EisenGuide

If, like me, you use Outlook’s categories to help organize your contacts, you have probably noticed that the categories are computer specific.  Why this is, I have no idea but it is certainly stupid.  Here’s how to solve the problem:

First, note that you will have to manually copy the categories from one computer to the other(s).  And, worse, there is no way (that I know of) to set it so that changes made on one computer will automatically be carried over to the other computer(s).  Hence, if, after taking these steps, you modify the categories on one computer, you will need to run this procedure again to keep all computers up to date.

And, very important, note that this does not synchronize your categories.  Rather, it replaces one set of categories with another.  So, it is best to always modify your categories on one computer, use that as the master, and copy those categories to your other computers as needed.

Lastly, note that this method works for Outlook 2002 and 2003.  I do not know if it works for Outlook 2007.

So, without further ado, here’s what to do:

1. Click Start – > Run and type Regedit (note that it is ALWAYS recommended to first back-up your registry before making any changes to it.  Click here for directions as to how to do that).
   
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook.
   
3. Select the Categories key.
   
4. Choose Registry | Export Registry File to make a copy of the Categories branch of the registry.
   
5. Save the file as Categories.reg or whatever you prefer but make certain that it is a .reg file.
   
6. Copy the .reg file to the other computer.  You can put it on the desktop or any other location.
   
7. The next step will import this registry key into the second computer’s registry, replacing the existing registry key and, hence, the categories that currently exist on the second computer.  To be able to go back to the pre-existing categories, should you so desire, you need to back-up the registry (or at least the registry key) on the second computer before continuing with the next step.  To learn how to do that, click here.
   
8. On the second computer, double-click on the new .reg file.  That will automatically import it into the registry in the proper location (same location as on the first machine).