Topic Last Modified: 2009-02-11

The Microsoft Exchange Server Best Practices Analyzer examines the Active Directory directory service to determine whether the correct value is assigned to the msExchPFTreetype attribute of the public folder hierarchy (tree). If the Best Practices Analyzer finds that the msExchPFTreetype attribute is configured with a value other than 1 or if the attribute is not set, the tool generates the following error message:

The 'msExchPFTreeType' attribute for public folder tree '<PublicFolderTreeName>' is not currently set to the default value '1'

This message indicates that a problem may exist with the particular public folder tree. If the msExchPFTreeType attribute is not set, or if the attribute is set to a value other than 1, you may experience client connectivity issues with Exchange Server 2007. Specifically, Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 clients and Outlook 2002 clients may be unable to connect to Exchange 2007. In this scenario, when a user tries to connect to Exchange 2007 by using Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2002, the user receives the following error message:

Unable to open the Outlook window. The set of folders could not be opened. The server is not available. Contact your administrator if this condition persists.

A value of 1 for the msExchPFTreeType attribute indicates that a particular public folder tree is the designated public folder hierarchy for MAPI clients. If no public folder hierarchy is available for Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2002 clients, the Outlook clients are unable to connect to Exchange.

To address this issue, use the Active Directory Services Interface (ADSI) Edit tool (Adsiedit.msc) to set the value for the msExchPFTreeType attribute of the public folder tree to 1.

To set the msExchPFTreeType attribute

1. Start the ADSI Edit tool. To do this, click Start, click Run, type adsiedit.msc, and then click OK.

   Note:
   In Windows Server 2008, ADSI Edit is installed by default. In Windows Server 2003, ADSI Edit is included with the Windows Support Tools. To install the Windows Support Tools, double-click Suptools.msi in the Support\Tools folder on the Windows Server 2003 CD.

2. Connect to a domain controller if ADSI Edit is not already connected.

3. Expand the following path:

   • Configuration [<domainController>.contoso.com]
     
     
   • CN=Configuration,DC=contoso,DC=com
     
     
   • CN=Services
     
     
   • CN=Microsoft Exchange
     
     
   • CN=<OrganizationName>
     
     
   • CN=Administrative Groups
     
     
   • CN=<AdministrativeGroupName>
     
     
   • CN=Folder Hierarchies
     
     

4. In the details pane, right-click CN=Public Folders, and then click Properties.

5. On the Attribute Editor tab, click msExchPFTreeType, and then click Edit.

6. In the Value box, type 1, and then click OK two times.

7. Exit the ADSI Edit tool.

8. Restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.

After you set the value for the msExchPFTreeType attribute of the MAPI public folder hierarchy, you may have to configure the mailbox stores on your Exchange 2003 servers to point to the MAPI public folder hierarchy as the default public folder store.

To set the default public folder store in Exchange 2003

1. Start the Exchange System Manager tool.

2. Expand Administrative Groups, expand your administrative group, expand Servers, expand your server, and then expand your storage group that contains the appropriate mailbox store.

3. Right-click the mailbox store that you want to configure, and then click Properties.

4. On the General tab, click Browse next to Default public store.

5. In the Public stores list, click the appropriate public folder hierarchy (tree), and then click OK two times.

6. Follow steps 3 through 5 to configure the appropriate public folder tree for each mailbox store.

7. Exit Exchange System Manager.

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