I have installed OCS 2007 server in our environment. Currently we are on Exchange 2003 but will be migrating to 2007 soon. OCS 2007 creates a Converstion History folder in a users mailbox. According to Microsoft sales, Exchange 2007 can somehow capture or redirect messages headed to the Covesation History folderto a single mailbox. Any truth to this? How would it be done? Thanks

Yes, its true. Office Communicator 2007 can save all incoming and outgoing IM conversations to an Outlook 2007 Conversation History folder in the Microsoft Outlook messaging and collaboration client mailbox . You need enable "save my instant message conversation in the outlook conversion history folder" in the options->Personal in Office Communicator 2007. After enabling it, please re-sign Office communicator 2007 and Open Outlook 2007, you should see your conversion history in Conversation History folder of outlook 2007. Meanwhile, I would like to explain that this is a Office Communicator 2007 configuration issue other than Exchange server or Outlook configuration issue. If you have further questions about Office Communicator 2007, I suggest postthequestions toOffice Communicator 2007 Newsgroup . More related links about Outlook 2007 Conversation History folder ================================================ http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA102064731033.aspx#1 http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA102064731033.aspx#2 http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA102091811033.aspx?pid=CL100605171033 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb963961.aspx Regards, Jason

I understand all about the Conversation History. My question is about Exchange and how it would handle either archiving or capturing that folder through Exchange 2007. No one in the OCS forums has a clue. Theysay ask the Exchange people and this is an Exchange forum!!! Would journaling get this folder?

Hi, Would you like to manage Conversation History Folder in Exchange 2007? I understand you may wantto archive/journaling this folder in the Exchange 2007. but I am not very clearly about your words about capturing the folder. please help to clarify it if you have other concerns regarding it. I consider the current goal can be archived by creating the Managed Folder with Managed content setting and then applying Managed Folder policy to mailboxes you would like. In Exchange 2007 server, there are two type of Managed folders, Default folder and Custom folder. If you couldnt see the Conversation history folder under the Managed default folder on Exchange EMC(Organization configuration->mailbox->Managed default Folders tab..), we need create Managed Custom folder in Managed Custom folder tab. Then, please go ahead to create the content setting (right click on the folder, you could see hot to create the content setting). After that, please create a folder policy add the folder to it(you perform it in Managed Folder Mailbox Polices tab). Then go to mailbox MRM properties to apply the policy(please refer to the fourth link I included below). if you could see the folder under the Managed Default folder, you are not necessary to create a custom folder. please directly create the content setting on the folder and then apply it to mailbox as a folder policy. thanks For more information about MRM(Managing Messaging Records Management) ========================================================== How to Create a Managed Folder How to Create Managed Content Settings How to Create a Managed Folder Mailbox Policy How to Apply a Managed Folder Mailbox Policy to User Mailboxes if you have any concerns about the settings, please feel free to let me know. Jason

Jason, Thanks you for your answer. I think this may be the right direction. After reading through the documentation, I have a question ot two. We are currently on Exchange 2003. OCS 2007 will be in place well before the migration to Exchange 2007. So, the Conversation History folder will already exist. Can a custom folder be created for a folder that already exists? Also, after creating the custom folder (Converstion History) and then journaling that folder, will that catch anything going into that folder even though it is not a sent or received message? thanks p.s. -- Here is a liitle background on my situation. We are ready to roll out OCS 2007. When management found out they would need to archive IM and they had to bring up another server with SQL to do it, they were quite mad. They met with a Microsfoft rep, who told them they could archive all of these IM to a single mailbox. I was not at the meeting, but have to assume they are referring to the Conversation History folder. Needless to say I am trying to get in touch with that rep to get some clarification.

Hi, Sorry for delay response firstly. According to my tests, the capturing conversation history mechanism is very simple. When you close/end a conversation session with someone, the conversation history folder in your outlook will receive a e-mail which records the conversation message. Regarding your concern about journaling existing conversion history, I would like to explain that I havent been able to test if it is possible or not for journaling OCS conversion history in Exchange 2003 environment. However, As far as I understanding, this conversion history folder may only occur in Exchange 2007 environment, so I think it is impossible to achieve the existing conversation history in Exchange 2003. You may test it in your side and let me know the result. Thanks, Jason

The Converstion History folder does work with Exchange 2003 and Outlook 2003. However, with Journaling enabled, nothing in that folder is included. I have tested this. What I really need to find out is once the Conversation History folder (in Exchange 2007) is a custom managed folder, will journaling work. I ask because Journaling is a step in the Custom Managed Folders setup. Thanks

Yes, this journaling job in Exchange 2007 environment should work. Meanwhile, I have confirmed that there is a default conversation history type, so we just need create this folder in the default managed folder other than in the custom managed folder. While creating the content setting on this folder, you will notice the journaling option in there. You can refer the screenshot link which I uploaded to my internet space. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3014/2609250707_5ea6b6a59b.jpg?v=0 Jason

Jason, Thanks so much, you've been very helpful. I just have one more question maybe you can verify. Messages that go into the Conversation History folder are generated by the Communicator program and placed in that folder. They are not necessarily sent or received messages. So would journaling (forwarding messages to another mailbox) get those messages. Would journaling forward a message that I just copied into the Conversation History folder? Thanks again.

I understand that you may worry that the journaling mail flow not works wellbecause these message are generated by OCS. butI would like to explain that the forward filed in journaling is not the same as the forward, CC behavior, journaling feature is depended on the journal agent performed automatically , therefore, it should not be a problem. Meanwhile, Microsoft still highly recommend cusotmer useusing SQL Server for journaling OCS content. thanks More information about journaling feature in Exchange 2007. ========================================== http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/06/22/444296.aspx Jason