OL2000: How to Use Command-Line Switches

ID: Q193282

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Outlook 2000

WARNING: ANY USE BY YOU OF THE COMMAND-LINE SWITCHES PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Microsoft provides these command line switches without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

SUMMARY

The Outlook Help file contains an entry that lists command-line switches which allow you to start Outlook in a specific mode or with a specific form.

This article lists additional command-line switches that are not included in the Outlook Help topic, and how to use them. These command-line switches can be used for diagnostic purposes.

MORE INFORMATION

To determine the path to Outlook, follow these steps:

Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files or Folders.

In the Named box, type Outlook.exe and then click Find Now.

Note the path to the Outlook executable for reference. For example, the default path is:


C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Outlook.exe

On the File menu, click Close.

To use a command line switch, follow these steps:

Click Start, and click Run.

In the Open box, type the complete path noted in Step 3, including the file name. Press the SPACEBAR once and then type the forward slash (/) followed by the command-line switch.

For example, if you wish to use the /Cleanreminders switch, the command line should read:


"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Outlook.exe." /Cleanreminders

NOTE: The full path needs to be in quotation marks to preserve long filenames.


Command-Line switch      Purpose
-------------------      -------

/CleanFreeBusy           Cleans and regenerates free/busy information.

/CleanReminders          Cleans and regenerates reminders.

/CleanViews              Restores default views.

/CheckClient             Prompts for default manager of e-mail,
                         news, and contacts.

/ResetFolders            Restores missing folders for the default
                         delivery location.

/ResetOutlookBar         Rebuilds the Outlook Bar.

/NoPreview               Turns off the preview pane and removes the
                         option from the View menu.

/CleanSchedPlus          Deletes all Schedule+ data (free/busy,
                         permissions, and .cal file) from the server
                         and allows the free/busy information from the
                         Outlook Calendar to be used and viewed by all
                         Schedule+ 1.0 users.

CAUTION: Some of the following switches are designed to reset files and settings. This means that using them may cause the loss of your customizations. Also, creating a new .pst or profile will use a default file and not an existing one. Those settings are still available on the computer, just not being used for the command-line switch.

You can find additional information on the following switches in the the Outlook Deployment Kit.


/Cleanprofile            Removes and recreates default registry keys.
                         This has also been used to repair a situation
                         where WinFax does not show up on the menu.

/Cleanpst                Starts Outlook with a clean .pst.
                         Use this switch with Internet Mail Only.

/Safe                    Start Outlook without extensions, preview
                         pane, or toolbar customization.

/Recycle                 Reuses existing windows to open up the folders
                         specified. Used in  combination with the /explorer
                         switch or the /folder switch.

/Explorer                Opens new window in "explorer" mode (Navigation
                         bar on).

/Folder                  Opens new window in "folder" mode (Navigator bar
                         off).

/Profiles                Shows MAPI Profiles dialog box regardless of 
                         Options setting on the Tools menu.

/Profile <profilename>   Loads specified profile. (If your profile contains
                         a space, Outlook may treat it as an invalid
                         profile name when using this switch. Work around 
                         this by wrappping the profile name in quotes.) 

/s <filename>            Loads specified shortcuts file (.fav file).

/p <msgfilename>         Prints <msgfilename>.  Same as /f except is 
                         associated with the print verb instead of open.

/Embedding <msgfilename> Used to open a .msg file as an OLE embedding.
                         Standard OLE command-line argument.

/c <messageclass>        Creates a new item of the specified message class
                        (Outlook forms or any other valid MAPI form).

NOTE: The switches /Regserver and /Unregserver are no longer valid with Outlook 2000.

The /Cleanfinders switch is no longer needed with Outlook. Outlook will prompt you to clean the saved searches from the Exchange Server store.

REFERENCES

For more information about command-line switches, click Microsoft Outlook Help on the Help menu, type Control what happens when you start Outlook in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

The Microsoft Office Resource Kit also contains information on these command-line switches. For more information about the Microsoft Office Resource Kit, please see the following Microsoft World Wide Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/office/ork/

Additional query words: OL2K

Keywords : kbdta
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto