Subhash: I'm assuming that you are referring to what, in the English version of PM, is called Compact Database. This does not 'compress' files in the same way as Stuffit or File Vault; it is more like defragmenting a hard drive (except that, of course, it only affects the PM database). When you delete emails from the database they leave 'holes' in the database, meaning that the database makes less efficient use of its space -- compacting sort of pushes all the mails in the database together, removing the holes. This makes the database as a whole more effecient (so it get's faster, not slower) but nothing is actually compressed in the usual mac-context meaning of that term. However, because of the removal of the holes, the database becomes smaller.
After compacting, a copy of the original, UNcompacted message database (and several other files that get compacted in the same routine) will apppear along side the compacted one, with the suffix OLD appended to it. This is just in case something goes wrong with the compacting process and the new smaller one doesn't work. But if something does go wrong it is possible that this OLD version will not appear, so it is a wise precaution to backup your database manually before compacting. Hope this helps; Rick -- G5 2GHz x2 :: 2GB RAM :: 10.3.1 :: PM 4.2.1 :: 3 pane mode -- Original message: Received from computer artwork by subhash on 1/1/04 at 5:37 pm >How to work with "compress database" (I don't know the correct term >because of using a german edition)? What does it? Does it copy a >compressed version or does it compress the actual version (and slow down >the handling)? > > >Hints are appreciated. > >Subhash
