? This is particularly curious as I'm presuming your 
exmerge'd PST files are on the network - it is not supported to open PST 
files across a LAN/WAN connection. They have to be on the local computer.

>
> "Mark Arnold [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:10:00 -0700, Rick E
>>  wrote:
>>
>>> When I run Exmerge 6.5.7529 to merge data into an existing PST it
>>> renames the info store (NOT the physical file name) to EXMERGE -
>>> Last, First instead of the "Personal Folders" it began as in the
>>> Outlook folder view pane.
>>>
>>> I was looking for one of two solutions: A way to tell Exmerge NOT
>>> to do this -OR- a script to rename the information store that does
>>> NOT require Outlook to be present (we're planning to run on a
>>> server).
>>>
>>> This is all being done from a script so the INI file setting would
>>> be the most helpful but I can find this if you happen to also know
>>> the GUI setting.
>>
>> I'm not entirely clear what you mean here.
>> A PST file will show up in Outlook as "Personal Folders" unless it
>> was changed when you created the PST.
>> A Mailbox will show up in Outlook as however the display name is
>> formatted, be that "John Doe" or "Doe, John". That's nothing to do
>> with exmerge.
>> If you're merging data into a mailbox with a PST from Exmerge you
>> won't get anything renamed.
>> Can you clarify a little more on what you mean unless I've explained
>> it sufficiently that you know what's going on.

I've never heard the PST's can't be accessed on a network drive but I'd agree 
they cannot be accessed by more than one user at a time as you get access 
violation but this scenario never occurs as these PST's reside on the user's 
personal home drive so they can be backed up.

We don't use EXMERGE for brick level as we do them one by one.

Thanks for the attention but it feels like something you haven't seen.

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

> Rick E  wrote:
> > When we have a 'Personal Folder' setup in the Outlook profile, you're
> > right. But then when we use EXMERGE to move data into the SAME PST
> > the next time we go into Outlook it no longer shows as Personal
> > Folders, it now reads 'EXMERGE-Last,First' which confuses the users.
> 
> I've never seen this happen when I run exmerge to do ersatz "brick-level" 
> backups - hmmm.
> 
> Perhaps OT, but may I ask why you're using PST files at all, and if you're 
> using them for regular backup purposes, why your users are regularly loading 
> them in Outlook? This is particularly curious as I'm presuming your 
> exmerge'd PST files are on the network - it is not supported to open PST 
> files across a LAN/WAN connection. They have to be on the local computer.
> 
> >
> > "Mark Arnold [MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >> On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:10:00 -0700, Rick E
> >>  wrote:
> >>
> >>> When I run Exmerge 6.5.7529 to merge data into an existing PST it
> >>> renames the info store (NOT the physical file name) to EXMERGE -
> >>> Last, First instead of the "Personal Folders" it began as in the
> >>> Outlook folder view pane.
> >>>
> >>> I was looking for one of two solutions: A way to tell Exmerge NOT
> >>> to do this -OR- a script to rename the information store that does
> >>> NOT require Outlook to be present (we're planning to run on a
> >>> server).
> >>>
> >>> This is all being done from a script so the INI file setting would
> >>> be the most helpful but I can find this if you happen to also know
> >>> the GUI setting.
> >>
> >> I'm not entirely clear what you mean here.
> >> A PST file will show up in Outlook as "Personal Folders" unless it
> >> was changed when you created the PST.
> >> A Mailbox will show up in Outlook as however the display name is
> >> formatted, be that "John Doe" or "Doe, John". That's nothing to do
> >> with exmerge.
> >> If you're merging data into a mailbox with a PST from Exmerge you
> >> won't get anything renamed.
> >> Can you clarify a little more on what you mean unless I've explained
> >> it sufficiently that you know what's going on.
> 
> 
> 
>

I'm pretty sure that Lanwench has seen 20 times more than you in their
long, ancient, cold, drink sodden life.
You do know that you shouldn't be using exmerge to add to PST files.
That would cause the problems I'm thinking you're seeing. That said
your description of the problem isn't very good so perhaps neither of
us are getting it.

I'd agree its tough to visualize but i don't know how else i can further 
describe it.  I'd love to send some print screens if there are any ways to do 
this.

"Mark Arnold [MVP]" wrote:

> I'm pretty sure that Lanwench has seen 20 times more than you in their
> long, ancient, cold, drink sodden life.
> You do know that you shouldn't be using exmerge to add to PST files.
> That would cause the problems I'm thinking you're seeing. That said
> your description of the problem isn't very good so perhaps neither of
> us are getting it.
>

Yeah, do that.
Send a list of bullets on exactly what you're doing and in what order
etc.

I don't know where to get the email address from.  As an MVP are you able to 
see mine?

Bullets are:
   User has Outlook 2003 profile with PST user.pst configured
   User goes into Outlook, assumine all items collapsed, sees these 
infostores:
       "Mailbox - Last, First"
       "Personal Folders"
       "Public Folders"
   User uses daily, moves email in and out of Personal Folders.
   User logs off, goes home
   Server runs EXMERGE to same user.pst adding older Exchange emails into 
existing user.pst.  Runs without errors.
   User logs on next morning.  In Outlook they now see:
       "Mailbox - Last, First"
       "EXMERGE - Last, First"
       "Public Folders"
   User calls help desk and states "All my 'Personal Folders' are gone"
   All "Personal Folder" data and EXMERGE data are perfect but just under an 
infostore of this different name.

I'm guessing this bahvaior is "by design" for Exmerge but is there a way to 
tell Exmerge to stop doing it or an automated means to set it back to display 
"Perosnal Folders" before the user logs on in the morning?

"Mark Arnold [MVP]" wrote:

> Yeah, do that.
> Send a list of bullets on exactly what you're doing and in what order
> etc.
> 
>

It is possible to access a PST that resides on a network drive.  It's not a 
best practice to, and not supported.  The reason is that PSTs were designed 
for local access.  Access via a network share is very inefficient and 
problematic.


"Rick E"  wrote in message 
news:7D1F2E8C-A19F-43E8-B435-3C6A62C6AF55@microsoft.com...
> I've never heard the PST's can't be accessed on a network drive but I'd 
> agree
> they cannot be accessed by more than one user at a time as you get access
> violation but this scenario never occurs as these PST's reside on the 
> user's
> personal home drive so they can be backed up.
>
> We don't use EXMERGE for brick level as we do them one by one.
>
> Thanks for the attention but it feels like something you haven't seen.
>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
>
>> Rick E  wrote:
>> > When we have a 'Personal Folder' setup in the Outlook profile, you're
>> > right. But then when we use EXMERGE to move data into the SAME PST
>> > the next time we go into Outlook it no longer shows as Personal
>> > Folders, it now reads 'EXMERGE-Last,First' which confuses the users.
>>
>> I've never seen this happen when I run exmerge to do ersatz "brick-level"
>> backups - hmmm.
>>
>> Perhaps OT, but may I ask why you're using PST files at all, and if 
>> you're
>> using them for regular backup purposes, why your users are regularly 
>> loading
>> them in Outlook? This is particularly curious as I'm presuming your
>> exmerge'd PST files are on the network - it is not supported to open PST
>> files across a LAN/WAN connection. They have to be on the local computer.
>>
>> >
>> > "Mark Arnold [MVP]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:10:00 -0700, Rick E
>> >>  wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> When I run Exmerge 6.5.7529 to merge data into an existing PST it
>> >>> renames the info store (NOT the physical file name) to EXMERGE -
>> >>> Last, First instead of the "Personal Folders" it began as in the
>> >>> Outlook folder view pane.
>> >>>
>> >>> I was looking for one of two solutions: A way to tell Exmerge NOT
>> >>> to do this -OR- a script to rename the information store that does
>> >>> NOT require Outlook to be present (we're planning to run on a
>> >>> server).
>> >>>
>> >>> This is all being done from a script so the INI file setting would
>> >>> be the most helpful but I can find this if you happen to also know
>> >>> the GUI setting.
>> >>
>> >> I'm not entirely clear what you mean here.
>> >> A PST file will show up in Outlook as "Personal Folders" unless it
>> >> was changed when you created the PST.
>> >> A Mailbox will show up in Outlook as however the display name is
>> >> formatted, be that "John Doe" or "Doe, John". That's nothing to do
>> >> with exmerge.
>> >> If you're merging data into a mailbox with a PST from Exmerge you
>> >> won't get anything renamed.
>> >> Can you clarify a little more on what you mean unless I've explained
>> >> it sufficiently that you know what's going on.
>>
>>
>>
>>

On Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:37:00 -0700, Rick E
 wrote:

>I don't know where to get the email address from.  As an MVP are you able to 
>see mine?
>
>Bullets are:
>   User has Outlook 2003 profile with PST user.pst configured
>   User goes into Outlook, assumine all items collapsed, sees these 
>infostores:
>       "Mailbox - Last, First"
>       "Personal Folders"
>       "Public Folders"
>   User uses daily, moves email in and out of Personal Folders.
>   User logs off, goes home
>   Server runs EXMERGE to same user.pst adding older Exchange emails into 
>existing user.pst.  Runs without errors.
>   User logs on next morning.  In Outlook they now see:
>       "Mailbox - Last, First"
>       "EXMERGE - Last, First"
>       "Public Folders"
>   User calls help desk and states "All my 'Personal Folders' are gone"
>   All "Personal Folder" data and EXMERGE data are perfect but just under an 
>infostore of this different name.
>
>I'm guessing this bahvaior is "by design" for Exmerge but is there a way to 
>tell Exmerge to stop doing it or an automated means to set it back to display 
>"Perosnal Folders" before the user logs on in the morning?
>
Oh yeah. Stop doing this. Stop doing this now. Stop immediately. No,
No, No. Step away from the exmerge.
So, now that you're not doing these exmerge's any more why were you
doing it in the first place? Either the user is in control of moving
stuff or you/exmerge are/is.

(Oh, and if you look in the message you'll see an email address
(mark@mvps.org) which is valid.

Rick E  wrote:
> I've never heard the PST's can't be accessed on a network drive

Yep. It's true. Don't do it.

"PST files are unsupported over a LAN or over a WAN link"
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=297019

> but
> I'd agree they cannot be accessed by more than one user at a time as
> you get access violation but this scenario never occurs as these
> PST's reside on the user's personal home drive so they can be backed
> up.

See 
http://www.exchangefaq.org/faq/Exchange-5.5/Why-PST-=-BAD-/q/Why-PST-=-BAD/qid/1209

Bottom line - avoid PST files - you've got Exchange.

>
> We don't use EXMERGE for brick level as we do them one by one.

Then what are you regularly using exmerge *for* ?
>
> Thanks for the attention but it feels like something you haven't seen.

As the illustrious Mr. Arnold mentioned, perhaps it would behoove you to 
post a very detailed breakdown of the steps you're following, as we are 
clearly missing something. But I still stand by the above comments....

>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
>
>> Rick E  wrote:
>>> When we have a 'Personal Folder' setup in the Outlook profile,
>>> you're right. But then when we use EXMERGE to move data into the
>>> SAME PST the next time we go into Outlook it no longer shows as
>>> Personal Folders, it now reads 'EXMERGE-Last,First' which confuses
>>> the users.
>>
>> I've never seen this happen when I run exmerge to do ersatz
>> "brick-level" backups - hmmm.
>>
>> Perhaps OT, but may I ask why you're using PST files at all, and if
>> you're using them for regular backup purposes, why your users are
>> regularly loading them in Outlook? This is particularly curious as
>> I'm presuming your exmerge'd PST files are on the network - it is
>> not supported to open PST files across a LAN/WAN connection. They
>> have to be on the local computer.
>>
>>>
>>> "Mark Arnold [MVP]" wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:10:00 -0700, Rick E
>>>>  wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> When I run Exmerge 6.5.7529 to merge data into an existing PST it
>>>>> renames the info store (NOT the physical file name) to EXMERGE -
>>>>> Last, First instead of the "Personal Folders" it began as in the
>>>>> Outlook folder view pane.
>>>>>
>>>>> I was looking for one of two solutions: A way to tell Exmerge NOT
>>>>> to do this -OR- a script to rename the information store that does
>>>>> NOT require Outlook to be present (we're planning to run on a
>>>>> server).
>>>>>
>>>>> This is all being done from a script so the INI file setting would
>>>>> be the most helpful but I can find this if you happen to also know
>>>>> the GUI setting.
>>>>
>>>> I'm not entirely clear what you mean here.
>>>> A PST file will show up in Outlook as "Personal Folders" unless it
>>>> was changed when you created the PST.
>>>> A Mailbox will show up in Outlook as however the display name is
>>>> formatted, be that "John Doe" or "Doe, John". That's nothing to do
>>>> with exmerge.
>>>> If you're merging data into a mailbox with a PST from Exmerge you
>>>> won't get anything renamed.
>>>> Can you clarify a little more on what you mean unless I've
>>>> explained it sufficiently that you know what's going on.

Mark Arnold [MVP]  wrote:
> I'm pretty sure that Lanwench has seen 20 times more than you in their
> long, ancient, cold, drink sodden life.

I'm a mere slip of a girl and they didn't teach me that sort of thing in 
convent school.

> You do know that you shouldn't be using exmerge to add to PST files.
> That would cause the problems I'm thinking you're seeing. That said
> your description of the problem isn't very good so perhaps neither of
> us are getting it.

>
>As the illustrious Mr. Arnold mentioned, perhaps it would behoove you to 
>post a very detailed breakdown of the steps you're following, as we are 
>clearly missing something. But I still stand by the above comments....
>
1) Illustrious is an Aircraft Carrier and I ain't that fat any more
(I've lost 20lbs so far for a little shindig that we are having after
xmas!!)

2) He did give a breakdown and OMG, like holy heck. Step him away from
the keyboard!

Well, if nothing else thanks for all the attention & the reference to the KB 
article.  Glad I could brighten everyone's day.



"Mark Arnold [MVP]" wrote:

> 
> >
> >As the illustrious Mr. Arnold mentioned, perhaps it would behoove you to 
> >post a very detailed breakdown of the steps you're following, as we are 
> >clearly missing something. But I still stand by the above comments....
> >
> 1) Illustrious is an Aircraft Carrier and I ain't that fat any more
> (I've lost 20lbs so far for a little shindig that we are having after
> xmas!!)
> 
> 2) He did give a breakdown and OMG, like holy heck. Step him away from
> the keyboard!
>

Rick E  wrote:
> Well, if nothing else thanks for all the attention & the reference to
> the KB article.  Glad I could brighten everyone's day.

I'm a better person for the experience. :-)

PS: I completely agree with Mark. Whatever it is you're doing with PST 
files, you should cease and desist. - If you want to use exmerge for 
brick-level backups, go to town - just don't give users access to those 
files, and don't append to 'em.

Read the PST=BAD link I posted for a slew of reasons why to avoid 'em.



>
>
>
> "Mark Arnold [MVP]" wrote:
>
>>
>>>
>>> As the illustrious Mr. Arnold mentioned, perhaps it would behoove
>>> you to post a very detailed breakdown of the steps you're
>>> following, as we are clearly missing something. But I still stand
>>> by the above comments....
>>>
>> 1) Illustrious is an Aircraft Carrier and I ain't that fat any more
>> (I've lost 20lbs so far for a little shindig that we are having after
>> xmas!!)
>>
>> 2) He did give a breakdown and OMG, like holy heck. Step him away
>> from the keyboard!