Anyone know how to take the mail rules I've created in one of my OE
identities on my PC and move them to my other identities on the same computer?

Hi there,

The easiest solution requires editing the registry. It is important to
backup the registry before changing it - because one mistake could
cause problems for Windows.

How to back up the Registry
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/199762382617


I have found two web pages which give step-by-step instructions on how
to copy the rules for one Outlook Identity to another. The only
difference is they are explaining how to shift the data to another PC,
however the process is exactly the same.

Within the registry each user identity is called something like this
(between the curly brackets):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{4DE09B40-3AFD-11D5-820B-D1D0448FFD69}

Click on it and there is a key called "Username". This is the same
name that Outlook Express uses for its identites.

In the article's instructions, where you are told to Edit, Replace the
identity number, you want to swap the ID number of the user with the
rules you are copying, with the ID number of the user you want to give
the rules to.


Here is the article on how to do it:

Move Outlook Express Settings to a New PC
http://pcworld.shopping.yahoo.com/yahoo/article/0,aid,68767,pg,2,00.asp

The same info can also be found here;

How to backup Outlook Express (OE) Email and transfer settings to
another PC
http://www.iopus.com/guides/oe-backup.htm


If you are not comfortable with editing the registry, there is
software available which can do the task for you:

Outlook Express Backup Wizard
http://www.outlook-express-backup.com/

OEBackup
http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/


Search strategy: rules "to another identity" "outlook express" 


The manual process worked for me on my computer. If you have any
problems, just request a clarification and I will endeavour to help
you further.

Best wishes,
robertskelton-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by freakfarm-ga on 07 Feb 2003 16:52 PST

I am aware of the "moving to another PC" directions and have done that
before.

But will this work when dealing with other identities on the same
computer (even though they all have different identification strands)?

---

Clarification of Answer by robertskelton-ga on 07 Feb 2003 17:10 PST

Basically this is how it works:

1. You make a backup of a Registry Key for Identity ID#1 (in your case
the sub-key called "rules")
2. You edit the key, and replace every mention of Identity ID#1 with
Identity ID#2
3. You import the key into the registry, and it automatically replaces
the key for Identity ID#2

---

Request for Answer Clarification by freakfarm-ga on 07 Feb 2003 20:33 PST

I'm sorry...your answer is not working.  The links you found me are
meant for moving from one PC to another, not bethtween different
identities on the same PC.

When trying amongst identities on 1 computer, doing as the directions
say simply make each identity have EXACTLY the same info, including
messages. I just want the rules to transfer between identities, not
everything else.

In the link you provided there is no mention on just editing the
"rules" file in the registry. It simply talks about exporting and
editing the "outlook express" file.

(taken from the article)

"In the correct identity's subkeys, go to and highlight
Software\Microsoft\Outlook Express. Select Registry, Export Registry
File."

---

Clarification of Answer by robertskelton-ga on 07 Feb 2003 21:39 PST

Apologies. I forgot to point out that you need to go one or two levels
deeper into the Registry than Outlook Express, and find the Rules
subkey. On my computer the subkey to export (then edit and import) is:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Identities\{4DE09B40-3AFD-11D5-820B-D1D0448FFD69}\Software\Microsoft\Outlook
Express\5.0\Rules

It may be slightly different on your machine, but shouldn't take long
to find.

Note: you can also share other subkeys such as Signatures and Block
Senders if you want, but each needs to be done individually.

problem fixed with the last answer. Thank you