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What are the Outlook Command-Line Switches?
Outlook supports a number of command-line switches; these are normally used when you need to restore Outlook settings to their factory defaults. Some of these switches are recommended for solving problems. If you do hit an unexpected issue and want to run one of these switches, we strongly encourage you to log a call with us first as you may have hit a bug. This is especially important if you’re using beta versions of Outlook 2003.
Outlook 2003 is usually installed in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11 (substitute C with the appropriate drive letter on your system). Open a CMD window, navigate to that path, and run Outlook.exe with the appropriate switch.
To use switches, at the Start menu, Run command type:
Outlook /switch
Occasionally you’ll need to use the full path to Outlook, so the command line looks like:
“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\Outlook.exe ” /switch
Note: Paths that include spaces between words must be enclosed in quotation marks (“) and are case sensitive.
For your reference here are just some of the most commonly used switches:
/c messageclass
Creates a new item of the specified message class, works for any valid MAPI form. For example:
/c ipm.activity creates a Journal entry /c ipm.appointment creates an appointment /c ipm.contact creates a contact /c ipm.note creates an e-mail message /c ipm.stickynote creates a note /c ipm.task creates a task
/CleanClientRules
Starts Outlook and deletes client-based rules. For non-Exchange users.
/CleanFinders
Sets Outlook 2003 Search Folders back to the default state (deletes custom Search Folders)
/CleanFreeBusy
Cleans and regenerates free/busy information.
/CleanProfile
Removes invalid profile keys and recreates default registry keys where applicable.
/Cleanpst
Launches Outlook with a clean Personal Folders file (.pst)
/CleanReminders
Cleans and regenerates reminders.
/CleanRules
Starts Outlook and deletes client- and server-based rules.
/CleanSchedPlus
Deletes all Schedule+ data (free/busy, permissions, and .cal file) from the server.
/CleanServerRules
Starts Outlook and deletes server-based rules. Used only with Exchange server accounts.
/CleanViews
Restores default views.
/FirstRun
Starts Outlook as if it were run for the first time.
/ImportPrf prffilename
Launches Outlook and opens/imports the defined MAPI profile (*.prf). If Outlook is already open, queues the profile to be imported on the next clean launch.
/Profile profilename
Loads the specified profile. If your profile name contains a space, enclose the profile name in quotation marks.
/ResetFolderNames
Resets the language of the default folders to the language of the Outlook client.
/ResetFolders
Restores missing folders for the default delivery location.
/ResetOutlookBar
Rebuilds the Outlook Bar.
/ResetWunderBar
Rebuilds the new Outlook Control Bar in Outlook 2003.
/Rpcdiag
Opens Outlook and displays the remote procedure call (RPC) connection status dialog.
/Sniff
Starts Outlook and forces a detection of new meeting requests in the Inbox, and then adds them to the calendar.
For Outlook PST Repair, check out our latest inbox repair tool article.
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Using Command lines in Outlook 2003
Using Command lines in Outlook 2003 (Hebrew list, nice)
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