18.8. AutoArchiving Outlook Items

AutoArchive is an Outlook tool that can automatically archive mail messages and other items based on their age. It is based on the premise that there are many Outlook items that you will probably never need but don't want to permanently delete just in case. By moving these items to an archive, they no longer clog up your personal folders but are available when and if you need them. AutoArchive can also permanently delete items that you are sure you will not need again.

Items archived are kept in a separate PST file called, appropriately enough, Archive.PST. It is kept in the same location on your disk as your personal PST file as described earlier in this chapter— although, unlike the Personal Folders file, you can change this location. After archiving items for the first time, the archive file appears in your folder list along with your personal folders, as shown in Figure 18.24.