Open and Close Outlook Data Files
Outlook is part of your daily routine. You use it to send email messages, to set up calendar events, and to create tasks and other items. But do you wonder how and where all those items are stored? For Office 365, Exchange, and Outlook.com accounts, all of your information is stored on the server, but an offline copy is also stored on your local computer in an Offline Outlook Data File (.ost). For POP and IMAP accounts, you might store your Outlook items in an Outlook Data File. If you want to open or close an Outlook Data File (.pst), you can do that in a few simple steps.
Note: If your organization has policies in place that archive email messages automatically, your older email messages, calendar events, and tasks might be stored in an archive Outlook Data File (.pst). Even if your account uses an offline Outlook Data File (.ost) for all of its day-to-day information, you may still have an archive.pst file that contains older information.
Open an Outlook Data File
1.Select File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File.
Note: Browse to the file's location (IT will provide the location of the file). If you're not sure where your Outlook data file is located or can't find it contact REC-IT
2.Select the Outlook Data File (.pst), and then select Open.
3.Once you open the Outlook Data File (.pst), the file will appear in your left folder pane below your mail file. Usually you'll find it at the bottom of the list of folders. The following image below is an example.
The name of the SFGov Outlook Data File you've opened will be labeled 'Outlook Data File'
Remove (close) an Outlook Data File
You can remove an Outlook data file from the Folder pane by closing the file.
In the left Folder pane, point, then right-click the name 'Outlook Data File', and then choose Close "Outlook Data File".