Leaving copies on server

[killyman]

I've discovered with Outlook and Outlook Express that the "leave copies of messages on server" option can be misleading.

While testing the e-mail sending and receiving capabilities of my Outlook program with this option set, I was able to retrieve new e-mail while copies were left on the server.

I then turned the option off and deleted the new e-mail in my inbox and subsequently from my deleted folder so as not to have duplicate new messages the next time I check my e-mail. I was assuming that Outlook would then download the copies of my new e-mail that were still up on the server, but to my surprise it removed the copies from the server and didn't download them to my inbox.

So, I've lost my new e-mail messages altogether. I guess I shouldn't have deleted the first copies from my inbox, right? But like I said the option is misleading and I assumed I was going to get another set of copies of my new e-mail messages off of the server the second time Outlook went to retrieve messages.

I tried to find some documentation on the web and at Microsoft's web site about this potential problem for novice users, but to no avail.

Does anyone know of any written documentation on this matter or is this just something you have to learn through trial and error?

Clark

 

[smah]

I don't know of any written documentation, but what happens is that each mail client/profile knows wether or not it downloaded the messages and won't download them again. If you were to use a different mail client or create a new profile for your existing mail client the messages would download again.

I believe that the 'list' of what has been downloaded for OE is in a .dat file in the same folder as your *.dbx files. I can't remember exactly what it's named at the moment and can't check. If you were to delete or rename that *.dat file, you would download the messages again in OE. I'm not sure if outlook works the same.

 

[pavewayammo]

Here is my take on this.

If you use two or more computers or even logins and leave the messages on the server you will be able to get to them from each one even if you have downloaded them to another computer/login.

Does take make sense?



paveway

Looking for help check the FAQ's first then do a search then ask. Worked for me.

 

[smah]

I gave slightly wrong info earlier. The file OE uses to keep track of what has been downloaded is pop3uidl.dbx.

 

[killyman]

Thank you smah and pavewayammo for your helpful insight and advice.

I had a feeling that the program kept a log somewhere of what it had downloaded and with Outlook Express it is the Pop3uidl.dbx file. I haven't tried deleting this file and then redownloading new messages to Outlook Express with "leave a copy of messages on server" option enabled, but I'm sure it should work.

I don't have Outlook configured on this computer (at home) but the next time I'm working on my boss' computer, I'll take a look for a similar file in the folder where outlook.pst file is kept.