If you use Outlook on your own computer, you can configure Outlook to store a local copy of your mailbox on that computer. This local copy gives you the ability to work with your mailbox when you are not connected to the Internet. Outlook keeps the server and local copies of your mailbox synchronized based on the settings you provide.

Please note that if you connect infrequently, your mailboxes will require a longer time to synchronize when you do reconnect. Synchronize daily if possible, especially if you receive a high volume of mail. Synchronizing on the network is fast, but doing so over a modem can be quite slow, especially the first time you synchronize.

Make sure that you have already configured Outlook for your account before you setup offline folders. If you have not done this already, configure Outlook first.

Steps to Configure Outlook

Click the Start button in the lower left corner of your screen.

Depending on your operating system, either select Control Panel or select Settings and then Control Panel.

 

Double-click on the Mail icon.

 

Select "View or change existing e-mail accounts" and click Next.

 

Select Microsoft Exchange Server in the list and click the Change button.

 

Click More Settings.

 

If you are prompted to logon, enter your username, password and domain. (Remember, the domain is Olin.)

 

Click the Advanced tab.

 

Click Offline Folder Settings.

The default location for outlook.ost is in your user profile. If you are the only user of the machine, we recommend you place your ost file outside of your profile. Use browse to find a location for your ost file and name the file outlook.ost.

 

Click OK. You will be prompted to create an outlook.ost file if one is not found.

 

Click OK, then Next, then Finish, then Close. Whew... are you tired of clicking buttons yet?

 

Start Outlook.

 

Go to the Tools menu and select Send/Receive Settings.

Select Define Send/Receive Groups.

 

Click Edit.

 

Place a check mark next to any folders you want to be included when you synchronize your mailbox with your local copy. Selecting a folder does NOT select any subfolders. You have to select each folder individually. If you add folders at a later date, you will need to modify your Send/Receive Settings before it will be synchronized.

Click OK, then click Close.

You're done! Click the F9 button whenever you want to synchronize your folders.