Editing Outlook autofill file NK2

Sigurd · 11 Dec 2018

Some time ago I found an app called NK2Edit which allowed one to edit the file Outlook creates of email addresses used to save having to type them again in future. The file is filename.nk2.

While trying to edit my current file I am finding that although I can edit the file and save it, when I start Outlook again my changes do no appear to have taken place. I suspect that it is du to lack of support of Windows 10. There is the option to save it under a different name but then I am not sure how to point Outlook to this new file.

The program is free for personal use so not surprisingly a request fro help from the suppliers has not met with an answer.

Has anyone else used this program and found an answer. Alternatively, is there any other program around that could be used? My NK2 file has grown to some 800 plus records, but I still need perhaps 3/4 of them.

Caledon Ken · 11 Dec 2018

While not a bulk editor

You can delete individual names. Type A in the TO address field, when all the the A's show click on the x to the right of the names you don't want to show any more. Then carry on through alphabet. They are not deleted from your address book, just the cache file.

Ken

NMI · 11 Dec 2018

Which version of Office?

Outlook 2010/2013/2016 don't use the .NK2 file:

Understanding Outlook's Auto-Complete Cache (*.NK2)

You can add or delete addresses in the auto-complete cache without editing a file.

Try3 · 12 Dec 2018

Sigurd,

Which version of Office?
Is your Office version fully dated?

By the way, in Outlook 2007 you can almost use Ken's suggested procedure but move the selection using the arrow keys and, for any entry you do not want, press your Delete key.
- In Outlook 2007, no X or anything else appears so you just have to know you can do it this way.
- Outlook 2007 Help topic Delete a name from Autocomplete

About NirSoft's NK2Edit.
- Perhaps using the latest version of NK2Edit, v3.38, will work properly for you.
- When you edit using NK2Edit, does your NK2 file date-time modified actually change?
- To see your NK2 file you can paste this address into File explorer's address bar
%UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Outlook
- I do not think anybody but NirSoft provides an up-to-date version of an NK2 editing tool. There were some others around years ago but they were not updated for Windows 10.

Denis

Sigurd · 12 Dec 2018

Having looked more carefully at Nirsoft's site and from the information supplied by you all, it is obvious (I think) that NK2Edit doesn't support changes to the AutoComplete file in the version of Outlook I am using - Outlook 2016.
What I was wanting to do, apart from deleting redundant or duplicated addresses, was to change ones displayed as
enquiries@ factory.com to
A N Other <enquiries@ factory.com>
to make it easier to identify the person being addressed.
I found that by selecting enquiries@ factory.com from the AutoComplete suggestion and editing that to A N Other <enquiries@ factory.com> in the To box, resulted in the new version beinstored for next time.
Not as quick and easy as editing the file itself as I used to be able to do with NK2Edit, it is a work around.

Thanks for the help.

Try3 · 21 Dec 2020

Sigurd said:

Having looked more carefully at Nirsoft's site and from the information supplied by you all, it is obvious (I think) that NK2Edit doesn't support changes to the AutoComplete file in the version of Outlook I am using - Outlook 2016.

Sigurd,

I did not see this post at the time @Mike Lynch just drew my attention to it.

NirSoft say that NK2Edit can be used with Outlook 2016 but there are some important issues to note -

- The x86/x64 version of NK2Edit chosen must match the Type of the Office installation rather than that of the OS.
- Office 2010 changed the AutoComplete feature significantly [including the name of the file it used & its susceptibility to being overwritten by a server copy or Outlook's own internal version] - see AutoComplete feature changes on Outlook 2010 and later versions (Including Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2016) - NirSoft

I do not have Outlook 2016 anymore so I cannot help.

There might be something useful in the discussion at Outlook's Auto-Complete or Nickname Cache (.NK2) - SlipStick but I disagree with their statement that NirSoft's NK2View can be used to edit the file [because NirSoft contradicts them in NK2Edit]

I have not been able to find any info from MS itself that addresses the subject of editing the Autocomplete list

Information about the Outlook AutoComplete list - KB2199226
Import or copy the Auto-Complete List to another computer - OfficeSupport

Best of luck,
Denis

Sigurd · 21 Dec 2020

Since posting the original I have moved to Office 365 (and latest Outlook) so original question is no longer relevant. However it does prompt me to try again so information from Try3 is useful. I must admit I have just got use to the Autocompletefile I have!