Re: Change mail servers by scripting it
From: Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook] (suemvp_at_outlookcode.com)
Date: 02/02/05
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Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 13:01:05 -0500
For Outlook 2000, you'd need to download and use the Modprof.exe tool to
apply changes with a .prf file. I haven't used it in a very long time and
don't recall any particulars.
Did you try Exprofre? It does not require any user-specific parameters. As I
understand it, it looks in Active Directory for an X.500 proxy address that
matches the distinguished name of the old mailbox. So, as long as each new
mailbox in AD has that proxy address, Exprofre should perform its
redirection chores automatically for each user. If any scripting needs to be
done, it would be a one-time script to add the proxy addresses to AD if
they're not already there.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx
"altered" <altered@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:02BBC507-89C7-4F0A-90B1-67EC32AEF0A3@microsoft.com...
> Thank You, Thank You!...this is the answer I was after. I appreciate the
> thoroughness in your answer. Forgive me for being crude earlier, but I
> was
> getting upset (obviously) because no progress was being made and my issue
> seemed to be in a repetitive loop. I am mostly to blame for that I guess
> because I stated "without getting into too much detail". As we both know
> the
> more detail the better. I had purposely omitted the detail of my issue
> because I was almost positive that the only solution would be to script
> it.
>
> We have attempted to use the .prf file to update the users profile (using
> script logic w/ the .prf being created by script logic), event though we
> tell
> it to "modify" the Outlook profile it creates a new profile (not tested on
> '03). I cannot find any information regarding Outlook 2000 and .prf
> files.
> I find plenty of information on Outlook 2003 & 2002. Using the CIW for
> Outlook 2000 I do not see an option to "modify", except on pg.8 which says
> "migrate user settings". With that checked it still creates an .mst file
> not
> the .prf I want it to create.
>
> Initially I did look into the Exprofre.exe tool, but (correct me if I am
> wrong) it needs the X.500 address of each user that it is run against. So
> it
> would require the 500+ logon scripts (one for each user). Although that
> would be time consuming so would stopping at 500+ desktops. I had success
> with the CMW for '03, unfortunately only office '03 has the CMW and
> apparently MS doesn't support running that against previous versions of
> Office (but I should probably test it to see what happens). Most of the
> user's are on office 2000 (although they are scheduled for an upgrade to
> '03,
> which is due after the fact.) I think for the most part I am SOL where
> Outlook 2000 is concerned. If you do have any more information especially
> regarding Outlook 2000 I would appreciate hearing it, Thanks again Sue!
>
>
> "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>
>> > What options are available when using the CIW
>> > or CMW? Do you even know?
>>
>> Sure I know, because I use them. CIW Screens 17-20 and CMW Screens 12-15
>> generate Outlook mail profile settings, which you can deploy either as
>> part
>> of the CIW's .mst file during inital setup, as a .cmw file run with
>> Maintwiz.exe, or as a standalone .prf file which you can invoke in a
>> couple
>> of different ways. On CMW Screen 12, you can choose Modify Profile, then
>> on
>> CMW Screen 13, you can configure an Exchange Server connection *and* tell
>> it
>> to overwrite the existing Exchange settings.
>>
>> > p.s. No one said anything about the Office Profile Wizard. By your
>> > responses I suggest you pay closer attention when you read!
>>
>> I was paying very close attention to this sentence, which to my mind
>> implied
>> that you thought the OPW was involved:
>>
>> >> > For one it uses the outlook
>> >> > profile that it is being run under to obtain it's settings.
>>
>> But if I drew the wrong conclusion, I'm sorry for that.
>>
>> > The best choice
>> > is to use the ADM templates in a GPO.
>>
>> Except that is not an option for deploying Outlook profile settings, as
>> you've been told several times. The reason why is that mail profile
>> settings
>> are not simple, straightforward registry entries than can be easily
>> captured
>> in an .adm file.
>>
>> > The .prf file will not update a profile. It creates a new profile
>> > all together, yes it has the correct settings of the new server.
>>
>> Actually, .prf files can be used both to create new profiles and to
>> update
>> existing profiles. There certainly are some things that a .prf cannot do,
>> when it comes to modifying an existing profile, but we haven't had much
>> to
>> go on about your specific scenario until now, since all you originally
>> said
>> was: "is there a way to change users mail servers by scripting it," not
>> what kind of mail server.
>>
>> Now that I see that you've clarified that this is an Exchange server, we
>> can
>> talk a little more precisely about what the options are. I'd suggest that
>> you take a look at the Exchange Profile Update tool from
>> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=56f45ac3-448f-4ccc-9bd5-b6b52c13b29c&displaylang=en.
>> Run from a script or with a Group Policy Object, it will make the
>> necessary
>> changes in a user's Outlook mail profile after the user's mailbox has
>> been
>> moved to a new server. The documentation is included in the download.
>>
>> --
>> Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
>> Author of
>> Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
>> Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
>> http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx
>>
>>
>> "altered" <altered@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:5AAACEC9-82EB-449D-B801-D02CF74CA7FB@microsoft.com...
>> > Here we go again..."USE THE ORK"... I am begining to think there is an
>> > echo,
>> > and for some reason I have to keep repeating myself. I am completly
>> > astounded that the knowledge as an MVP isn't broader than it is. Heck
>> > I
>> > can
>> > call myself an MVP too by reading peoples posts and referencing MS.com
>> > for
>> > the answer and disregard any detail they place in their post.
>> > I said something about the ADM templates, did u miss it? I can't
>> > believe
>> > I
>> > have to explain this to you. What options are available when using the
>> > CIW
>> > or CMW? Do you even know? Obviously by your replies you haven't a
>> > clue!
>> > I
>> > will fill you in, the same exact options exist for the CIW and the CMW,
>> > which
>> > are the same options available in the ADM templates (their approach is
>> > different but the options avail. are the same). Out of the 3 available
>> > choices to use, you suggested the 2 worst choices available. The best
>> > choice
>> > is to use the ADM templates in a GPO. Since you don't realize why, I
>> > will
>> > explain! Using the CIW I would have to reinstall the office suite for
>> > each
>> > of the 500+ users (you actually believe that is a solution?) The CMW
>> > would
>> > require me to assign a logon script to rerun the Office Suite
>> > installation
>> > to
>> > update the users setttings (Again, very bad choice!). Now the ADM
>> > templates
>> > which you disregarded are the best option because this doesn't require
>> > to
>> > have 500+ users connect simultaneously to the installation share. The
>> > GPO
>> > will just push the updated information without requiring an
>> > installation
>> > source. The .prf file will not update a profile. It creates a new
>> > profile
>> > all together, yes it has the correct settings of the new server. Guess
>> > what?
>> > It breaks everything else (signatures, shortcuts, .pst mappings
>> > etc...).
>> > Again, is this is an answer to my problem? No, it's a larger headache
>> > than I
>> > am dealing with. Now set down for a moment. If the CIW, CMW, or ADM
>> > Templates would work to modify an Exchange server entry, don't you
>> > think I
>> > woud have gone down that road, especailly after you pointed it out?
>> > Well
>> > I
>> > didn't go down that road because it is a dead end. The option does not
>> > exist
>> > in any of those choices to modify an exchange server. Since you
>> > believe
>> > there is, then please point it out as I have overlooked more times than
>> > I
>> > can
>> > count. I believe the keyword in the Subject line of my post is
>> > "SCRIPTING".
>> > If this can be done, this is the only other route.
>> >
>> > p.s. No one said anything about the Office Profile Wizard. By your
>> > responses I suggest you pay closer attention when you read! You are
>> > wasting
>> > my time by having to explain why it won't work, when you the "MVP"
>> > should
>> > already be aware of that!
>> >
>> >
>> > "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Who said anything about ADM templates or the Office Profile Wizard ?
>> >> I'm
>> >> talking about the CIW and CMW screens for generating Outlook mail
>> >> profiles
>> >> and distributing them either with a .cmw file or a .prf file. I
>> >> suggest
>> >> that
>> >> you give it a try.
>>
>> >>
>> >> "altered" <altered@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:EA72966C-0223-44E2-8D9B-27D1E6240DB2@microsoft.com...
>> >> > No they are not, I stated that I cannot use the ADM templates in the
>> >> > ORK.
>> >> > You would know that the options for the custom installation wizard
>> >> > allow
>> >> > you
>> >> > to edit the same information in the ADM files and that in neither
>> >> > place
>> >> > can
>> >> > you specify an Exchange server. The ADM templates let you add
>> >> > office
>> >> > apps
>> >> > to
>> >> > be controled by a GPO. Face it M$ does not have any tool available
>> >> > to
>> >> > acomplish this. As I said I am seeking alternatives and the most
>> >> > likely
>> >> > solution would be to script it. Unfortunately this goes beyond my
>> >> > ability
>> >> > to
>> >> > script with Wscript, Cscript, & VBscript. As for the custom
>> >> > maintainance
>> >> > wizard, it has it's pit falls as well. For one it uses the outlook
>> >> > profile
>> >> > that it is being run under to obtain it's settings. Whether this is
>> >> > a
>> >> > clean
>> >> > profile or a used one, they both present a problem. That is, it
>> >> > takes
>> >> > the
>> >> > settings of the profile it ran under and will apply it to each users
>> >> > profile.
>> >> > Yes it will change the mail server, but I don't think anyone in my
>> >> > organization would be too happy if all their personalized settings
>> >> > resort
>> >> > to
>> >> > the settings that were set when the Custom Migration Wizard ran on
>> >> > their
>> >> > PC
>> >> > using a clean or used profile. That is not a good approach.
>> >> > Thanks for the reply, but I am running the same post in the TechNet
>> >> > newsgroup. I find it funny that all you MVP's say the same exact
>> >> > thing.
>> >> > "Use the ORK"
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> The tools that you need are in the Office Resource Kit. Depending
>> >> >> on
>> >> >> exactly
>> >> >> what you need to do and how you deployed Office or Outlook, you can
>> >> >> use
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> Custom Installation Wizard or Custom Maintenance Wizard to create
>> >> >> or
>> >> >> modify
>> >> >> an Outlook mail profile.
>> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "altered" <altered@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> >> news:97165266-5685-4A76-AE10-2D7CEFCB74DD@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> > Without getting into too much detail, is there a way to change
>> >> >> > users
>> >> >> > mail
>> >> >> > servers by scripting it, using the registry, or any other method?
>> >> >> > We
>> >> >> > cannot
>> >> >> > use exprofe.exe, can't use script logic, I can't find a single
>> >> >> > place
>> >> >> > in
>> >> >> > the
>> >> >> > registry to update, & the option is not available in an ADM file
>> >> >> > (GPO).
>> >> >> > Can
>> >> >> > anyone provide any help in doing this through an alternative
>> >> >> > method?
>> >> >> > Otherwise this is going to requre stopping at 500+ users desktops
>> >> >> > to
>> >> >> > change
>> >> >> > their mail server entry.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Thanks!
>>
>>
>>
- Next message: Joe G: "RE: Outlook displays two identical Personal Folders"
- Previous message: Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]: "Re: allow filtering on different email accounts"
- In reply to: altered: "Re: Change mail servers by scripting it"
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ]
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