Microsoft KB Archive/261207

= XCLN: Information about the Large Message Rule in Outlook 2000 =

Article ID: 261207

Article Last Modified on 10/28/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q261207



SUMMARY
This article provides information about the Large Message rule in Outlook.



MORE INFORMATION
In versions of Outlook earlier than Outlook 2000, the use of Offline Folder (.ost) files is a benefit to mobile users. As a mobile user, you can create .ost files, and then synchronize your .ost files with server-based mailboxes. However, this function is limited because you can only synchronize your entire mailbox or synchronize each folder individually. Also, the default folders under the mailbox (Calendar, Contacts, Deleted Items, Drafts, Inbox, Journal, Notes, Outbox, Sent Items, and Tasks ) are configured to be synchronized when you are either offline or online. Because of this, the folders are available when you works offline. For clients that connect by using a dial-up modem, this synchronization process can be very slow, especially if there are large messages, or messages with large attachments, in the mailbox folders.

One of the usability enhancements in Outlook 2000 allows you to configure a filter for more rapid synchronization. This filter is implemented in the form of a rule, the Large Message rule. The Large Message rule checks if the incoming message is larger than 50 kilobytes (KB), the default size which can be changed, and, if the message is larger them 50 KB, it moves the message to the Large Messages sub-folder under the Inbox. Because of this, it is a server-side rule. When you are online (connected to the Exchange Server computer) and receive a message that is larger than 50 KB from another user, the Large Message rule works. You sees the New Messages of Interest dialog box with the following message:

These messages have been moved to the Large Messages folder. To view the messages, go online or synchronize the Large Messages folder.

The dialog box also contains a list of messages that are larger than 50 KB. You can only see the From box and the Subject box in the Messages of Interest dialog box.

If the you are working off-line, and you have received a message that is than 50 KB during that period, the server-side Large Message rule automatically moves that message to the Large Messages sub-folder under the Inbox folder of the user's mailbox. When you click Synchronies on the Tools menu, and then click All folders to synchronize, Outlook connects to the Exchange Server computer and then synchronizes all of the folders. You also receive the New Messages of Interest dialog box. When you try to open one of the messages that are displayed, you receive the following error message:

This message is not available. It may be in a folder that is not available offline.

This feature can be enabled or disabled when you are connected to the Exchange Server computer. To enable this feature:
 * 1) On the Tools menu, click Synchronize, and then click Offline Folder Settings.
 * 2) On the All Folders tab, click Download Options.
 * 3) Verify that the Don't download messages larger than check box is selected, click OK, and then click OK.

The default message size for this filter is 50 KB. You can modify this setting. After you click to select the Don't download messages larger than check box, the Exceptions section is available and you can add additional criteria for message filtering. You do not have to modify the rule. If you have modified the rule by adding criteria to the Exceptions section, and then you decide that you want to revert to the default rule, you can click Restore Default Rule.

After you enable this rule, you can see the rule listed in the Rules Wizard as &quot;Large Message Rule (client-only).&quot; You can enable or disable the rule, move it up and down, delete it, or rename it from the Rules Wizard interface in the same way that you would do this for other rules. If you rename this rule, and then click Restore Default Rule, the rule is recreated as &quot;Large Message Rule (client-only).&quot;

Keywords: kbhowto KB261207

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