I create a .prf file (Outlook Profile), store it in a shared server location, and reference it from within a login script. The problem is, I only want it to run once (when a user logs into a machine for the first time). So I check for the existence of a junk file in the users profile directory (C:\Doc & Set\user\outlookdone.dat – which incidentally also contains the date it was originally done). The resulting login batch file looks a bit like this:

if exist “%USERPROFILE%\outlookdone.dat” goto outlookdone
echo Configuring Outlook EMail profile..
“c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\OUTLOOK.EXE” /importprf \\server\share\outlook.prf
echo %date% >”%USERPROFILE%\outlookdone.dat”

: outlookdone

(NB: that this is for Outlook 2003 – OFFICE11. This method should also work for 2002 and 2007 – however it has not been tested). Finally, the all important .prf file looks a bit like this:

[General]
Custom=1
ProfileName=Default profile
DefaultProfile=Yes
OverwriteProfile=No
ModifyDefaultProfileIfPresent=FALSE

[Service List]
;ServiceX=Microsoft Outlook Client
ServiceEGS=Exchange Global Section
Service1=Microsoft Exchange Server
ServiceEGS=Exchange Global Section

[ServiceEGS]
MailboxName=%UserName%
HomeServer=YOUREXCHANGESERVERNAMEGOESHERE
[Service1]
OverwriteExistingService=No
UniqueService=Yes
MailboxName=%UserName%
HomeServer=YOUREXCHANGESERVERNAMEGOESHERE
AccountName=Microsoft Exchange Server

[Microsoft Exchange Server]
ServiceName=MSEMS
MDBGUID=5494A1C0297F101BA58708002B2A2517
MailboxName=PT_STRING8,0×6607
HomeServer=PT_STRING8,0×6608
OfflineAddressBookPath=PT_STRING8,0x660E
OfflineFolderPath=PT_STRING8,0×6610

[Exchange Global Section]
SectionGUID=13dbb0c8aa05101a9bb000aa002fc45a
MailboxName=PT_STRING8,0×6607
HomeServer=PT_STRING8,0×6608
RPCoverHTTPflags=PT_LONG,0×6623
RPCProxyServer=PT_UNICODE,0×6622
RPCProxyPrincipalName=PT_UNICODE,0×6625
RPCProxyAuthScheme=PT_LONG,0×6627
CachedExchangeConfigFlags=PT_LONG,0×6629

[Microsoft Mail]
ServiceName=MSFS
ServerPath=PT_STRING8,0×6600
Mailbox=PT_STRING8,0×6601
Password=PT_STRING8,0x67f0
RememberPassword=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6606
ConnectionType=PT_LONG,0×6603
UseSessionLog=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6604
SessionLogPath=PT_STRING8,0×6605
EnableUpload=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6620
EnableDownload=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6621
UploadMask=PT_LONG,0×6622
NetBiosNotification=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6623
NewMailPollInterval=PT_STRING8,0×6624
DisplayGalOnly=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6625
UseHeadersOnLAN=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6630
UseLocalAdressBookOnLAN=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6631
UseExternalToHelpDeliverOnLAN=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6632
UseHeadersOnRAS=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6640
UseLocalAdressBookOnRAS=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6641
UseExternalToHelpDeliverOnRAS=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6639
ConnectOnStartup=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6642
DisconnectAfterRetrieveHeaders=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6643
DisconnectAfterRetrieveMail=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6644
DisconnectOnExit=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6645
DefaultDialupConnectionName=PT_STRING8,0×6646
DialupRetryCount=PT_STRING8,0×6648
DialupRetryDelay=PT_STRING8,0×6649

[Personal Folders]
ServiceName=MSPST MS
Name=PT_STRING8,0×3001
PathToPersonalFolders=PT_STRING8,0×6700
RememberPassword=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6701
EncryptionType=PT_LONG,0×6702
Password=PT_STRING8,0×6703

[Unicode Personal Folders]
ServiceName=MSUPST MS
Name=PT_UNICODE,0×3001
PathToPersonalFolders=PT_STRING8,0×6700
RememberPassword=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6701
EncryptionType=PT_LONG,0×6702
Password=PT_STRING8,0×6703

[Outlook Address Book]
ServiceName=CONTAB

[LDAP Directory]
ServiceName=EMABLT
ServerName=PT_STRING8,0×6600
UserName=PT_STRING8,0×6602
UseSSL=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6613
UseSPA=PT_BOOLEAN,0×6615
DisableVLV=PT_LONG,0×6616
DisplayName=PT_STRING8,0×3001
ConnectionPort=PT_STRING8,0×6601
SearchTimeout=PT_STRING8,0×6607
MaxEntriesReturned=PT_STRING8,0×6608
SearchBase=PT_STRING8,0×6603

[Microsoft Outlook Client]
SectionGUID=0a0d020000000000c000000000000046
FormDirectoryPage=PT_STRING8,0×0270
WebServicesLocation=PT_STRING8,0×0271
ComposeWithWebServices=PT_BOOLEAN,0×0272
PromptWhenUsingWebServices=PT_BOOLEAN,0×0273
OpenWithWebServices=PT_BOOLEAN,0×0274
CachedExchangeMode=PT_LONG,0x041f
CachedExchangeSlowDetect=PT_BOOLEAN,0×0420

[Personal Address Book]
ServiceName=MSPST AB
NameOfPAB=PT_STRING8,0x001e3001
Path=PT_STRING8,0x001e6600
ShowNamesBy=PT_LONG,0×00036601

; ************************************************************************
; Section 7 – Mapping for internet account properties.  DO NOT MODIFY.
; ************************************************************************

[I_Mail]
AccountType=POP3
;— POP3 Account Settings —
AccountName=PT_UNICODE,0×0002
DisplayName=PT_UNICODE,0x000B
EmailAddress=PT_UNICODE,0x000C
;— POP3 Account Settings —
POP3Server=PT_UNICODE,0×0100
POP3UserName=PT_UNICODE,0×0101
POP3UseSPA=PT_LONG,0×0108
Organization=PT_UNICODE,0×0107
ReplyEmailAddress=PT_UNICODE,0×0103
POP3Port=PT_LONG,0×0104
POP3UseSSL=PT_LONG,0×0105
; — SMTP Account Settings —
SMTPServer=PT_UNICODE,0×0200
SMTPUseAuth=PT_LONG,0×0203
SMTPAuthMethod=PT_LONG,0×0208
SMTPUserName=PT_UNICODE,0×0204
SMTPUseSPA=PT_LONG,0×0207
ConnectionType=PT_LONG,0x000F
ConnectionOID=PT_UNICODE,0×0010
SMTPPort=PT_LONG,0×0201
SMTPUseSSL=PT_LONG,0×0202
ServerTimeOut=PT_LONG,0×0209
LeaveOnServer=PT_LONG,0×1000

[IMAP_I_Mail]
AccountType=IMAP
;— IMAP Account Settings —
AccountName=PT_UNICODE,0×0002
DisplayName=PT_UNICODE,0x000B
EmailAddress=PT_UNICODE,0x000C
;— IMAP Account Settings —
IMAPServer=PT_UNICODE,0×0100
IMAPUserName=PT_UNICODE,0×0101
IMAPUseSPA=PT_LONG,0×0108
Organization=PT_UNICODE,0×0107
ReplyEmailAddress=PT_UNICODE,0×0103
IMAPPort=PT_LONG,0×0104
IMAPUseSSL=PT_LONG,0×0105
; — SMTP Account Settings —
SMTPServer=PT_UNICODE,0×0200
SMTPUseAuth=PT_LONG,0×0203
SMTPAuthMethod=PT_LONG,0×0208
SMTPUserName=PT_UNICODE,0×0204
SMTPUseSPA=PT_LONG,0×0207
ConnectionType=PT_LONG,0x000F
ConnectionOID=PT_UNICODE,0×0010
SMTPPort=PT_LONG,0×0201
SMTPUseSSL=PT_LONG,0×0202
ServerTimeOut=PT_LONG,0×0209
CheckNewImap=PT_LONG,0×1100
RootFolder=PT_UNICODE,0×1101

[INET_HTTP]
AccountType=HOTMAIL
Account=PT_UNICODE,0×0002
HttpServer=PT_UNICODE,0×0100
UserName=PT_UNICODE,0×0101
Organization=PT_UNICODE,0×0107
UseSPA=PT_LONG,0×0108
TimeOut=PT_LONG,0×0209
Reply=PT_UNICODE,0×0103
EmailAddress=PT_UNICODE,0x000C
FullName=PT_UNICODE,0x000B
Connection Type=PT_LONG,0x000F
ConnectOID=PT_UNICODE,0×0010

Did you find this hint useful? Are you looking to learn more? Well, here’s a few books that I’ve found useful – have a goosie!

Mastering Microsoft Exchange Server 2003

Microsoft Windows Shell Script Programming

Microsoft Windows Script Host

Active Directory for Dummies