When you keep the same version of outlook then using the old pst is best.
It's not as problematic to import when you are changing versions though.
Yeah, you lose some hidden things, like forms & custom views and the last
modified date is messed up, but using a pst created by the current version
of outlook is a plus (and not everyone uses custom views, custom forms or
autoarchive, so nothing lost). Importing is faster and easier for many
users.

Had someone started with Outlook 97 and just kept reusing the old pst
through 2007, he'd have super small table (max approx 14000 messages per
folder) and other issues as the pst format changed some between each
version. Problems caused by the older formats wasn't an issue until Outlook
2007, then using old psts were problematic (in ways other than
ANSI/Unicode). If the user had imported to a new version each time, he
wouldn't worry about anything - he'd have the latest, greatest pst format
with the new version.

What is wrong is the recommendation of woody (of office watch fame) to make
a new pst and import from the old one every 6 months. That's asinine - its
totally unnecessary to do it just for the sake of doing it.

Import is also not a good method when you get a new computer and use the
same version of Outlook. But for those changing versions or who are just
wanting to copy calendar and contacts, import/export is perfectly acceptable
way to do it.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Outlook Tips: http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com

Outlook Tips by email:


EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:


You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/comm...s/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.


"Gordon" wrote in message
...
"Diane Poremsky [MVP]" wrote in message
...
Yes. Those two versions use Unicode format psts. Older versions do not -
so it wouldn't work with older versions.


Diane, I'm surprised that you didn't warn the OP of the pitfalls that may
well occur when a pst file is imported!