Applies to: Exchange Server 2007 SP3, Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP1
Topic Last Modified: 2007-08-23

The Public Folder Management Console, available in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1), is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) 3.0-based interface that provides you with a graphical user interface (GUI) to create, configure, and maintain public folders. 

Similar to the Exchange Management Console, the Public Folder Management Console is organized into three panes. In the Public Folder Management Console, these panes are called the public folder tree, the result pane, and the action pane.


Common Elements of the Public Folder MC

Mail-enabled public folders are represented in the user interface by the following icon.

mail-enabled public folder icon

System public folders and public folders that are not mail-enabled are represented in the user interface by the following icon.

mail-disabled public folder icon
Public Folder tree

The public folder tree is located on the left side of the console and is organized by nodes that are based upon the public folder hierarchy. Exchange Server 2003 supports the use of a non-MAPI folder tree, otherwise known as an Application folder tree or General Purpose folder tree. Exchange 2007 supports only the default MAPI folder tree.

The MAPI folder tree is divided into the following subtrees:

  • Default Public Folders (also known as the IPM_Subtree)   Users can access these folders directly by using client applications such as Microsoft Outlook.

  • System Public Folders (also known as the Non IPM_Subtree)   Users cannot access these folders directly by using conventional methods. Client applications such as Outlook use these folders to store information such as free and busy data, offline address books (OABs), and organizational forms.

Result pane

The result pane is located in the center of the console. This pane displays public folders based upon the public folder that is selected in the public folder tree. The following columns are displayed by default:

  • Name   This column lists the name of the public folder.

  • Parent Path   This column lists the public folder path to the parent public folder. If a backslash (\) is displayed, the parent public folder is the top-level public folder for that tree.

The following columns are hidden by default:

  • Mail Enabled   This column lists the mail-enabled status of the public folder.

  • Age Limit in Days   This column lists the age limit (in days) of the public folder.

  • Local Replica Age Limit in Days   This column lists the local replica age limit (in days) of the public folder.

  • Hidden From Address List   This column lists the true or false status of whether the public folder is hidden from address lists in your organization.

  • Replicas   This column lists the server name on which this public folder is replicated.

For information about how to view these columns, see How to Customize the Exchange Management Console.

The result pane will display up to 10,000 objects. You can create filters to reduce the number of objects that are displayed. For detailed instruction, see How to Filter the Result Pane.

Note:
If you have more than 10,000 objects, the objects that are not displayed in the result pane before you apply the filter never display. The filter only applies to objects that are currently displayed in the result pane.
Action pane

The action pane is located on the right side of the console. The action pane lists the actions based upon the object that is selected in the public folder tree or the result pane. The action pane is an extension of the shortcut menu, which is the menu that appears when you right-click an item:

  • Public folder node actions   When you select the Public Folders node in the public folder tree, the following actions are available in the action pane:

  • Public folder tree actions   When you select a public folder in the public folder tree, the following actions are available in the action pane:

    • New Public Folder   Click this button to use the New Public Folder wizard to create a child public folder within the public folder that you have selected. For more information, see How to Create Public Folders.

    • Export List   Click this button to export the list of objects within that public folder. The list can be exported as a tab-delimited or a comma-delimited file. For more information, see How to Export Lists from the Exchange Management Console.

    • View   Click this button to customize the management console. For more information, see How to Customize the Exchange Management Console.

    • Refresh   Click this button to refresh the result pane. You can also press F5 to refresh the result pane.

  • Public folder actions   When you select a public folder in the result pane, the following actions are available for that public folder in the action pane:

For More Information

For more information about public folders, see the following topics:



Panes in the Public Folder Management Console