Yes, .msg is a useful format for saving e-mails either into Windows Explorer
or an EDRMS.
But it does expect Outlook to be installed on the PC. Does anyone know of a
viewer that can display .msg files (and their attachments) ?
Perhaps a longer term answer is to convert the e-mails into .pdf (Acrobat)
files. I believe Acrobat 7 allows attachments to be stored inside the .pdf
file, does anyone know if this is so ?
Steve Norris
www.alliancegroup.co.uk
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The UK Records Management mailing list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
> Peter Kurilecz
> Sent: 31 March 2005 18:38
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Email as records
>
>
> On Thu, 31 Mar 2005 17:25:24 +0100, Stephen Howard
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > Yes, you can drag and drop or Save As..but the fundamental weakness
>
> Although there are weaknesses inherent with the .msg format I've found
> it much easier to use than the .pst format and whole lot more stable.
> I set up folders into which I drop the messages. I retain on my
> laptop's harddrive, as I am on the road and would like to reference
> old emails. This can be done via the .msg format, but not with the
> .pst (if you are not connected to the network)
>
> >
> > You also need to work out what to do with email
> attachments. They are at
> > risk and invisible if retained within their host email,
> however splitting
> > them from their parent risks loss of context and "record-ness".
>
> I download the attachments and save them separately from the email
> within the same folder
>
> > BUT .msg is probably not the best
> > preservation format if you've got lengthy retention periods.
>
> BUT what is? when it comes to electronic records ;-)
>
>
> > I am currently advising my colleagues to use this "simple
> solution" - for
> > all its weaknesses - as a key intermediary step towards EDRM.
>
> I've published on my company's intranet a graphical view for how this
> can be done. What is interesting is how many folks are unaware of the
> .msg format.
>
>
> --
> Peter Kurilecz
> Richmond, Va
>
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