OL97: New Nickname Features in Outlook 8.02

This article describes improvements in Microsoft Outlook 97 version 8.02, and how it caches friendly nicknames.

Outlook 97, version 8.02 improves control over the storage and usage of friendly nicknames used for name resolution. Improvements include the following features:

• An improved method for storing nicknames, making it easier to control and flush the nickname list.
• A default 64 entry limit for the nicknames list and the ability to increase this limit in the Windows Registry.
• Ability to turn the building of a nickname list on or off, without effecting the automatic name checking setting in the Outlook profile.
• New Non-Delivery Receipt message that tries to determine if the non-delivery resulted from a bad nickname. If so, Outlook deletes the bad nickname from the list.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

The new cache method uses a file to store nicknames. The following registry key identifies the nickname file (the key is of value type STRING): The new cache size defaults to a 64 entry limit unless you specify another size in the following registry key (the key is of value type DWORD): You can turn the storage of a nickname list on or off without changing the automatic name check feature. If the following registry key is missing or set to zero, the nicknames feature is on. If the following registry key is set to 1, the nicknames feature is off (the key is of value type DWORD):

For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.