OL97: Search Subfolders Not Available for Public Folders

• Microsoft Outlook 97

SYMPTOMS

When you choose to search a set of Public folders in Microsoft Outlook 97, the option to search subfolders is not available.

CAUSE

It is possible to distribute Public folders and subfolders over several different servers. The Find Items function cannot perform distributed queries across multiple computers so the Search Subfolders option is unavailable for Public folders.

RESOLUTION

You must search each Public folder and its subfolders independently.

MORE INFORMATION

The Find Items function can only search below one folder level when it is assured that all lower level folders are on the same server. This condition is true for Mailbox folders and local Personal Folders stores (PST) but not for Public folders.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. On the Tools menu, click Find Items.

2. On the Find dialog box, click Browse.

3. On the Select Folder(s) dialog box, move to and click any Public folder.