Entourage downloading duplicate emails

Question

Entourage downloading duplicate emails

Most of our clients use Apple's Mail, but I have about 15 users runnning Entourage (2004, vers. 11.2.x). We have an OS X server running 10.4.x for mail (I think 10.4.5). We have the clients set up to keep messages on the server for 7 days (as a "just in case" backup)

Over the past 6 months I have had an issue where Entourage will re-download all of the messsages. Basically forgetting that it had downloaded them. It would happen about once a month to one person. I have always chalked this up to an issue with Entourage. (that's the Apple way, right? Blame MS? lol)

But yesterday, I had 4 clients have the same issue happen. All of them had over 600 emails to download... all within a 12 hour period. So I'm now wondering if this is a server issue (even though no Mail.app clients have experienced this). Would there be anything that would be causing the OS X Mail Server to be re-indexing the email files or changing them in any way?

Or does anyone have any idea what else would be causing the issue?

Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Apr 26, 2006 5:44 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 26, 2006 6:56 AM in response to The Dark Half

I don't have a direct fix but I've seen this on Entourage X with other mail servers as well. Under X was never able to find a direct fix - you can take an email address off-line, mark as don't leave on server, rebuild the database, etc and pray but there is no guarantee. Under Entourage 2004 believe they actually added a "Fix Mail List" option or something to specifically address this issue. (But this comes from a reference I found trying to debug X version - no promises.)

I would (in order):
-rebuild the database (start Entourage with option key held down - all MS Office apps must be closed)
-look for fix/rebuild maillist option (assuming 2004)
-throw away prefs
-delete mail from server (assuming POP)

Some mixed form of voodoo like this should fix it, but I never did come up with a solid solution. I don't think there's anything you can do server side because I've seen these complaints (and witnessed the same behaviors) on other mail servers as well.

Good luck,

=Tod

G5/2.0x2, Dual XServes x2, XRAID, beige G3 501Mhz

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Answer 2

rrtechno

Level 1

105 points

Apr 26, 2006 7:44 AM in response to The Dark Half

We have a similar issue that appears from time to time. All of a sudden staff members would have multiple copies of of messages appearing in their list. Trying to delete them was futile, they wouldn't disappear. In our case, it was a cache problem in Entourage. Right clicking (Control-Click) on the inbox and selecting "Empty Cache" (Bottom item on the menu) and then doing a "Send and Receive" cleared the problem. It seemed to occur at times when certain outside messages arrived through a mail list, although not all the time. The agrivating one recently appeared when we got a campaign message from a local political candidate. It looke like spam.

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Answer 3

Apr 26, 2006 8:03 AM in response to The Dark Half

Thanks all. At least I can rule out a server issue.

Yesterday, I had created an IMAP account on my machine with the user config, figured out which email they downloaded last and then deleted all the emails from the server via the IMAP account. That is my temp "quick fix" for getting users back into mail. A good solution instead of downloading all the messages (provided you have IMAP set up).

For now, I have disabled storing the emails on the server for all Entourage users. Most of them are backed up on a daily basis anyways.

rrtechno: I am not seeing the "Empty Cache" option. I'm running Office 2004 vers. 11.2.3 for Entourage. Am I missing something?

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Answer 4

rrtechno

Level 1

105 points

Apr 29, 2006 7:40 PM in response to The Dark Half

In regards to the "Empty Cache", That is the same version we are using. Using a 2 button mouse, by right-clicking on the "Inbox" (control-click with a one button mouse) the last option on the pop-up menu is "Empty Cache. I don't see it anyplace in the drop down menus in the menu bar.

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Answer 5

Jun 2, 2006 2:59 PM in response to The Dark Half

I am having the problem and I am not on a network. Everytime I send/recieve I get 50 or so emails every 10 minutes. HELP anyone.

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