BCM Contacts showing up as Outlook Reminders
Had an odd quirk with Outlook today. All of the contacts from BCM (Business Contact Manager) showed up as a reminder in Outlook. All of them were showing up as Due now and no matter how many times I tried to dismiss the reminder it kept coming back immediately. Needless to say this was rather frustrating having numerous bogus reminders that kept popping up.
After some helpful suggestions from MS the issue was resolved by running Outlook in Clean Reminders mode. To do this:
- Quit Outlook.
- Click Start -> Run, type Outlook /CleanReminders and press Enter.
- This should clear out the bogus reminders.
Email messages, contacts, and tasks. To set or remove reminders, select the email message, contact, or task. On the Standard toolbar, click Follow Up, and then click Add Reminder. Tip: You can quickly flag email messages as to-do items by using reminders. Right-click the Flag Status column in the message list. There should be a 16.0 key if you are using Outlook 2016, or be 15.0 for the 2013 version, and just select this key named 16.0 or 15.0, and continue go to the sub-key: Outlook Options Reminders. Go to its right side pane, hold-and-press or right click on the WindowsPos name to delete the string.
./Microsoft Outlook /cleanreminders & I also had another folder where i kept all appointment related emails - I found the offending appointments in that directory and deleted them - that seemed to help as well. Best of luck to all - this was bothering me for 3 weeks. Finally some respite from those pesky reminders of events past.
TechOutlook comes with lots of command line switches and parameters which can be very handy for troubleshooting and (limited) automation.
This guide contains an overview of all available command line switches per Outlook version and how they can be used.
Using command line switches
You can directly execute command line switches in the following way:
- Open the Run command by pressing the Windows Logo + R on your keyboard.
Alternative ways are:- Windows 7
Open the Start Menu and use the Search field to type in for the next step. - Windows 8
Open the Start Screen and directly start typing. This will automatically open the Search Pane which also allows for commands. - Windows 10
Type in the Search field (Cortana) or open the Start Menu and directly start typing. This will automatically open the Search Pane which also allows for commands.
- Windows 7
- In the box you opened in step 1, type;
outlook.exe
- Press the SPACEBAR once, and then type a forward slash mark (
/
) followed by the switch you want to use (see the list below). For example, if you want to use theCleanReminders
switch, the command you type in the Open box should look like this:outlook.exe /cleanreminders
- To run the command, click OK or press ENTER.
Starting Outlook with the cleanreminders switch in Windows 7.
(note the space in the command above).
Starting Outlook with the cleanreminders switch in Windows 10.
Tool Tip 1
To have easy access to all the “direct start” command line switches (the switches that do not require further variables), you can use HowTo-Outlook’s very own OutlookTools (free).
Tool Tip 2
Need more Outlook management options via the command line? ReliefJet Essentials Pro provides batch script and PowerShell support for over 150 of its utilities related to configuring, reporting, converting and exporting Outlook data.
Creating custom shortcuts with command line switches
Clean Reminders Outlook
You can also create a shortcut which includes one or more switches so you can automate tasks or start Outlook in a certain folder like the Calendar;
- Search for the location of
outlook.exe
:- Windows 7
Open the Start Menu and in the Search field type:outlook.exe
- Windows 8 and Windows 10
Open the Start Screen and directly type:outlook.exe
- All Windows versions
You can also browse to the path ofoutlook.exe
.
Examples:- Outlook 2010 on a 32-bit version of Windows
C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice14Outlook.exe
- Outlook 2013 32-bit on a 64-bit version of Windows
C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice15Outlook.exe
- Outlook of Office 365 on any version of Windows
C:Program FilesMicrosoft Officerootoffice16Outlook.exe
- Outlook 2010 on a 32-bit version of Windows
- Windows 7
- Right-click on Outlook.exe, and then on the shortcut menu point to Send To, and then click Desktop (create shortcut).
- Windows 8 and Windows 10
Right click on theoutlook.exe
search result and choose “Open File Location”. This will open a new Explorer window withoutlook.exe
highlighted. Right click on this file and choose: Send To-> Desktop (create shortcut).
- Windows 8 and Windows 10
- Go to the Desktop (keyboard shortcut Windows+D).
- Right-click the shortcut you just created, and from the shortcut menu click Properties.
- On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target box. It contains the path for
outlook.exe
. - Press the SPACEBAR once to type a space after the path, and then type;
/select outlook:calendar
The full command should now look like this;'C:Program FilesMicrosoft Officerootoffice16Outlook.exe' /select outlook:calendar
- Click OK.
- On the desktop, double-click the Outlook shortcut you created.
Ahnlab utm.
Creating a custom shortcut with the command line to start
Outlook in the Calendar folder (click on the image to enlarge).
Tip 1!
To create a shortcut that creates a new message, follow the above instructions but instead of typing /select outlook:calendar
use /c ipm.note
.
Tip 2!
You can also create a Send To shortcut for Outlook which has the /a
switch. This allows you to select files in Explorer and use the Send To-> Mail Recipient feature to create a new message with the selected files as attachments while also adding your signature and not blocking Outlook. For details see: Send To Mail Recipient in HTML and with Signature.
Command line switches overview
See Full List On Howto-outlook.com
The overview of commands below are taken from various local and on-line help files of all Outlook versions and from KB articles discussing them. In the right column you’ll find to which Outlook version the command applies.
Clear Reminders In Outlook
Switch | Description | Works in |
---|---|---|
/a path:<filename> | Creates an item with the specified file as an attachment. Example:'C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice14Outlook.exe' /a 'C:My Documentslabels.doc' If no item type is specified, IPM.Note is assumed. Cannot be used with message classes that aren’t based on Outlook. | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/altvba <otmfilename> | Opens the VBA program specified in otmfilename, rather than %appdata%MicrosoftOutlook VbaProject.OTM. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/autorun macroname | Opens Outlook and immediately runs the macro specified in macroname. (no longer supported after Outlook 2003 SP2) | 2003 |
/c <messageclass> | Creates a new item of the specified message class (Outlook forms or any other valid MAPI form).Examples:
| 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/checkclient | Prompts for the default manager of e-mail, news, and contacts. | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanautocompletecache | Removes all names and e-mail addresses from the AutoComplete list. | 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleancategories | Deletes any custom category names that you have created. Restores categories to the default names. | 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanclientrules | Starts Outlook and deletes client-based rules. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanconvongoingactions | Deletes the Conversations Actions Table (CAT). CAT entries for a conversation thread usually expire 30 days after no activity. The command-line switch clears all conversation tagging, ignore, and moving rules immediately stopping any additional actions. | 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleandmrecords | Deletes the logging records saved when a manager or a delegate declines a meeting. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanfinders | Removes Search Folders from the Microsoft Exchange server store. | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanfreebusy | Clears and regenerates free/busy information. This switch can only be used when you are able to connect to your Microsoft Exchange server. | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010 |
/cleanfromaddress | Removes all manually added From entries from the profile. | 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanips | Restores receival of new messages in Exchange Cached mode (KB968773) | 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanmailtipcache | Removes all MailTips from the cache. | 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanprofile | Removes invalid profile keys and recreates default registry keys where applicable. | 2003, 2007 |
/cleanpst | Launches Outlook with a clean Personal Folders file (.pst) | 2003 |
/cleanreminders | Clears and regenerates reminders. | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanroamedprefs | All previous roamed preferences are deleted and copied again from the local settings on the computer where this switch is used. This includes the roaming settings for reminders, free/busy grid, working hours, calendar publishing, and RSS rules. | 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanrules | Starts Outlook and deletes client- and server-based rules. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanschedplus | Deletes all Schedule+ data (free/busy, permissions, and .cal file) from the server and enables the free/busy information from the Outlook Calendar to be used and viewed by all Schedule+ 1.0 users. | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003 |
/cleanserverrules | Starts Outlook and deletes server-based rules. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleansharing | Removes all RSS, Internet Calendar, and SharePoint subscriptions from Account Settings, but leaves all the previously downloaded content on your computer. This is useful if you cannot delete one of these subscriptions within Outlook 2010. | 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleansniff | Force Outlook to reset the Sniffer Lock value to the computer on which the switch is used. The Sniffer Lock determines which of your computers processes the meeting items when you run Outlook on multiple computers a the same time. The lockout process helps prevent duplicate reminder messages. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleansubscriptions | Deletes the subscription messages and properties for subscription features. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanweather | Removes city locations added to the Weather Bar. | 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/cleanviews | Restores default views. All custom views you created are lost. | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/designer | Starts Outlook without figuring out if Outlook should be the default client in the first run. | 2003 |
/embedding <msgfilename> | Opens the specified message file (.msg) as an OLE embedding. Also used without command-line parameters for standard OLE co-create. | 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/explorer | Opens the new window in “explorer” mode (link bar on). | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, 2007 |
/f <msgfilename> | Opens the specified message file (.msg) or Microsoft Office saved search (.oss). (Support for oss-files has been dropped since Outlook 2003 SP2 due to security restrictions) | 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/finder | Opens the Advanced Find dialog box. | 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/firstrun | Starts Outlook as if it were run for the first time. | 2003, 2007 |
/folder | Opens a new window in “folder” mode (Navigation Pane off). | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, 2007 |
/hol <holfilename.hol> | Opens the specified .hol file. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/ical <icsfilename> | Opens the specified .ics file. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/importNK2 | Imports the contents of an .nk2 file which contains the nickname list used by both the automatic name checking and Auto-Complete features. See: Import contacts from an nk2-file | 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/importprf path:<filename.prf> | Launches Outlook and opens/imports the defined MAPI profile (*.prf). If Outlook is already open, queues the profile to be imported on the next clean launch. | 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/l <olkfilename> | Opens the specified .olk file. | 2003 |
/launchtraininghelp assetid | Opens a Help window with the Help topic specified in assetid. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/m emailname | Provides a way for the user to add an e-mail name to the item. Only works in conjunction with the /c command-line parameter.Example: outlook.exe /c ipm.note /m emailname | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/manageprofiles | Opens the Mail Setup dialog to manage your Mail Profile and account settings outside of Outlook. | 2016, 2019, 365 (Build 1806 and later) |
/nocustomize | Starts Outlook without loading outcmd.dat (customized toolbars) and *.fav file. | 2003, 2007 |
/noextensions | Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager. | 2003, 2007 |
/nopollmail | Starts Outlook without checking mail at startup. | 2003 |
/nopreview | Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off and removes the option from the View menu. | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/p <msgfilename> | Prints the specified message (.msg). Prior to Outlook 2007, this does not work with HTML messages. | 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/pim <profilename> | Creates a new Mail Profile with the specified name but without an email account. See: Using Outlook without an email account. | 2016, 2019, 365 |
/profile <profilename> | Loads the specified profile. If your profile name contains a space, enclose the profile name in quotation marks (“). | 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/profiles | Opens the Choose Profile dialog box regardless of the Options setting on the Tools menu. | 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/promptimportprf path:<filename.prf> | Same as /importprf except a prompt appears and the user can cancel the import. | 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/recycle | Starts Outlook using an existing Outlook window, if one exists. Used in combination with /explorer or /folder. | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/regserver | Rewrites all Outlook specific registry keys and re-associates file extensions without having to reinstall Outlook or run setup with the /y switch. The settings are stored in the Outlook.srg file located in the same folder as the Outlook program. | 2000, 2002/XP |
/remigratecategories | Starts Outlook and and initiates the following commands on the default mailbox:
Note: This is the same command as Upgrade to Color Categories in each Outlook mailbox properties dialog box. | 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/remigrateconversations | 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 | |
/resetfoldernames | Resets default folder names (such as Inbox or Sent Items) to default names in the current Office user interface language.For example, if you first connect to your mailbox Outlook using a Russian user interface, the Russian default folder names cannot be renamed. To change the default folder names to another language such as Japanese or English, you can use this switch to reset the default folder names after changing the user interface language or installing a different language version of Outlook. | 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/resetfolders | Restores missing folders for the default delivery location. | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/resetformregions | Empties the form regions cache and reloads the form region definitions from the Windows registry. | 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/resetoutlookbar | Rebuilds the Outlook Bar. | 2000, 2002/XP |
/resetnavpane | Clears and regenerates the Navigation Pane for the current profile. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/resetquicksteps | Restores the default Quick Steps. All user-created Quick Steps are deleted. | 2010, 2013, 2016 |
/resetsearchcriteria | Resets all Instant Search criteria so that the default set of criteria is shown in each module. | 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/resetsharedfolders | Removes all shared folders from the Navigation Pane. | 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/resettodobar | Clears and regenerates the To-Do Bar task list for the current profile. The To-Do Bar search folder is deleted and re-created. | 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/restore | Attempts to open the same profile and folders that were open prior to an abnormal Outlook shutdown. | 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/rpcdiag | Opens Outlook and displays the remote procedure call (RPC) connection status dialog. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/rununittests | 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 | |
/s <filename> | Loads the specified shortcuts file (.fav). | 2002/XP, 2003 |
/safe | Starts Outlook without extensions, Reading Pane, or toolbar customization. | 2000, 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/safe:1 | Starts Outlook with the Reading Pane off. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/safe:2 | Starts Outlook without checking mail at startup. | 2003 |
/safe:3 | Starts Outlook with extensions turned off, but listed in the Add-In Manager. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/safe:4 | Starts Outlook without loading Outcmd.dat (customized toolbars) and *.fav file. | 2003, 2007 |
/select foldername | Starts Outlook and opens the specified folder in a new window. For example, to open Outlook and display the default calendar use:'C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice14Outlook.exe' /select outlook:calendar | 2002/XP, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/share feed://URL/filename /sharestssync://URL /shareweb://URL/filename | Specifies a sharing URL to connect to Outlook. For example, use stssync://URL to connect a Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 list to Outlook. | 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/sniff | Starts Outlook and forces a detection of new meeting requests in the Inbox, and then adds them to the calendar. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/t <oftfilename> | Opens the specified .oft file. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/unregserver | Deletes all registry keys and file associations for Outlook. Its actions are based on the Outlook.srg file located in the same folder as the Outlook application. Use the /regserver switch to rewrite the registry keys and file associations after using this switch. | 2000, 2002/XP |
/v <vcffilename> | Opens the specified .vcf file. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/vcal <vcsfilename> | Opens the specified .vcs file. | 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 365 |
/x <xnkfilename> | Opens the specified .xnk file. | 2003, 2007 |