Different File Format of Outlook

Microsoft Outlook stores all your emails, contacts, appointments etc all in one file with the extension pst with the exception of those connected to Exchange Server machines is called an ost file. Outlook 2007 and 2003 both have a different format and a larger overall size limit for the personal folders (.pst) file than the .pst files that are in the earlier versions of Outlook.

The earlier versions of the .pst files are in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) format in which limited character set which is fine for those of use english-only speakers but not good for a program with supposedly global reach. The new PST format available in Outlook 2003 and 2007 changed this to Unicode character sets is configured to be 20 GB.

The overall size of the .pst files has a limit that is more than the 2-GB limit that is imposed by the ANSI .pst files. By default, the limit for a Unicode .pst file in Outlook 2007 and in Outlook 2003 is configured to be 20 GB.

If you want to access outlook 2003 or 2007 from a different computer that uses the older version of outlook installed or if you installed Outlook 2007 or 2003 and decided to remove it and to use Outlook 2002 or earlier, you have to change your .pst file into ANSI format. To do this open your outlook 2003 or 2007 go to the file menu, open data file management and then click add. Then open outlook 97-2002 Personal Folders File (PST). Then name the pst file or click ok to accept the default name. Then click ok and close it. Then click Folder List at the bottom of the navigation pane, you will find your new .pst file that you named. Drag the .pst file information from your existing Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2003 folders to the new .pst file that you created.

Now use the .pst file that you created in the earlier versions of Outlook. But always do these things properly. If you have not done these things properly you may face problem of .pst corruption or lost. Try to make backup of your data so that you will not lost your data. If unfortunately your pst file corrupted or lost you can take help of pst repair software. It is very easy to use and provides powerful recovery solution. This pst recovery software recovers data from encrypted file, deleted email attachments. It provides simultaneous recovery of multiple PST files.