Fix: Microsoft Office 2010 Outlook 2010 Mouse Cursor/Pointer Display Issue in XenApp Session

Scenario:

When you setup Outlook 2010 in Citrix XenApp Server Desktop session and you launch the application for the first time within the session as end user.  You configure the Outlook to use the ‘No email support’ and use the ‘recommended settings’.  You notice that your mouse Cursor/Pointer Display doesn’t appear in Outlook application though it just works fine for other applications in the same server desktop session.

 

Fix:

Have the Outlook launched as the end user at least once in a full desktop (RDP or runas) locally on the server. So that Outlook will have all of the files updated and refreshed on the serve in order for proper rendering. Then launch the same desktop session and you’ll have the Cursor displaying fine for Outlook.

Automatically Applying Outlook Views via Scripts

Scenario: I wanted to set a default custom view for all users connecting to our XA sessions so that users at every logon will have their outlook views reset and configured the custom view defined by me.

 

I know that Outlook views are saved to Exchange server mailboxes, however I’ve tried below couple of things to see if they help achieving this from a client side changes but in vain.

 

Exchange Server’s mdbvu32.exe tool reveals where Outlook stores its folder views. If you use mdbvu32.exe to open the root folder of the mailbox Information Store (IS), you see the IPM_COMMON_VIEWS folder. It contains two types of objects: IPM.Microsoft .FolderDesign.NamedView and IPM.Microsoft.FolderDesign.FormsDescription. In other words, these objects are folder views and Outlook forms—in particular, forms published to your Personal Forms library.

Reference: Where does Outlook store its view settings?

 

Managing via Outlook.xml file:

Navigation Pane settings (.xml)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.xml

 

Source: Navigation Pane settings (.xml)

Managing via OUTCMD.DAT file:

Outlook Default Settings CMD file (OUTCMD.DAT)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\OUTCMD.DAT

Source: How to restore the Outlook default installation, toolbars and settings

Outlook configuration file locations

The following is a list of data store and configuration files used by Microsoft Outlook. Some of the folders might be hidden folders. To view them, do one of the following:

Windows XP

1. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, click the View tab, and then click the Show hidden files and folder option.

Windows 2000

1. Double-click My Computer on your desktop.
2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, click the View tab, and then click the Show hidden files and folder option.

Your configuration may not include all of the following files. Some files are created only when you customize Outlook features.

Outlook data files (.pst)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Offline Folders file (.ost)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Personal Address Book (.pab)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Offline Address Books (.oab)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Command bar and menu customizations (.dat)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Navigation Pane settings (.xml)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.xml

This file includes Shortcuts, Calendar, and Contact links.

Registered Microsoft Exchange extensions (.dat)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Outlook contacts nicknames (.nk2)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Rules (.rwz)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

If you upgraded from a version of Outlook prior to Outlook 2002, you may have a .rwz file on your computer hard disk drive. The file is no longer needed and the rules information is now kept on the server for Microsoft Exchange e-mail accounts, and within the personal folders file (.pst) (Personal Folders file (.pst): Data file that stores your messages and other items on your computer. You can assign a .pst file to be the default delivery location for e-mail messages. You can use a .pst to organize and back up items for safekeeping.) for POP3 and IMAP e-mail accounts. You can delete the file.

If you use the rules import or export feature, the default location for .rwz files is drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\My Documents.

Print styles (Outlprnt with no extension)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Signatures (.rtf, .txt, .htm)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Signatures

Stationary (.htm)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Stationary

Custom forms

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Forms

Dictionary (.dic)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Proof

Templates (.oft)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Templates

Send/Receive settings (.srs)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Message (.msg, .htm, .rtf)

drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\My Documents

 

 

Source: Outlook file locations – Outlook – Office.com

Excel Formulas

Conversions

Date values: India to US

Input Date Format: 7/1/2011  (days in single digits)          

Conversion Formula: DATE(YEAR(B3),DAY(B3),MONTH(B3))

Output Date Format: 1/7/2011

 

Input Date Format: 14/01/2011  (days in two digits)          

Conversion Formula: DATEVALUE(MID(B8,4,2)&"/"&LEFT(B8,2)&"/"&RIGHT(B8,3))

Output Date Format: 1/14/2011

 

 

 

Reference articles:

1. How to use dates and times in Excel

2. HOW TO: Convert Dates in Imported Files from yy/mm/dd to mm/dd/yy Format in Excel 2000