Delete Categories in the Journal Section of Outlook 2003

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chunnel - 23 Feb 2007 15:52 GMT

A few years ago, when I started developing my database, I used hundreds of
Categories and subcategories to organize my data. I later found this to be
too burdensome and stopped using Categories. Since these are my own
categories and not standard to Outlook I now have a problem in the Journal
section. In the Contacts section, I merely highlighted all the Contacts and
clicked on Categories and then unchecked all the boxes. Even though the
Categories no longer showed up in the Master Category list I could still
uncheck them. However, I wish to organize my Journal entries with Categories,
but for some reason the Journal section is still showing all the old hundreds
of Categories. And when I Select All and click on Categories, I only see the
standard Outlook Categories. Short of having to enter each and every of the
hundreds of Categories one by one into the Master list and then unchecking
them, how can I clear all the Categories from my Journal section?

My second question, is it possible to edit Entry Types for the Journal?

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Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook] - 23 Feb 2007 19:07 GMT

> And when I Select All and click on Categories, I only see the
> standard Outlook Categories.

I cannot duplicate this. When I select all journal entries, right-click and choose Categories, I see the categories those journal entries contain, just like your description of the contacts folder.

> My second question, is it possible to edit Entry Types for the Journal?

That requires editing the Windows registry. See http://www.inquiry.com/techtips/exo_pro/10min/10min0999.asp

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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

>A few years ago, when I started developing my database, I used hundreds of
> Categories and subcategories to organize my data. I later found this to be
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> hundreds of Categories one by one into the Master list and then unchecking
> them, how can I clear all the Categories from my Journal section?

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chunnel - 23 Feb 2007 22:38 GMT

First I'm confused why you asked me to copy this from Slipstick.com to here
because I had entered in under the wrong thread and then you answer it here.
Wouldn't it have simpler to mention that I chosen the wrong thread and answer
it anyway?

Second, I entered many categories, hundreds, then periodically I would
reinstall Windows because it gets bogged down. Every time I reinstalled
Windows XP and Office all the categories that I had entered disapeared in the
Master list and only the standard Outlook categories showed up. Yet under
each Contact the appropriate Categories were there. I found out this was a
defect within Outlook that is not fixable. So I stopped using Categories to
organize my data and started using broader Country/Region zones to organized
my information. Then I highlighted all the Contacts and unchecked all the
Categories. The Categories that I had created showed up, but not on the
Master list. Now within the Journal section I am attempting to do the same
because I want to create just a few new categories for the Journal entries.
Yet when I highlight all and click on Categories, only the standard Outlook
Categories show up. However, if I organize the Journal entries by Category
then the hundreds of old categories are displayed. I want to delete all
these old categories from the Journal section. That is the best that I can
explain it, I hope that it makes sense to you.
Bryan

> > And when I Select All and click on Categories, I only see the
> > standard Outlook Categories.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> > hundreds of Categories one by one into the Master list and then unchecking
> > them, how can I clear all the Categories from my Journal section?

Reply to this Message

Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook] - 23 Feb 2007 23:53 GMT

This is a forum for usage questions. OutlookCode.com is a forum for programming issues, where usage questions like yours are not appropriate.

> Every time I reinstalled
> Windows XP and Office all the categories that I had entered disapeared in the
> Master list and only the standard Outlook categories showed up.

This is expected behavior. In Outlook 2003, the master category list is stored in the Windows registry. Reinstalling Windows wipes it out, along with other user settings.

> Yet under
> each Contact the appropriate Categories were there. I found out this was a
> defect within Outlook that is not fixable.

This is not a defect. Resetting the master category list should not and does not affect data stored in existing items. Data protection is an important feature.

> Then I highlighted all the Contacts and unchecked all the
> Categories. The Categories that I had created showed up, but not on the
> Master list.

This is also normal and expected.

> Now within the Journal section I am attempting to do the same
> because I want to create just a few new categories for the Journal entries.
> Yet when I highlight all and click on Categories, only the standard Outlook
> Categories show up.

You mean right-click the selected items, and then click on Categories, correct? This is what I said I cannot duplicate and have never heard of anyone else having a problem with. It should work exactly as you described it for your contacts. You might try selecting just a few items, rather than all of them, and see what happens.

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> First I'm confused why you asked me to copy this from Slipstick.com to here
> because I had entered in under the wrong thread and then you answer it here.
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
>> > hundreds of Categories one by one into the Master list and then unchecking
>> > them, how can I clear all the Categories from my Journal section?

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chunnel - 24 Feb 2007 00:14 GMT

Regardless, what I described in the Journal section is what is happening. I
guess I'm the first.

> This is a forum for usage questions. OutlookCode.com is a forum for programming issues, where usage questions like yours are not appropriate.
>
[quoted text clipped - 68 lines]
> >> > hundreds of Categories one by one into the Master list and then unchecking
> >> > them, how can I clear all the Categories from my Journal section?

Reply to this Message

Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook] - 24 Feb 2007 01:56 GMT

Did you try what I suggested -- selected just a few items, then right-click them and choose Categories from the context menu?

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>>
>> > Now within the Journal section I am attempting to do the same
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
>> >> > hundreds of Categories one by one into the Master list and then unchecking
>> >> > them, how can I clear all the Categories from my Journal section?

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