Do you mean Outlook proper or Outlook Express?

Which version is it?

Cheers

EDIT: In Outlook Express (6.0) the wasted space factor in a .pst file is defaulted to 20%

open the Inbox
<tools>
<options>
<maintenance>

I would uncheck the "compact messages in the background" box , and set the wasted space factor to 100%. That should stop it compacting even an "empty" folder, but you never can tell with MS.............it would be lousy programming if it did

I have only had a chance to look at Outlook97. It does not seem to autocompact, it looks as if you have to do it manually. I am not sure of the versions that ship with Office2000, 2002 and 2003........................please let me know what you are using, I would expect the procedure to be pretty similar.