Outlook/Express file compression

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 1:29 pm

Outlook/Express file compression

I have a friend who uses Outlook or Outlook Express, I don't.

He asked me what is the function under "File"/ "Compress all Folders" in his inbox mean.

Help all of you Outlook users.

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 3:32 pm

O & OE use their own "database" format for accounts -- they stuff all messages into one big file. If you delete a message, only its index is deleted, not the message itself. "Compressing" simply means cleanup..

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 3:46 pm

Does that mean when they compress they actually delete the file?

Arch · Post by **Arch** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 5:24 pm

Compressing won't delete any files.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 7:29 pm

Then are they just using their form of WinZip? And is there any downside to it.

ould he have to "uncompress" later?

I don't want to tell someone it's OK to use if I don't know all the facts.

Thanks

fliptw · Post by **fliptw** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:58 pm

its OK to use it.

Arch · Post by **Arch** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 1:19 am

All it does is reduce the file size of each folder. Its a space saving mechanism. Unless he's really short on disk space it isn't going to help much. I doubt his mail store directory is over 100megs.