Search folders is a feature added to Outlook 2003. It includes several predefined filter options but the most useful filters are one you create yourself. This option is at the bottom of the New Search folder dialog.
If you use an older version of Outlook, Advanced find gives you essentially the same feature, except it’s not in real time.
Search Folders remain active for 8 days, then stop searching until you use the folder again.
There is a limit to the number of Search folder available with Exchange accounts.
Tips
- The Search folder filter dialog is also used for Views, Automatic Formatting, and Advanced Find. While you can’t export the filter conditions and import them in the other filter dialogs, you can use the information you learned creating one filter when you create filters for other uses.
- Enable QueryBuilder if you need to create a Search folder that uses the OR operator.
- You can reduce the number of search folders needed by combining views with search folders. Make one search folder that does something globally then created filtered custom views to further control what you see.
Outlook Articles (from Microsoft)
Support WebCast: Using Search Folders and Quick Flags in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;831751
Microsoft Office Assistance: About Search Folders
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP073284741033.aspx
Microsoft Office Assistance: Search Folders
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/CH010380001033.aspx
Microsoft Office Assistance: View your Search Folders from Outlook Web Access
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010807361033.aspx
Microsoft Office Assistance: Use Search Folders in the Favorite Folders pane
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011176701033.aspx
Microsoft Office Assistance: Round up your messages by using Search Folders
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011646021033.aspx
Microsoft Office Assistance: Troubleshoot Search Folders
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP010000761033.aspx
How to troubleshoot Search Folders in Outlook 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;831402
E-mail messages do not appear in Hotmail Search Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;827594
Exchange Server Articles (from Microsoft)
Using Exchange store search folders with WebDAV.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/e2k3/e2k3/_exch2k_web_storage_system_search_folders.asp
How to Temporarily Delete Existing Search Folders
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/guides/WorkingE2k3Store/e7f8d06b-0948-421a-bbb5-2b39b3fc1783.mspx
Best Practices for Exchange Server 2003 Search Folders
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/guides/WorkingE2k3Store/59462229-d921-4961-ac76-a0f15c1fcdf4.mspx
How to Change the Length of Time That Exchange Server 2003 Retains Search Folders for a Store
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/guides/WorkingE2k3Store/69eef9ca-6a03-4e40-af01-3ecbef929079.mspx
Search Folders do not appear in Outlook Web Access
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;831400
How to Change the Maximum Number of Search Folders per Target Folder for a Store
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/guides/WorkingE2k3Store/67a335cd-6919-4bf1-a436-7ec3e20d8b60.mspx
Creating Search Folders
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/wss/wss/_exch2k_creating_search_folders.asp
XADM: Exchange 2000 Search Folders Not Updated When New Folders Are Created
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302500
XADM: Event ID 1025 Occurs When Search Folders Are Added To the Backlinks List
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;182321
Tools in the Spotlight
NEO Pro 5.0 is an email organizer and search engine for Outlook that indexes emails (including multiple message stores), as they are sent and received, into convenient virtual folders such as Correspondent, Date, Attachment Type and Category for instant access. NEO Pro introduces Conversation View, which allows users to expand the thread in the message list. Includes email notation so that users can add notes to individual messages for future reference. Messages with notes are indexed and available in a virtual folder for quick access. Compatible with Outlook 2010 (32 bits), 2007, 2003, 2002 (XP), 2000, 98 and works with or without Exchange Server. |
Tools
Copernic Desktop Search (CDS) allows to instantly search files, e-mails, and e-mail attachments stored anywhere on your PC's hard drive. The application executes sub second searching of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, Acrobat PDFs, multimedia, etc. CDS is available in three versions: Home, Professional and Corporate. | |
Lookeen enables Outlook users to browse all data in e-mails, contacts, appointments, tasks or notices in a fast, easy and slick way. Relevant information is at the user's fingertips within a few seconds, and search results covering all file attachments, archive and exchange folders is presented in a transparent manner. Now with real-time indexing. Supports Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010 including 64-bit Outlook 2010. Version 8 | |
Meshin understands and sorts every element in your inbox to help you easily find task-critical information on demand - whether you're having difficulties with your search or trouble remembering what you have. Meshin links items in your inbox to relevant content, contextually binding together information, attachments, internet databases, websites, and social networks. It organizes your email data using intuitive dashboards. Meshin displays people's contact information, your upcoming appointments with threaded conversations, attachments, links, related communications and documents, and information from the web. | |
NEO FIND organizes all emails automatically in the most logical and intuitive way people think about their messages: around the correspondent involved in the email communication. Adopting Caelo's patented virtual folder structure all emails (both sent and received) are organized in a Correspondent folder. This folder can be searched or filtered to quickly zoom-in on the message needed. | |
As any Exchange Public Folder user knows, you can't search all the folders under "Public Folders" in Outlook - you can only search one folder at a time. This small utility addresses this limitation and allows you to search in subfolders of Public Folders. Free. | |
SearchGT quickly shows you information on the currently selected email, including a list of other emails you have received from that person. SearchGT currently works with Outlook 2007 and Outlook 2010. It's supported on Windows32- and 64-bit, but at this time works only with 32-bit Outlook. SearchGT is currently freely available to anyone who is interested in being a beta tester. | |
TabView Organizer is a plugin for Microsoft Outlook that allows you to search, sort, group, and view information in a few clicks in the way you prefer. | |
Xobni is the free Outlook plugin that saves you time finding email, conversations, contact info, and attachments. Get lightning-fast search and learn more about the people in Outlook through information drawn from around the web. LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Salesforce, Hoover's info, and more-all right inside Outlook. |
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Last reviewed on Dec 8, 2011
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