Exchange Exchange

I know there are three ways you can setup Outlook 2003 without doing it manually.  I know you can create a transform (MST) file, create a custom maintenance wizard (CMW) file, or create a profile (PRF) file.  At my site Office 2003 is already installed so the MST won't help me.  I created a CMW file but when you run this it will actually remove the Outlook Address Book losing the user's contacts.  I don't want to have to manually install Outlook Address Book each time because that just defeats the purpose.  So I've create a PRF file which will set all the settings and get the Outlook Address Book back.  The problem is every time it is run it has to open Outlook.  I've created a script so that it will only run once.  Again the drawback to that is if I have a different user login to this machine they will not have their Outlook configured.  Is there a better or easier way to do this?  I wish I could use Outlook 2007 AutoDiscovery at this point.  My script is below. Thanks in advance.

IF EXIST C:\OUTLOOKSTD.LOG GOTO END

\\Server\Shared\MaintWiz.exe /c \\Server\Shared\Office2003STD.CMW /qb-

ECHO Outlook configured on %computername% for user %username% at %date% %time% >> C:\OUTLOOKSTD.LOG

:END

Are you connecting to an Exchange server with Outlook? Where are these addressed stored?

If they are stored in the contacts folder in Exchange the Outlook AB client can be added with the PRF file.

I should have mentioned Exchange but I thought it would be inferred seeing as I posted in this forum.  Also if you read my post I already stated I created a PRF file to add back the Outlook Address Book.

I had thought you were using it, but I was trying to figure out why they would lose contacts if they are stored in Exchange. I guess I didn't properly infer from the message that they would lose the option to view the contacts when adding users to an e-mail message. 

If you want to continue to use the script you can add some logic into the script that looks for a file. I've used this approach in the past: When you intially create a profile for a user create a file in a folder called USERNAMEPRF.tmp or even make a registry setting.  Then add something to the beginning of the script to look for that file or registry setting, if it is missing create the profile, otherwise exit.

Yeah that's what I thought I'd have to do.  I was hoping there would be a better way.  Thank you for your help.

Hi JRedmond,

I wonder if you can help?

I have a prf file that configures outlook2003 perfectly, except for the exchange contacts are missing. The Global AB is OK.  Any ideas what change to make to the PRF file to add this ?

Thanks

Steve

Steve,

How did you generate the original PRF? Did you do any modifications with a text editor to make it work?

Perhaps you could attach the PRF to this thread or send it to me in PM.

Thanks for replying, But I have fixed it now. The sample PRF file had this missing:-

 [Outlook Address Book]
ServiceName=CONTAB
Ben=PT_STRING8,0x6700

 This fixed it.  What the hell Ben and CONTAB are I havent got a clue!

Cheers

Steve

CONTAB is the CONTact Address Book.

hello there,

 Can you please email me the .PRF file please with the above strings added.

you can mail me to notsure_hacksem@hotmail.com

 thanks

notsure

You can download the the sample with those two missing attributes here: http://www.microsoft.com/office/ork/2000/download/Outlook.prf

 Of course this doesn't have all the settings for your environment, the best way to generate a PRF would be to use the Custom Installation Wizard for your version of Office. More information here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/orkXP/HA011364251033.aspx