Understanding a Microsoft Outlook Profile file (PRF)

February 16, 2011
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This is from an automatically generated PRF file from the Microsoft Office Customization and Installation Wizard (CIW)

This explains the sections that you can edit. Sections 2 and 4 are covered here and sections you shouldn’t edit are not included. Most of the editable fields are self-explanatory, but I’ll explain them anyway.

Taken from the Sample profile file.  You can view the contents of this file with Notepad  If you accidently run  it and create a profile in Outlook, go to Control Panel, Mail and click the Show  Profiles button. Delete My Outlook Profile from the list.

Section 1 – Profile Defaults

[General]
Custom=1

ProfileName=My Outlook ProfileThis is the name of your profile.
DefaultProfile=YesIs the profile going to be set as default? Yes or No are valid
OverwriteProfile=YesDo you want to replace the profile or append the changes to it? Valid entries are Yes, No, and Append. Use Append to update a profile.
ModifyDefaultProfileIfPresent=FALSE Modifies the default profile if one exists, even if the profile name is different from the one in the PRF.
BackupProfile=NoUndocumented property to avoid creating backup copies of a profile.

Section 3 – List of internet accounts

Each account in your profile is listed in this section, followed by the  account type. If you add more accounts in Section 5, be sure to add the accounts  here, incrementing the Account#.  If you have 6 email accounts, you’ll 6  accounts listed, numbered 1 through 6. The account types (POP3, IMAP, HTTP) can  be in any order, the examples on this page came from the sample PRF where they  were in POP3, IMAP, HTTP order.

[Internet Account List]

Account1=I_MailI_Mail indicates Account1 is a POP3 (Internet) mail
Account2=IMAP_I_MailIMAP_I_Mail indicates Account2 is a IMAP account
Account3=INET_HTTPINET_HTTP indicates Account3 is a HTTP account

Section 5 – Values for each internet account.

Each account needs to be listed here, using the proper format for the account  type. The CIW leaves some fields blank, as shown here,  unless you selected  More options as you added the profiles. To add new accounts, copy the proper  account type and paste it following the last account, changing the account  information as needed. Don’t forget to change the Account# here and add it to  section 3.

POP3 account settings

[Account1]Account number. It needs entered here and in Section 3. Use a different number for each account.
UniqueService=NoCan you add the account type more than once? Because you can have more than one POP3, IMAP, or HTTP, you’ll use No.
AccountName=Outlook Tips POP3The name displayed in the Accounts dropdown and on the Send/Receive list.
POP3Server=mail.outlook-tips.netPOP3 server name
SMTPServer=mail.outlook-tips.netSMTP server name
POP3UserName=outlooktThe username you use to log on to your account
EmailAddress=tips@outlook-tips.netYour email address.
POP3UseSPA=0Do you use SPA? In most cases, the answer is No, or 0. Enter 1 if you do use SPA.
DisplayName=Diane PoremskyEnter the display name to be used when you send messages.
ReplyEMailAddress=If you use a different reply to address, enter it here.
SMTPUseAuth=1Are you required to authenticate before sending email? 1 = Yes, 0 = No.
SMTPAuthMethod=0What authentication method do you use?
0= use same as POP3 logon.
1= Use different credentials.
2= POP before SMTP
SMTPUserName=dianepUsername to use when you use different credentials to send mail.
ConnectionType=0How do you connect to the internet?
0 = LAN.
1 = Use IE’s dialer
2 = Use Phone line
3 = Use modem if LAN unavailable.
LeaveOnServer=0×0Leave mail on the server?
0×0 = No.
0×50001 = Yes, days option unchecked, never delete.
0x90003  = Yes, 9 days, don’t delete.
0×50007 = Yes, 5 days, Delete from server when emptying Deleted items
ConnectionOID=MyConnectionDial up connection (DUN) to use.
POP3Port=110The POP3 port. Leave it on the default of 110 unless you are told to change it.
POP3UseSSL=0 Do you use SSL? In most cases, it’s No, which is 0.
ServerTimeOut=60 What is your server time out? 60 seconds is default.
SMTPPort=25SMTP port number. 25 is default but some servers use 2525 or 587. Leave it at 25 unless you need a different port.
SMTPUseSSL=0Does your SMTP server use SSL? Leave it on 0 (No) unless told otherwise.

IMAP account

[Account2]Account number. It needs entered here and in Section 3
UniqueService=NoCan you add the account type more than once? Use No for HTTP, POP#, or IMAP accounts.
AccountName=AOL-IMAPThe name displayed in the Accounts dropdown and on the Send/Receive list.
IMAPServer=imap.aol.comIMAP server
SMTPServer=smtp.aol.comSMTP server
IMAPUserName=poremskyYour username, used to logon when you check email.
EmailAddress=poremsky@aol.comEmail address
IMAPUseSPA=0Use SPA? 0 = No, only change it if you do need to use SPA.
DisplayName=Diane PoremskyThe display name you want to use when you send messages
ReplyEMailAddress=Reply to email address, if different than your sending email address.
SMTPUseAuth=1Do you need to authenticate to send email? 1= Yes.
SMTPAuthMethod=0What authentication method do you use?
0= use same as POP3 logon.
1= Use different credentials.
2= POP before SMTP
SMTPUserName=dianepUsername to use when you use different credentials to send mail.
ConnectionType=0How do you connect to the internet?
0 = LAN.
1 = Use IE’s dialer
2= Use Phone line
3 = Use modem if LAN unavailable.
RootFolder=Do you use a root folder? If so, enter the path here.
ConnectionOID=MyConnectionDial up networking connection to use.
IMAPPort=143The port you use to collect email. Default is 143, don’t change it unless told to.
IMAPUseSSL=0Do you use SSL? 0= No.
ServerTimeOut=60Server timeout.
SMTPPort=587The SMTP port to use. Default is 25, change it only if your server uses a different port, as AOL does.
SMTPUseSSL=0Do you use SSL to send mail? 0=No.

How to add personal message stores to a PRF: Adding Personal Stores

Also see  Tips for using Outlook 2002 .prf files to configure profiles
Customizing Outlook Profiles by Using PRF Files.

Related posts:

Create an Outlook Profile File (*.PRF)
Create a new Outlook 2002 or Outlook 2003 Profile
Denied Access to Hotmail, Live, or MSN accounts in Microsoft Outlook
Tip 155: Outlook’s Profile File (PRF)
Tip 830: Outlook 2010, IMAP & Send to commands

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4 Responses to Understanding a Microsoft Outlook Profile file (PRF)

  1. tc-flock on September 3, 2011 at 8:47 am

    This Section are not working for Version Office 2003, WHY

    LeaveOnServer=0×0 Leave mail on the server?
    0×0 = No.
    0×50001 = Yes, days option unchecked, never delete.
    0×90003 = Yes, 9 days, don’t delete.
    0×50007 = Yes, 5 days, Delete from server when emptying Deleted items

  2. Diane Poremsky on September 3, 2011 at 2:54 pm

    I’ll have to check on it – it’s not working in Outlook 2010 either.

  3. gihan sampath on November 25, 2011 at 7:21 am

    help me

  4. Diane Poremsky on November 25, 2011 at 8:10 am

    What exactly do you need help with?

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