Combine/Sync Window Mail files?

I have several computers around the house in a network. One computer is the
primary machine and is used for most of the email activity. It would be
nice if I could point all the systems to one Windows Mail Folder but I don't
think that is recommended? So, if that is not possible is there any way
using Vista Sync or a program like Good Sync to periodically combine Windows
Mail information on the "Primary Machine". Same situation is true for the
Contacts File. Although, it appears Vista will let me copy the Contacts
File from the "Primary Machine" and put it on the other computers without a
problem. Seems to be a common problem floating around the internet. A
little help/suggestions/links will be appreciated.

Ken;541152 Wrote:
> I have several computers around the house in a network. One computer is
> the
> primary machine and is used for most of the email activity. It would be
> nice if I could point all the systems to one Windows Mail Folder but I
> don't
> think that is recommended? So, if that is not possible is there any way
> using Vista Sync or a program like Good Sync to periodically combine
> Windows
> Mail information on the "Primary Machine". Same situation is true for
> the
> Contacts File. Although, it appears Vista will let me copy the Contacts
> File from the "Primary Machine" and put it on the other computers
> without a
> problem. Seems to be a common problem floating around the internet. A
> little help/suggestions/links will be appreciated.

Hi Ken,

You can set the other computer's Windows Mail to leave the messages on
the email server for that email account, while the main computer can
remove them as usual. This way when you download email on the other
computers, a copy will remain in the email server so the Main computer
(and others) can still download the emails.

1. Click Tools -> Accounts
2. Select email account and click Properties.
3. Click Advanced tab.
4. Check "Leave a copy of messages on server"

This will show you how to Export and Import messages in Windows Mail in
case differences do occur.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/90...-messages.html


Hope this helps,
Shawn


--
brink

*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.*
WWW.VISTAX64.COM (\"HTTP://WWW.VISTAX64.COM\")
*Please post feedback to help others.*

Thanks for the information. That solves my problem - too easy!! Thanks
again.

"brink" <brink.31frl4@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
news:brink.31frl4@no-mx.forums.net...
>
> Ken;541152 Wrote:
>> I have several computers around the house in a network. One computer is
>> the
>> primary machine and is used for most of the email activity. It would be
>> nice if I could point all the systems to one Windows Mail Folder but I
>> don't
>> think that is recommended? So, if that is not possible is there any way
>> using Vista Sync or a program like Good Sync to periodically combine
>> Windows
>> Mail information on the "Primary Machine". Same situation is true for
>> the
>> Contacts File. Although, it appears Vista will let me copy the Contacts
>> File from the "Primary Machine" and put it on the other computers
>> without a
>> problem. Seems to be a common problem floating around the internet. A
>> little help/suggestions/links will be appreciated.
>
> Hi Ken,
>
> You can set the other computer's Windows Mail to leave the messages on
> the email server for that email account, while the main computer can
> remove them as usual. This way when you download email on the other
> computers, a copy will remain in the email server so the Main computer
> (and others) can still download the emails.
>
> 1. Click Tools -> Accounts
> 2. Select email account and click Properties.
> 3. Click Advanced tab.
> 4. Check "Leave a copy of messages on server"
>
> This will show you how to Export and Import messages in Windows Mail in
> case differences do occur.
>
> http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/90...-messages.html
>
>
> Hope this helps,
> Shawn
>
>
> --
> brink
>
> *There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.*
> WWW.VISTAX64.COM (\"HTTP://WWW.VISTAX64.COM\")
> *Please post feedback to help others.*

Ken;541653 Wrote:
> Thanks for the information. That solves my problem - too easy!!
> Thanks
> again.
> ---------------------------------------------------
> "brink" <brink.31frl4@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
> news:brink.31frl4@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net...
> > Hi Ken,
> >
> > You can set the other computer's Windows Mail to leave the messages
> on
> > the email server for that email account, while the main computer can
> > remove them as usual. This way when you download email on the other
> > computers, a copy will remain in the email server so the Main
> computer
> > (and others) can still download the emails.
> >
> > 1. Click Tools -> Accounts
> > 2. Select email account and click Properties.
> > 3. Click Advanced tab.
> > 4. Check "Leave a copy of messages on server"
> >
> > This will show you how to Export and Import messages in Windows Mail
> in
> > case differences do occur.
> >
> > http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/90...-messages.html
> >
> >
> > Hope this helps,
> > Shawn
>

Your welcome Ken.


--
brink

*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.*
WWW.VISTAX64.COM (\"HTTP://WWW.VISTAX64.COM\")
*Please post feedback to help others.*

Not so fast. I have been struggling with this same issue. Export/Import is
a solution, but not the best one.

I have been using SyncToy (Microsoft freeware) to sync shared folders across
several private network machines using Vista. This allows all folder
add/delete/updates that occur on one PC to be seen on the others. SyncToy
uses designated folder pairs when it is run for syncing. If only I knew the
file extension used by Mail for messages, I would use this on my messages
also. However, I suspect the mail file is more than than just any file.
Anyone know where the message file is?

I share all my user folders (includes Contacts) across the network by right
click/Share on c:\users\user ID - don't use the shortcuts under Desktop.
Then click Advanced Sharing/Share this Folder. Then click Permissions/Add to
get the cryptic "Share Users and Groups". I entered my user ID (the same
across all PC's) in the Enter Object box and Checked Names. This gives
permissions to a illogical user name based on the current PC, not the user
name in the other PC(s). Why Locations doesn't show all Network devices is
beyond me. Also, directly sharing a folder like Contacts brings up a
different sharing path involving only users on the current PC - no other
network PC's are listed. I have tested this and other users cannot get to my
files.

Of course the elegant way would be to share designated common files with a
list of permitted users/network PC locations. Syncing would occur
automatically whenever a PC entered the network with the pending changes.
For a few users and a few PCs on a private network, why doesn't Vista support
syncing of PCs using Sync Center like it does for hand held devices?

"Ken" wrote:

> Thanks for the information. That solves my problem - too easy!! Thanks
> again.
>
> "brink" <brink.31frl4@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
> news:brink.31frl4@no-mx.forums.net...
> >
> > Ken;541152 Wrote:
> >> I have several computers around the house in a network. One computer is
> >> the
> >> primary machine and is used for most of the email activity. It would be
> >> nice if I could point all the systems to one Windows Mail Folder but I
> >> don't
> >> think that is recommended? So, if that is not possible is there any way
> >> using Vista Sync or a program like Good Sync to periodically combine
> >> Windows
> >> Mail information on the "Primary Machine". Same situation is true for
> >> the
> >> Contacts File. Although, it appears Vista will let me copy the Contacts
> >> File from the "Primary Machine" and put it on the other computers
> >> without a
> >> problem. Seems to be a common problem floating around the internet. A
> >> little help/suggestions/links will be appreciated.
> >
> > Hi Ken,
> >
> > You can set the other computer's Windows Mail to leave the messages on
> > the email server for that email account, while the main computer can
> > remove them as usual. This way when you download email on the other
> > computers, a copy will remain in the email server so the Main computer
> > (and others) can still download the emails.
> >
> > 1. Click Tools -> Accounts
> > 2. Select email account and click Properties.
> > 3. Click Advanced tab.
> > 4. Check "Leave a copy of messages on server"
> >
> > This will show you how to Export and Import messages in Windows Mail in
> > case differences do occur.
> >
> > http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/90...-messages.html
> >
> >
> > Hope this helps,
> > Shawn
> >
> >
> > --
> > brink
> >
> > *There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.*
> > WWW.VISTAX64.COM (\"HTTP://WWW.VISTAX64.COM\")
> > *Please post feedback to help others.*
>
>

Look's like the good old days of a simple file structure used by Outlook
Express are gone with VistaMail. I keep all my VistaMail in a separate
"DATA" partition. That keeps my stuff from getting lost in the Operating
System partition. Anyway as far as I can tell, Vista Mail keeps the emails
in a "database?" called "WindowsMail.MSMessageStore". That makes it
impossible for a generic Sync program to get at the individual messages.
So... given few alternatives I can live with the above solution. Maybe
somebody out there will develop a MessageStore Sync-er to address the issue!

"Al" <Al@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E109474D-7FFC-4526-B2D7-DC6497D60C72@microsoft.com...
> Not so fast. I have been struggling with this same issue. Export/Import
> is
> a solution, but not the best one.
>
> I have been using SyncToy (Microsoft freeware) to sync shared folders
> across
> several private network machines using Vista. This allows all folder
> add/delete/updates that occur on one PC to be seen on the others. SyncToy
> uses designated folder pairs when it is run for syncing. If only I knew
> the
> file extension used by Mail for messages, I would use this on my messages
> also. However, I suspect the mail file is more than than just any file.
> Anyone know where the message file is?
>
> I share all my user folders (includes Contacts) across the network by
> right
> click/Share on c:\users\user ID - don't use the shortcuts under Desktop.
> Then click Advanced Sharing/Share this Folder. Then click Permissions/Add
> to
> get the cryptic "Share Users and Groups". I entered my user ID (the same
> across all PC's) in the Enter Object box and Checked Names. This gives
> permissions to a illogical user name based on the current PC, not the user
> name in the other PC(s). Why Locations doesn't show all Network devices
> is
> beyond me. Also, directly sharing a folder like Contacts brings up a
> different sharing path involving only users on the current PC - no other
> network PC's are listed. I have tested this and other users cannot get to
> my
> files.
>
> Of course the elegant way would be to share designated common files with a
> list of permitted users/network PC locations. Syncing would occur
> automatically whenever a PC entered the network with the pending changes.
> For a few users and a few PCs on a private network, why doesn't Vista
> support
> syncing of PCs using Sync Center like it does for hand held devices?
>
> "Ken" wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the information. That solves my problem - too easy!! Thanks
>> again.
>>
>> "brink" <brink.31frl4@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
>> news:brink.31frl4@no-mx.forums.net...
>> >
>> > Ken;541152 Wrote:
>> >> I have several computers around the house in a network. One computer
>> >> is
>> >> the
>> >> primary machine and is used for most of the email activity. It would
>> >> be
>> >> nice if I could point all the systems to one Windows Mail Folder but I
>> >> don't
>> >> think that is recommended? So, if that is not possible is there any
>> >> way
>> >> using Vista Sync or a program like Good Sync to periodically combine
>> >> Windows
>> >> Mail information on the "Primary Machine". Same situation is true for
>> >> the
>> >> Contacts File. Although, it appears Vista will let me copy the
>> >> Contacts
>> >> File from the "Primary Machine" and put it on the other computers
>> >> without a
>> >> problem. Seems to be a common problem floating around the internet. A
>> >> little help/suggestions/links will be appreciated.
>> >
>> > Hi Ken,
>> >
>> > You can set the other computer's Windows Mail to leave the messages on
>> > the email server for that email account, while the main computer can
>> > remove them as usual. This way when you download email on the other
>> > computers, a copy will remain in the email server so the Main computer
>> > (and others) can still download the emails.
>> >
>> > 1. Click Tools -> Accounts
>> > 2. Select email account and click Properties.
>> > 3. Click Advanced tab.
>> > 4. Check "Leave a copy of messages on server"
>> >
>> > This will show you how to Export and Import messages in Windows Mail in
>> > case differences do occur.
>> >
>> > http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/90...-messages.html
>> >
>> >
>> > Hope this helps,
>> > Shawn
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > brink
>> >
>> > *There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.*
>> > WWW.VISTAX64.COM (\"HTTP://WWW.VISTAX64.COM\")
>> > *Please post feedback to help others.*
>>
>>

"Ken" <krlorenz@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:uFLlzTLPIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Look's like the good old days of a simple file structure used by Outlook
> Express are gone with VistaMail. I keep all my VistaMail in a separate
> "DATA" partition. That keeps my stuff from getting lost in the Operating
> System partition. Anyway as far as I can tell, Vista Mail keeps the
> emails in a "database?" called "WindowsMail.MSMessageStore". That makes
> it impossible for a generic Sync program to get at the individual
> messages. So... given few alternatives I can live with the above solution.
> Maybe somebody out there will develop a MessageStore Sync-er to address
> the issue!


In many ways WinMail is easier. The email is stored as separate EML files,
one per message.
WindowsMail.MSMessageStore does not contain any messages, but it contains
information about them to speed up WinMail so that it doesn't have to
actually look at each message for most operations.

--
Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
www.fjsmjs.com
Do not send email

I confess I like Windows Mail better than Outlook Express. That said....I
have to ask the same question too - if the .eml files are not in the
WindowsMail.MSMessageStore then where the heck are they? I store my Windows
Mail stuff in D:\WindowsMail\Ken\Local Folders\Inbox\*. (Windows Mail sets
up everthing after D:\WindowsMail) The "*" means I have created sub folders
(while in Windows Mail) within the Inbox folder to store my various emails.
I have 15+ sub folders with hundreds of emails stored in them. The only
*.eml files I can find in the Inbox are the ones I have not yet moved to an
Inbox sub folder. Once I move them within Windows Mail they disappear.
The sub folders where I put the emails are also invisible. There are a
whole bunch of .eml files in the "Sent" folder. What am I missing?!!

Also, I made a mistake and set up a sub folder to hold emails outside the
Inbox folder and it shows up under Local Folders with the .eml file visible
even though I moved the folder back into the Inbox. I cannot make it go
away! If I manually delete the .eml in this folder Windows Mail says it
cannot find the email that is supposed to be in the folder. If I manually
delete the folder it comes back the next time I start Windows Mail. If I
delete the sub folder in Windows Mail it finally goes away.

So it looks like one should set up sub folders outside the Inbox and then
Windows Mail will show the .eml files. Have I stumbled into a Windows Mail
quirk by setting up sub folders under the Inbox?

"Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM" <franksaunders@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:1D5E7652-F540-4BC7-BB2A-AF8DC0C3748F@microsoft.com...
> "Ken" <krlorenz@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:uFLlzTLPIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Look's like the good old days of a simple file structure used by Outlook
>> Express are gone with VistaMail. I keep all my VistaMail in a separate
>> "DATA" partition. That keeps my stuff from getting lost in the Operating
>> System partition. Anyway as far as I can tell, Vista Mail keeps the
>> emails in a "database?" called "WindowsMail.MSMessageStore". That makes
>> it impossible for a generic Sync program to get at the individual
>> messages. So... given few alternatives I can live with the above
>> solution. Maybe somebody out there will develop a MessageStore Sync-er to
>> address the issue!
>
>
> In many ways WinMail is easier. The email is stored as separate EML
> files, one per message.
> WindowsMail.MSMessageStore does not contain any messages, but it contains
> information about them to speed up WinMail so that it doesn't have to
> actually look at each message for most operations.
>
> --
> Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
> www.fjsmjs.com
> Do not send email

"Ken" <krlorenz@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:uBJJiKYPIHA.4684@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I confess I like Windows Mail better than Outlook Express. That said....I
>have to ask the same question too - if the .eml files are not in the
>WindowsMail.MSMessageStore then where the heck are they? I store my
>Windows Mail stuff in D:\WindowsMail\Ken\Local Folders\Inbox\*. (Windows
>Mail sets up everthing after D:\WindowsMail) The "*" means I have created
>sub folders (while in Windows Mail) within the Inbox folder to store my
>various emails. I have 15+ sub folders with hundreds of emails stored in
>them. The only *.eml files I can find in the Inbox are the ones I have not
>yet moved to an Inbox sub folder. Once I move them within Windows Mail
>they disappear. The sub folders where I put the emails are also invisible.
>There are a whole bunch of .eml files in the "Sent" folder. What am I
>missing?!!
>
> Also, I made a mistake and set up a sub folder to hold emails outside the
> Inbox folder and it shows up under Local Folders with the .eml file
> visible even though I moved the folder back into the Inbox. I cannot make
> it go away! If I manually delete the .eml in this folder Windows Mail
> says it cannot find the email that is supposed to be in the folder. If I
> manually delete the folder it comes back the next time I start Windows
> Mail. If I delete the sub folder in Windows Mail it finally goes away.
>
> So it looks like one should set up sub folders outside the Inbox and then
> Windows Mail will show the .eml files. Have I stumbled into a Windows
> Mail quirk by setting up sub folders under the Inbox?
>
> "Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM" <franksaunders@mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:1D5E7652-F540-4BC7-BB2A-AF8DC0C3748F@microsoft.com...
>> "Ken" <krlorenz@comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:uFLlzTLPIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> Look's like the good old days of a simple file structure used by Outlook
>>> Express are gone with VistaMail. I keep all my VistaMail in a separate
>>> "DATA" partition. That keeps my stuff from getting lost in the
>>> Operating System partition. Anyway as far as I can tell, Vista Mail
>>> keeps the emails in a "database?" called "WindowsMail.MSMessageStore".
>>> That makes it impossible for a generic Sync program to get at the
>>> individual messages. So... given few alternatives I can live with the
>>> above solution. Maybe somebody out there will develop a MessageStore
>>> Sync-er to address the issue!
>>
>>
>> In many ways WinMail is easier. The email is stored as separate EML
>> files, one per message.
>> WindowsMail.MSMessageStore does not contain any messages, but it contains
>> information about them to speed up WinMail so that it doesn't have to
>> actually look at each message for most operations.
>>
>> --
>> Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
>> www.fjsmjs.com
>> Do not send email
>

My storage file in Windows Mail is:
C:\Users\Frank\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail
Which means that the EML files are in subfolders of
C:\Users\Frank\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folders
Now, in WinMail I have a subfolder under Sent Items named Sent Items Old.
So what if the title is not what I should have made it.) It's messages are
in
C:\Users\Frank\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folder\Imported
Folders\Sent Items
I also have a folder under Local Folders in WinMail named fjsmjs whose EML
files are in
C:\Users\Frank\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folder\Imported
Folders\fjsmjs


--
Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
www.fjsmjs.com
Do not send email

I'm not sure if we are communicating!? I agree, if you set up folders under
.....\Local Folders\"Your Folders" Windows Mail acts like you think it should
(folder names and *.eml files are visible). However, the point I am trying
to make is if you set up your folders under .....\Local Folders\Inbox\"Your
Folders" Windows Mail puts everything including the folder name in the
WindowsMailMSMessageStore (or some other mysterious place). Try it some
time. It does some unusual things with the folders and *.eml files that
start out as a Inbox sub folder.

"Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM" <franksaunders@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:%23nxIdzfPIHA.5400@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> "Ken" <krlorenz@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:uBJJiKYPIHA.4684@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>I confess I like Windows Mail better than Outlook Express. That said....I
>>have to ask the same question too - if the .eml files are not in the
>>WindowsMail.MSMessageStore then where the heck are they? I store my
>>Windows Mail stuff in D:\WindowsMail\Ken\Local Folders\Inbox\*. (Windows
>>Mail sets up everthing after D:\WindowsMail) The "*" means I have created
>>sub folders (while in Windows Mail) within the Inbox folder to store my
>>various emails. I have 15+ sub folders with hundreds of emails stored in
>>them. The only *.eml files I can find in the Inbox are the ones I have
>>not yet moved to an Inbox sub folder. Once I move them within Windows
>>Mail they disappear. The sub folders where I put the emails are also
>>invisible. There are a whole bunch of .eml files in the "Sent" folder.
>>What am I missing?!!
>>
>> Also, I made a mistake and set up a sub folder to hold emails outside the
>> Inbox folder and it shows up under Local Folders with the .eml file
>> visible even though I moved the folder back into the Inbox. I cannot
>> make it go away! If I manually delete the .eml in this folder Windows
>> Mail says it cannot find the email that is supposed to be in the folder.
>> If I manually delete the folder it comes back the next time I start
>> Windows Mail. If I delete the sub folder in Windows Mail it finally goes
>> away.
>>
>> So it looks like one should set up sub folders outside the Inbox and then
>> Windows Mail will show the .eml files. Have I stumbled into a Windows
>> Mail quirk by setting up sub folders under the Inbox?
>>
>> "Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM" <franksaunders@mvps.org> wrote in
>> message news:1D5E7652-F540-4BC7-BB2A-AF8DC0C3748F@microsoft.com...
>>> "Ken" <krlorenz@comcast.net> wrote in message
>>> news:uFLlzTLPIHA.1168@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>> Look's like the good old days of a simple file structure used by
>>>> Outlook Express are gone with VistaMail. I keep all my VistaMail in a
>>>> separate "DATA" partition. That keeps my stuff from getting lost in
>>>> the Operating System partition. Anyway as far as I can tell, Vista
>>>> Mail keeps the emails in a "database?" called
>>>> "WindowsMail.MSMessageStore". That makes it impossible for a generic
>>>> Sync program to get at the individual messages. So... given few
>>>> alternatives I can live with the above solution. Maybe somebody out
>>>> there will develop a MessageStore Sync-er to address the issue!
>>>
>>>
>>> In many ways WinMail is easier. The email is stored as separate EML
>>> files, one per message.
>>> WindowsMail.MSMessageStore does not contain any messages, but it
>>> contains information about them to speed up WinMail so that it doesn't
>>> have to actually look at each message for most operations.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
>>> www.fjsmjs.com
>>> Do not send email
>>
>
> My storage file in Windows Mail is:
> C:\Users\Frank\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail
> Which means that the EML files are in subfolders of
> C:\Users\Frank\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folders
> Now, in WinMail I have a subfolder under Sent Items named Sent Items Old.
> So what if the title is not what I should have made it.) It's messages
> are in
> C:\Users\Frank\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folder\Imported
> Folders\Sent Items
> I also have a folder under Local Folders in WinMail named fjsmjs whose EML
> files are in
> C:\Users\Frank\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Mail\Local Folder\Imported
> Folders\fjsmjs
>
>
> --
> Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
> www.fjsmjs.com
> Do not send email