The Outlook is Cloudy but Clearing!!
by Gary Woods

The most panicky call I get is when someone has lost their Outlook Database. On the PC all the data for Outlook resides in a file called Outlook.pst. If you're comfortable with finding that file and copying it to another part of your hard drive or burning it to a CD then stop reading now. If you don't have a clue what I said in the last paragraph then keep reading.

A program called Email Saver Xe ($29 direct) can back up any combination of message files, address books, mail filters, signatures, stationery, and identity settings, and it does so either on demand or at scheduled intervals. The program supports not only Outlook, but eight other popular e-mail clients, including my favorite Eudora and Outlook Express. Plus, it can also backup Internet Explorer favorites as well.

The automatic schedule program by default preserves 2 older backups when making a new one, but you can keep as many as 99 backups. Email Saver Xe is published by WinGuides Software http://www.winguides.com/emailsaver.

Another program I found interesting is by Sperry Software http://www.sperrysoftware.com/Outlook/default.asp and is called Attachment Forget-Me-Not. This cool little piece of software scans your email before you send it for words like attachment, or any other terms you specify, and pops up a warning if you forgot to attach a file.

Finally, if you send a lot of attachments ZipOut 2003 ($20, http://www.microeye.com) automatically compresses outgoing attachments as ZIP archives.

If you have any suggestions or questions for me please drop me a note at garyandlaury@santabarbaraproperties.com or see my column on the Internet at http://www.santabarbaraproperties.com or call me at (805) 729-0910