How to fix Outlook's annoying "nickname autocomplete' problems

A number of friends have asked me over the years how to reset or disable Outlook's "nickname cache" feature. If you're not sure what this is, it's what happens when you are composing an email message and begin typing a name or email address into one of the address fields in Outlook. Outlook will try to be helpful and suggest a list of names (nicknames) based on a cache of previously entered addresses. The problem with this is that over time the cache gets populated with a litany of old or incorrect addresses, and it can become quite an annoyance if you don't pay attention to what you're doing.

After a bit of research, I stumbled across two solutions to the problem: 1) turn off the feature all together, and 2) reset the cache.

1. Turning off the nickname cache feature
This is much simpler than I thought it would be. First, start Outlook, and then select Tools...Options, followed by Email Options, and then click the Advanced E-Mail Options button (this was tested in Outlook 2003--other versions are likely to be the same, only different ;-) ). In the advanced options dialog, toward the bottom, there is a check box titled 'Suggest names while completing To, CVc, and Bcc fields'. Simply uncheck, click OK, and the "feature" will go away permanently.

2. Resetting the nickname cache
If you happen to *like* the nickname cache/autocomplete feature, but want to clean out all of the junk that's accumulated, you'll need to find the nickname file and delete it. The nickname cache file always has an extension of '.nk2' on the end of it, so finding the file is as simple as searching the hard drive for all files that end in .nk2. I prefer to use the search assistant (hit the Start button, followed by the 'Search' icon...if you're using Windows Desktop search, you'll need to click on 'search assistant' toward the bottom left of the screen). Then select 'All files and
folders', and be sure to click the advanced options and select 'Search System' and 'Search 'Hidden' files. In the file name field, type *.nk2 and then click the 'search' button.

On my machine, the file was named 'Outlook.nk2'. Once it's been found, shut down Outlook, delete or rename the file, and then restart Outlook. Outlook will recreate the file from scratch and begin the process of caching nicknames anew.

References

Microsoft Outlook Auto Complete enable or disable?
How to reset the nickname and the automatic completion caches in Outlook

Compuware Buys Proxima Technology for $31M

Compuware Corporation (NASDAQ: CPWR) announced on January 2 that it has entered into an agreement to purchase privately held Proxima Technology of Denver, Colorado, for $31 million in an all-cash deal. Proxima Technology's flagship product, Centauri Business Service Manager, will become a key component of the Compuware Vantage management suite, providing business service management and service level management functionality previously missing from the company's offerings.

For Proxima's part, Compuware's ownership will provide significant new opportunities for Centauri. Putting the might of Compuware's sales and marketing force behind Centauri will not only allow it to penetrate new markets and customers, but it will also enable Compuware to penetrate further into large system integrators and outsourcers like EDS and IBM Global Services, which are key Proxima customers.

Centauri could also be leveraged inside of Vantage as a centralized integration point for the Vantage products, providing dashboard, reporting and notification functionality across the product line. Centauri could also ease the integration between Vantage and other products in the Compuware portfolio, including Changepoint, not to mention third-party vendor products.

Overall, the acquisition is a good move for both companies: Compuware was the last large systems management company to add service management to its portfolio, which will allow it to compete on a more level playing field against the "big four" (IBM, HP, CA and BMC). Proxima gains the might of a $1.2B software company, and of course its employees will enjoy a much anticipated "liquidity event."

If Compuware plays its cards right, it could leverage Centauri in a number of key ways, further establishing Vantage as a systems management force to be reckoned with.

Lessons from the James Kim Tragedy

As you probably know, CNet journalist James Kim died this week trying to find help for he and his family, who had become stranded in the backwoods of Oregon. Hopefully this tragedy can help others, however, by reinforcing the idea that we should always be prepared for this type of situation--and a few lessons can be learned from James' mistakes that might save someone's life in the future.

First, I came across a website that someone put together that illustrates James' path using GPS coordinates provided by the rescue agencies that tracked him, combined with technology from Google Earth. The data shows that James followed the road that they had become stuck on for a while, and then struck out off-road, proceeding down a ravine. Press reports indicate that he had been tracked by a bear, which is probably why he left the road. The most heartbreaking item from the track is that he basically wound up going in a circle, passing away not far from where he started--and if he had only started out by going the other way on the road, he would have come across a lodge in a very short period of time.

So what lessons can be learned from this? If you're planning on taking a trip through unfamiliar territory, consider the following:

1. Carry a detailed map of the area you plan to travel through, along with a quality compass and basic map-reading and navigation skills (GPS is great until the batteries die!). A good map would have quite likely saved Mr. Kim's life--he would have seen the lodge on the map and started up the road the other way.
2. Carry an emergency kit in your car that includes non-perishable/high-calorie foods, drinking water, matches, flares, blankets, flashlight, etc.
3. Invest in a GPS; they are available for less than $100, and make sure that you have spare batteries. If you're gadget-minded like me, you can get topographical maps of the area you're traveling through and load them into the GPS.

There is an excellent, much more complete list available at http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/wilderness-survival-kit-gadgets-and-ideas-that-could-save-your-life-220100.php ; highly recommended reading.

Rest in peace, James Kim--I'm really glad your family survived. I'm sure that was the one thing that you hoped for, regardless of your personal fate. I would feel the same way about my family!

CA's Ex-CEO Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison

Sanjay Kumar, former CEO of CA, was given 12 years in prison and an $8M fine for his role in the company's $2.2B accounting scandal.

read more | digg story

Red wine molecule helps mice live longer

Hmm...now, if only they could show that it helps *humans* live longer....but at least it appears that having a bit of red wine doesn't hurt!

Red wine molecule helps mice live longer Top News Reuters.com: " A compound found in red wine and grapes can extend the lifespan of obese mice and help them enjoy a healthier old age, scientists said on Wednesday."

Firefox 2.0 RC1 Adds Security, Usability Enhancements

Good review of the new Firefox--looks like a must-have upgrade!

read more | digg story

SlickRun - Universal Command Line for Windows

This is an interesting twist--possibly brilliant, free utility for Windows that gives you a floating command line on your desktop. The utility then allows you to create "command aliases" to quickly launch programs; e.g. 'MAIL' can automatically launch Outlook. You can also enter a Web URL into SlickRun and it automatically launches your Web browser. I haven't tried it yet, but I will!

Bayden Systems - SlickRun

The Best Time to Buy Everything

Great advice, including the best time to buy airplane tickets (Wednesdays, 21+ days before your flight).

The Best Time to Buy Everything

A Nice Digg Dashboard

Original Signal offers a one page overview of the seven Digg categories showing popular headlines during different time-frames of the day. Also marks stories that you haven't seen in orange. They did a very nice job of putting this together.

read more | digg story

Plane overruns runway and crashes into bay

Pretty amazing video. This idiot tries to land his executive jet on a runway in Atlantic City that is too short for jets in the first place. Then he lands it 2/3 down the runway, with a 10 knot tailwind....it goes into the bay, everyone gets out OK, and then things get really weird. Be sure to keep watching!