How to rename Outlook Navigation Pane data file entries using MFCMapi
In the current versions of Outlook, the name of the data store shown in the Outlook Navigation Pane is typically the email address associated with the email account. If a data store already exists when configuring the email account a second (or third….) time, Outlook adds a number i.e. yourname@outlook.com would appear as yourname@outlook.com(1) as a for instance.
The normal approach for changing the name that appears in the Outlook Navigation Pane is to right-click on the root of the data store –> Data File Properties –> click the Advanced button
To change the name that appears for PST data files, the process is to right-click the <Root> of the PST file in the outlook Nav pane –> Data File Properties –> click the <Advanced> button and change the name as shown below
With IMAP and Exchange email accounts, this option is not available. What you get after clicking the <Advanced> button would be something similar to:
In the above case, the display name that appears in the Outlook Nav Pane can be done by using MFCMapi. (The following was accurate as of the time this post was originally published using the latest version of MFCMapi)
- download MFCMapi, unzip the file and click on the MFCMapi.exe file to run the program (there is no installation)
- From the menu –> Session –> Logon –> select the Outlook profile you want to use
- All the data stores in the profile will appear next
- Click once on the data store you want to rename
- In the bottom half of the screen, double click on the PR_DISPLAY_NAME to edit the property
- Change the <Ansi> property value –> click OK
Category: Outlook - How To
