Exchange Messaging Outlook Volume 13, Number 31

Exchange Mailbox Database Portability

by Michael B. Smith, MCSE/Exchange MVP

Database portability, as it applies to Exchange server, is the capability of taking a copy of a mailbox database from one Exchange server and using it as another mailbox database - whether on the same Exchange server or on another Exchange server.

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Outlook 2007: Enabling 'Send Pictures with Messages'

In previous versions of Outlook you could embed a link to a picture instead of embedding the actual picture in emails by going to Tools, Options, Mail Format tab, Internet Format button unchecking “When an HTML message contains pictures located on the Internet, send a copy of the pictures instead of the reference to their location”.

This option doesn't exist in Outlook 2007. If you upgrade from an older version, the setting migrates to Outlook 2007 but the setting is not exposed in Outlook 2007. It is a registry setting, so you can change it if desired.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Outlook\Options\Mail
DWORD of Send Pictures With Document
A value of 1 includes the picture with the message.
If the value is 0 or the key is missing, you’ll send a link to the image.

Filter the To-Do Bar's Taskpad

Although Outlook 2007 doesn't include a taskpad view for 'active tasks for selected day' it's possible to modify the taskpad view so that it shows only open tasks for a specific date or period. It won't replace the 'active tasks for selected date' option found in older versions, but can be set to show tasks due today and overdue tasks.

You'll need to create a view that filters out anything not due Today. To do this, right click on the field names in the To-Do Bar's Taskpad, then choose Customize current view and create the filter on the Advanced tab. You'll use the Due Date field and select today from the condition dropdown. If you want to include past due tasks also, choose 'on or before' as the condition and type Today in the value field. To remove completed items from the view, create a filter for Completed field equals No.

Unfortunately the To-Do Bar's Taskpad supports just one view, so you can't create multiple custom views with different filter criteria.

Outlook Quick Tip: End a Recurring Meeting

If you want to end a recurring meeting but keep the meeting history, set the meeting to end today (or on the last meeting in the series). This will eliminate future meetings but keep the previous ones.

This won't work if are exceptions in the recurrence as changing the end date will remove all exceptions. If this is the case, move the meeting to a new calendar 9use table view and drag it to the new calendar), export to Excel or CSV format, delete the meeting and import the file. This will import each occurrence as an individual event but maintain the exceptions.