how to retrieve lost contact custom views

Windows XP; Outlook 2002

I've lost all my custom views of contacts, when I created a new Outlook
today folder and transferred contacts there.

I do have a backup of the entire contacts pst file. Is it possible to
retrieve the custom views from the back up PST file? If so how? I don't want
to have to recreate all the views I already had made.

If I go to the backup PST file, it shows a previously prepared custom view,
but if I try to copy in define views, it reverts to a standard view, and the
custom view cannot be retrieved. No custom views are displayed.

Thanks, Jeff

How did you "transfer" this PST? How did you create this "backup?" We
repeatedly advise not to export/import PST's. Now you see why. You lose
data. Just copy and reuse your original PST. Here are instructions if you
don't know how:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/as...771141033.aspx
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Jeff" wrote in message
...
Windows XP; Outlook 2002

I've lost all my custom views of contacts, when I created a new Outlook
today folder and transferred contacts there.

I do have a backup of the entire contacts pst file. Is it possible to
retrieve the custom views from the back up PST file? If so how? I don't
want
to have to recreate all the views I already had made.

If I go to the backup PST file, it shows a previously prepared custom
view,
but if I try to copy in define views, it reverts to a standard view, and
the
custom view cannot be retrieved. No custom views are displayed.

Thanks, Jeff

Russ, thank you for your help.

Let me clarify somewhat. When I went to archive a couple of months ago, I
somehow managed to archive my outlook today and all the "primary ??)"
folders. I followed the instructions from someone on this board and created
a new personal folder and copied the contacts folders in there.

This process resulted in a loss of message rules for email and custom views
for contacts.

The original contact folder is still sitting in the archive folder, unchanged.

In addition, I have multiple backups.
1. In the past I have exported contacts into a PST and I have them avialble
to use.
2. In the past I have actually copied the entire contacts PST file into a
backup location.

If I open up a previous copied contacts PST, copied would it contain the
desired custom views which I could somehow extract and make available to my
new contacts folder?

I tried placing a copied contact PST into my outlook folder (local
settings/microsoft/outlook), but it did not show up when I restarted outlook.

Your continued help would be appreciated. I've really tried to study this,
but can't seem to figure it out.

Jeff



"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

How did you "transfer" this PST? How did you create this "backup?" We
repeatedly advise not to export/import PST's. Now you see why. You lose
data. Just copy and reuse your original PST. Here are instructions if you
don't know how:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/as...771141033.aspx
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Jeff" wrote in message
...
Windows XP; Outlook 2002

I've lost all my custom views of contacts, when I created a new Outlook
today folder and transferred contacts there.

I do have a backup of the entire contacts pst file. Is it possible to
retrieve the custom views from the back up PST file? If so how? I don't
want
to have to recreate all the views I already had made.

If I go to the backup PST file, it shows a previously prepared custom
view,
but if I try to copy in define views, it reverts to a standard view, and
the
custom view cannot be retrieved. No custom views are displayed.

Thanks, Jeff

Whoa. There sure was a lot more to this story. It's not nice to leave out
critical information like that and make us try to divine it for ourselves.
Nevertheless, I already posted the relevant information on the proper method
to copy and reuse your PST file. Perhaps you can tell me what part is still
unclear so I can clarify it for you.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Jeff" wrote in message
...
Russ, thank you for your help.

Let me clarify somewhat. When I went to archive a couple of months ago, I
somehow managed to archive my outlook today and all the "primary ??)"
folders. I followed the instructions from someone on this board and
created
a new personal folder and copied the contacts folders in there.

This process resulted in a loss of message rules for email and custom
views
for contacts.

The original contact folder is still sitting in the archive folder,
unchanged.

In addition, I have multiple backups.
1. In the past I have exported contacts into a PST and I have them
avialble
to use.
2. In the past I have actually copied the entire contacts PST file into a
backup location.

If I open up a previous copied contacts PST, copied would it contain the
desired custom views which I could somehow extract and make available to
my
new contacts folder?

I tried placing a copied contact PST into my outlook folder (local
settings/microsoft/outlook), but it did not show up when I restarted
outlook.

Your continued help would be appreciated. I've really tried to study
this,
but can't seem to figure it out.

Jeff



"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

How did you "transfer" this PST? How did you create this "backup?" We
repeatedly advise not to export/import PST's. Now you see why. You lose
data. Just copy and reuse your original PST. Here are instructions if you
don't know how:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/as...771141033.aspx
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Jeff" wrote in message
...
Windows XP; Outlook 2002

I've lost all my custom views of contacts, when I created a new Outlook
today folder and transferred contacts there.

I do have a backup of the entire contacts pst file. Is it possible to
retrieve the custom views from the back up PST file? If so how? I
don't
want
to have to recreate all the views I already had made.

If I go to the backup PST file, it shows a previously prepared custom
view,
but if I try to copy in define views, it reverts to a standard view,
and
the
custom view cannot be retrieved. No custom views are displayed.

Thanks, Jeff