NEWPROF.EXE is installed by the Client Setup program into the
directory where the Microsoft Exchange client is installed on the client
machine. It is not directly available in the client installation share point
on the server as it is present in the file EXCHNG3.CAB.
this also came off the TechNet CD after searching on newprof.exe.
(The a profile.exe is on the client utilities dec 2000 CD)
cheers
Dean
Introduction
Adding profiles for new Outlook users can be a time-consuming
administrative task, especially when users are involved in the setup
process. Currently, tools like PROFGEN allow administrators to control the
value entered for the MailboxName, but other variables must still be entered
manually, increasing the likelihood of errors.
A new tool, PRFPATCH, provides control over any parameter that can
be set within Outlook.prf. Automating all the variables saves administrators
considerable time by reducing the risk of error, creating consistent
profiles that are personalized for specific users, and eliminating user
involvement in set up.
This article provides procedures, attached files, and information on
automating Outlook profiles. It complements an earlier article, Customize MS
Outlook Installations, which explained how to customize the Outlook client
interface and recommended using PROFGEN or FIXPRF to enable a "hands-free"
installation, but stopped short of profile modification.
PRFPATCH modifies the profile name, the path to personal folders
name, and the path to personal address books by controlling the following
parameters:
* ProfileName
* MailboxName
* PathToPersonalFolders
* PathToPersonalAddressBook
* Any PRF value containing the string %username%
Note This article details a number of technical procedures and only
knowledgeable personnel should follow the steps outlined. Microsoft
recommends thoroughly testing customized installations prior to production
use.
Downloading Sample Installation Files
Below is a self-extracting executable file containing three files:
* prfpatch.exe-the tool
* utlook.prf-sample file
* userprof.bat-sample file
<outbind://108/Image1.gif> Click here to access profile.exe
The sample files (outlook.prf and userprof.bat) are for reference
only. Userprof.bat illustrates how to implement this in a production
environment. The Outlook.prf sample file has a string called yourServerName,
which you should replace with the correct name.
How PRFPATCH Works
PRFPATCH creates profiles for both Outlook 97 and Outlook 98 and
runs on either Windows 95 or Windows NT. It works by searching through
Outlook.prf for any occurrence of %username% and replaces it with the name
of the user currently logged in. Changes are written to Outlook.sav, the
original Outlook.prf is deleted, and Outlook.sav is renamed to Outlook.prf.
PRFPATCH supports a single command line parameter. If PRFPATCH is
called with any value other than /?, the value being passed in over-rides
the user currently logged in. For example, if a technician logs in as ALEXVA
and runs PRFPATCH UserX, an Exchange profile will be created for UserX
rather than alexva.
Note OUTLOOK.PRF must be placed in the directory where Windows is
located.
To use, modify OUTLOOK.PRF and place the string %%username%%
wherever you want to substitute the name of the current user. For example:
ProfileName=%username%
MailboxName=%username%
PathToPersonalAddressBook=x:\\homeserver\\%username%\\%username%.pab
Then run NEWPROF.EXE to create the Outlook user profile.
Type newprof /? for options
Troubleshooting Profile Creation
If a user profile is not created after running NEWPROF or if some of
the services are not installed, check the following syntax rules for
Outlook.prf:
1. Services must be contiguous
; Section 2 - Services in profile.
[Service List]
Service1=Microsoft Outlook Client
Service2=Microsoft Exchange Server
Service3=Outlook Address Book
;Service4=Personal Address Book
Service5=Archived Messages
[Service4]
PathToPersonalAddressBook="c:\windows\%username%.pab"
ViewOrder=1
[Service5]
PathToPersonalFolders="c:\windows\%username%.pst"
RememberPassword=TRUE
EncryptionType=0x40000000
Password=
For example, the code segment above shows the Services section from
Outlook.prf that control which services are created when newprof runs. In
the example, Service4=Personal Address Book is commented out using a
semi-colon. If newprof is run in this configuration, Services 5 will not be
created because newprof will stop processing as soon as it hits the first
comment. To correct this situation, move the commented line to the bottom or
delete it and then renumber Service5 to Service4. In addition, modify the
sections that Service4 (formerly Service5) references.
The modified version, with the original Service4 section commented
out and Service5 changed to Service4, should look like this:
; Section 2 - Services in profile.
[Service List]
Service1=Microsoft Outlook Client
Service2=Microsoft Exchange Server
Service3=Outlook Address Book
Service4=Archived Messages
;Service4=Personal Address Book
;[Service4]
;PathToPersonalAddressBook="c:\windows\%username%.pab"
;ViewOrder=1
[Service4]
PathToPersonalFolders="c:\windows\%username%.pst"
RememberPassword=TRUE
EncryptionType=0x40000000
Password=
2. Path statements with spaces must be wrapped with quotes. For
example, the path statement below will be ignored:
[Service5]
PathToPersonalFolders=c:\Progam Files\%username%.pst
3. The modified version below will work:
[Service5]
PathToPersonalFolders="c:\Program Files\%username%.pst"
Note If you encounter problems creating profiles, call newprof.exe
with the -s -z parameters to display a graphical representation of the
profile creation process.
Conclusion
The tools and information described in this article have been used
successfully to create Outlook user profiles in a production environment.
With a little modification, automating the Outlook user profile creation
will help:
* Reduce installation time
* Roll out consistent implementations
* Relieve the burden on users to know what Exchange server to
connect to and what their Exchange alias name is
* Assist in a "hands-free" installation of the Outlook client
In some cases, customers have experienced a 50 percent reduction in
time needed to install the Outlook client and fewer end-user calls to
Helpdesk as a result of automating the Outlook user profile creation
process.
More Information
For related information on Outlook setup, search on the following
Microsoft Knowledge Base articles in TechNet:
* Q166778-OL97: Contents of the Profile.doc Readme File
* Q171628-OL97: Stand-Alone Outlook 97 Setup Options
* Q166300-OL97: Outlook Services File Information
* Q165374-OL97: Setup in Batch/Quiet Mode for Outlook
* Q145905-XCLN: NEWPROF.EXE Command Line Options
* Q161487-OFF97: Contents of Relnotes.doc for the NIW
* Q161973-OL97: Troubleshooting Outlook Configuration Problems
* Q182151-OL98: Troubleshooting Outlook Configuration Problems
* Q174291-OL97: Articles Available by Fax or E-Mail: Configuration
These articles are also available on the Microsoft Web site. Just
connect to this site http://www.microsoft.com/support/ to access the
Knowledge Base and search on the above Q#s.
We at Microsoft Corporation hope that the information in this work
is valuable to you. Your use of the information contained in this work,
however, is at your sole risk. All information in this work is provided "as
-is", without any warranty, whether express or implied, of its accuracy,
completeness, fitness for a particular purpose, title or non-infringement,
and none of the information mentioned in the work are supported or
guaranteed by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Corporation shall not be
liable for any damages you may sustain by using this information, whether
direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential, even if it has been
advised of the possibility of such damages.
Microsoft TechNet
July 1998
Volume 6, Issue 7
-----Original Message-----
From: Network Issues [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, 18 September 2001 11:54 a.m.
To: NT System Admin Issues
Subject: RE: Outlook
Can anyone tell me where I can find NEWPROF.EXE?
I have scoured TechNet and MSKB and haven't found any reference as to where
I can get it.
Thanks in advance.
Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: Network Issues [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 2:25 PM
To: NT System Admin Issues
Subject: RE: Outlook
Thanks for the lead. I'm looking into profgen now. It looks a bit
confusing.
Any advise will be appreciated.
Thanks.
Ron R.
-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Bodnar [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 2:03 PM
To: NT System Admin Issues
Subject: RE: Outlook
Yes, take a look at TechNet and do a search on PROFGEN.EXE and NEWPROF.EXE
HTH
Chris Bodnar
The Lehigh Group
610-966-9702 X:134
-----Original Message-----
From: Network Issues [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 5:00 PM
To: NT System Admin Issues
Subject: Outlook
Is there a tool available that will automatically let me create a new
profile for an Outlook User.
We have Outlook 2000 deployed on a mixture of NTWS and W2KPro. Given this,
each time a new user is brought onboard we start the tedious process of
building them an Outlook profile.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Ron R.
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