Synchronizing Log Messages in Outlook

What these logs are used for

The synchronization issues folders contain logs and items that Microsoft Outlook has been unable to synchronize with your Microsoft Exchange Server.

The following describes the four folders and the items you may find in each folder.

Sync issues

Contains all of the synchronization logs. In previous releases of Microsoft Outlook, these logs were stored in the Deleted Items folder. This folder is helpful if Outlook is having trouble synchronizing — for example, there is an item that you see in Outlook Web Access, but not in Outlook — or you are not getting new mail in some folders when using Cached Exchange Mode.

The information in this folder may help your organization’s support team or Microsoft Exchange server administrator determine what is wrong. The contents of the Sync Issues folder are not copied to your server, and you cannot view the items in the Sync Issues folder from any other computer.

Conflicts

Contains all the multiple copies of conflicting items in your mailbox. An InfoBar at the top of the original item advises you that a conflict for this item exists. The conflicting item is stored in the Conflicts folder. Clicking the InfoBar will bring up a list of conflicting items and allow you to resolve the conflict by determining which item you want to keep.

If you have made changes to an item, but are not seeing the updated item in your Navigation Pane folders, check the Conflicts folder. It is possible that your changes caused a conflict with the original item, and the changes will exist in the Conflicts folder.

Local failures

Contains all items that could not be sent to your server. If you have made changes to items while working offline, and then notice that your changes are not appearing in another Outlook client or Outlook Web Access, you should check this folder.

The local changes may be permanently stuck in your Local Failures folder. An InfoBar appears at the top of any item that has another copy of the item stored in the Local Failures folder. Clicking the InfoBar opens the Local Failures folder for you in a separate window. You can only see these items when you are offline and you cannot view them from any other computer.

Server failures

Contains items that Outlook failed to synchronize from the Exchange server. When Outlook cannot synchronize the item from the server, it moves it from its original folder location into the Server Failures folder. The contents of this folder are available only when you have a connection to your server.

If you are missing a message that has been sent to you, and you have verified with the sender that the message was sent, check this folder. Items normally appear in this folder only when there are failures in synchronizing server items with an Offline Folder file (.ost), which is used when you work offline or use Cached Exchange Mode. An InfoBar appears at the top of any item that has another copy of the item stored in the Server Failures folder. Clicking the InfoBar will open the Server Failures folder for you in a separate window.

Do you need to keep the logs?

No. If you are having issues with Outlook though and have contacted IT Services we may ask you to start keeping the logs for troubleshooting purposes.