Compact Your OE Folders Web Site

Like most database programs, OE does not actually remove an item from a *.dbx file when you delete a message. Instead it merely tags the item for removal at a later time, mainly when you next compact your folders. Until then, the deleted message is still occupying disk space, which can cause OE to perform more slowly when accessing the *.dbx file.

To recover disk space and keep your files as small as possible, you need to compact your folders regularly.
In the OE Folder list (View Layout Folder List), click Outlook Express so that no mail or news folder is open. Now click File Work Offline so that no new messages will be arriving. Finally, click File Folder Compact All Folders. This process can take several minutes and you should not attempt to use your computer until it is finished. If an error occurs, such as "cannot compact, folder in use", just close OE, wait a second or two, then re-open OE and begin the process again. This will compact not only your news folders, but also all of your mail folders and the all-important Folders.dbx.

To compact only news folders, click Tools Options Maintenance Clean up Now, then click Compact.

In the most current version, OE compacts all folders automatically after you open and close the program 100 times. Compacting folders is absolutely essential for maintaining your files in good working order. If you don't like waiting for that 100th closing, you can compact all folders manually at any time.