Using Multiple PSTs
Typically, people who use Outlook accept the program defaults at installation. Outlook creates one PST for each user, and stores all that user’s data here.
Multiple PSTs offer several advantages relative to storing data in one file:
They offer a logical way of organizing related topics (for some suggestions, see Section 13.5 at the end of this chapter).
If a PST becomes corrupt (it doesn’t happen often, but it does happen), you do not lose all your data, just a subset. Given that you’re doing routine backups, it’s relatively easy to restore a subset of data to a useable working state.
It keeps the memory demands of your system in check. Most people do not need access to all their data, all the time. Every PST Outlook has open consumes memory resources. Using multiple PSTs means that you can keep information stores not in use closed (for example, a PST of old Calendar items or an Archive of messages).
PST files are horribly inefficient in the way they store data. Many items within an information store are replicated due to the flat-file structure used. Also, PSTs do not reclaim the space used by deleted items well (Folder Properties → Advanced → Compact Now). This means that PSTs get big in a hurry. It’s not uncommon for a PST with several thousand records to be over 200 MB. Splitting your information stores into smaller chunks keeps them manageable, and allows you to keep backup copies on media like Zip disks.
Outlook Remembers PST State
Outlook remembers which PSTs ...
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