time Machine does not show Outlook 2011 Database file? why?

Yes, I will do that, but after reading the other posts, Microsoft was not able to solve the problem either. Where do the pst files I initially Exported into Outlook reside on my Mac, and how😕 do I access them?

I wasn't there when you exported the file, thus I do not know where you put it.

THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL REPLY! I would assume that when you Export a file into Outlook for mac, it would always go to the same place. If you must be sarcastic, please keep it to yourself.

Export destination is a user choice, you are the user so I assume that you failed to notice where you exported it too. I was not being sarcastic, but you are rude so find it without my help.

Good luck.

duopshebop wrote:

I didnt start using time machine until a few months ago. That being said, I have also read that Mac makes a copy of everthing on its own, so , does that mean the original PST file I had initially Exported from my Windows computer (which is now destroyed unfortunately), in May of this year, would still be sitting somewhere on my Mac ?

That's the point: how many months ago? Mac makes copies using Time Machine, but if you didn't use it yet in May... Anyway, just search with Spotlight, or better imho with EasyFind, for .pst files on your Mac wherever they may be. Before searching, choose Finder > Preferences > Advanced and select Show all filename extensions.

BTW, you posted in a Snow Leopard thread so I'm assuming you're running 10.6.8. EasyFind will work just the same with Mountain Lion, but I'm not sure it's compatible with Mavericks.

Not sure if your question is about finding the .pst file, or if your concern is no database file in Time Machine for Outlook 2011 (or both).

Seems like the PST file question has been answered adequately, and I think i can answer the database question. It's been a few months since I had to use this info (which I think I found in a Microsoft Tech Note), but I think I'm stating it accurately.

The database file is not in Time Machine because you don't actually need it. Unlike in Entourage, where everything is in one huge database, Outlook has a completely different file storage structure, and the database file is simply a catalog for those files.

So, if you need to rebuild your Outlook 2011 from the Time Machine backup, Outlook will regenerate the database catalog from the files. It takes quite a while (or at least it did for me, since some of my records date back from before Entourage 2001), but it works.

Good luck!

Thanks for all the info! Yes, I did the searches and know where the PST files are, but cant seem to link them to my original identity. I dont care about using Time Machine, I just thought this would have been the easiest way, but I guess not. I just want to recover my old outlook files in any way i can. I will look for the Microsoft notes, to which you refer.

No, I did not notice it was snow leopard. I just saw the Outlook items and started reading. Thanks for the tips!