Bulk change of mail server settings for outlook

Paul · External Since: Aug 01, 2006 Posts: 318

Hi,

I am having trouble finding a way to configure all of the clients that will
be connecting to a new exchange servers we are installing for a customer. I
am trying to find some way that I can remotely change the mail server that
the clients connect to. I have looked at the office resource kits and you
cannot change mail account details through group policy with the admin
templates provided. I need to be able to do this for outlook 2003 and XP. Any
help or sugestions would be greatfully received.

Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook] · External Since: Feb 11, 2005 Posts: 21627

Microsoft uses text files with a .prf extension and a highly structured format to provide information to OUtlook that enables Outlook to create or modify a mail profile. You can create such .prf files with the Custom Installation Wizard or Custom Maintenance Wizard tools in the Office Resource Kit. For more details, including a variety of .prf deployment methods, read the excellent white paper "Configuring Outlook Profiles by Using a PRF File" at http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?assetid=HA011403051033&Q...yID=pHm

The page at http://www.slipstick.com/exs/olroam.htm includes information on other profile tools and resources.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

"Paul" <Paul.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:37BD01B7-CFB6-47F0-9A52-9A2751B4D538@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
>
> I am having trouble finding a way to configure all of the clients that will
> be connecting to a new exchange servers we are installing for a customer. I
> am trying to find some way that I can remotely change the mail server that
> the clients connect to. I have looked at the office resource kits and you
> cannot change mail account details through group policy with the admin
> templates provided. I need to be able to do this for outlook 2003 and XP. Any
> help or sugestions would be greatfully received.

Paul · External Since: Aug 01, 2006 Posts: 318

Thanks that is just what I needed Smile

I love anything that saves me having to
go to 500 PCs and change things manually. Thank you also for such a prompt
and detailed answer.

"Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

> Microsoft uses text files with a .prf extension and a highly structured format to provide information to OUtlook that enables Outlook to create or modify a mail profile. You can create such .prf files with the Custom Installation Wizard or Custom Maintenance Wizard tools in the Office Resource Kit. For more details, including a variety of .prf deployment methods, read the excellent white paper "Configuring Outlook Profiles by Using a PRF File" at http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?assetid=HA011403051033&Q...yID=pHm
>
> The page at http://www.slipstick.com/exs/olroam.htm includes information on other profile tools and resources.
>
> --
> Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
> Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
> http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
> and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
> Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
> http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx
>
> "Paul" <Paul.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:37BD01B7-CFB6-47F0-9A52-9A2751B4D538@microsoft.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > I am having trouble finding a way to configure all of the clients that will
> > be connecting to a new exchange servers we are installing for a customer. I
> > am trying to find some way that I can remotely change the mail server that
> > the clients connect to. I have looked at the office resource kits and you
> > cannot change mail account details through group policy with the admin
> > templates provided. I need to be able to do this for outlook 2003 and XP. Any
> > help or sugestions would be greatfully received.
>

Jennifer Houchin · External Since: Oct 22, 2009 Posts: 2

"Paul" wrote:

> Thanks that is just what I needed Smile

I love anything that saves me having to
> go to 500 PCs and change things manually. Thank you also for such a prompt
> and detailed answer.
>
> "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>
> > Microsoft uses text files with a .prf extension and a highly structured format to provide information to OUtlook that enables Outlook to create or modify a mail profile. You can create such .prf files with the Custom Installation Wizard or Custom Maintenance Wizard tools in the Office Resource Kit. For more details, including a variety of .prf deployment methods, read the excellent white paper "Configuring Outlook Profiles by Using a PRF File" at http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?assetid=HA011403051033&Q...yID=pHm
> >
> > The page at http://www.slipstick.com/exs/olroam.htm includes information on other profile tools and resources.
> >
> > --
> > Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
> > Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
> > http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
> > and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
> > Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
> > http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx
> >
> > "Paul" <Paul RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:37BD01B7-CFB6-47F0-9A52-9A2751B4D538@microsoft.com...
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I am having trouble finding a way to configure all of the clients that will
> > > be connecting to a new exchange servers we are installing for a customer. I
> > > am trying to find some way that I can remotely change the mail server that
> > > the clients connect to. I have looked at the office resource kits and you
> > > cannot change mail account details through group policy with the admin
> > > templates provided. I need to be able to do this for outlook 2003 and XP. Any
> > > help or sugestions would be greatfully received.
> >

Jennifer Houchin · External Since: Oct 22, 2009 Posts: 2

Paul/Sue- how did you address the userid field? we have users logging in
locally in this scenario and need to have the prf file prompt for a domain
user id for the mailbox field. Our current prf file tries to connect using
the local login ID and although it prompts for server credentials on a run,
it will never resolve the mailbox name automatically.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Jennifer

"Paul" wrote:

> Thanks that is just what I needed Smile

I love anything that saves me having to
> go to 500 PCs and change things manually. Thank you also for such a prompt
> and detailed answer.
>
> "Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>
> > Microsoft uses text files with a .prf extension and a highly structured format to provide information to OUtlook that enables Outlook to create or modify a mail profile. You can create such .prf files with the Custom Installation Wizard or Custom Maintenance Wizard tools in the Office Resource Kit. For more details, including a variety of .prf deployment methods, read the excellent white paper "Configuring Outlook Profiles by Using a PRF File" at http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?assetid=HA011403051033&Q...yID=pHm
> >
> > The page at http://www.slipstick.com/exs/olroam.htm includes information on other profile tools and resources.
> >
> > --
> > Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
> > Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
> > http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
> > and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
> > Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
> > http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx
> >
> > "Paul" <Paul RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:37BD01B7-CFB6-47F0-9A52-9A2751B4D538@microsoft.com...
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I am having trouble finding a way to configure all of the clients that will
> > > be connecting to a new exchange servers we are installing for a customer. I
> > > am trying to find some way that I can remotely change the mail server that
> > > the clients connect to. I have looked at the office resource kits and you
> > > cannot change mail account details through group policy with the admin
> > > templates provided. I need to be able to do this for outlook 2003 and XP. Any
> > > help or sugestions would be greatfully received.
> >