In Outlook, the maximum size of each *.pst file is limited to 2 or 4 GB, depending on version and/or file system.
Going close or over those limits results in nasty surprises (as personally experienced), such as a corrupt, unrecoverable and lost email systems.
My questions for the eM Client designers/developers team are:
What is the maximum size that eM Client can handle?
Is the max eM Client size different for different OS, like XP, Vista, Window 7 and for the different versions (32 Bit vs. 64 Bit)?
Will eM Client alert the user when the limit is approached?
Are messages and attachments all kept in the mail_data.dat file?
Is there a way to avoid going over the size limit (if any?) by splitting or archiving messages?
Can attachments be detached from the messages to reduce size (if necessary)?
In my eM Client folder I now have a file (mail_data.dat) that is already almost 1.8 GB. Am I heading for disaster soon…???
I am quite apprehensive about this and hope that the eM Client team can give all of us users the proper information and guidance very soon.
Thank you very much for your response Neil. I looked at the SQLite link and it has been quite interesting and useful to read through it.
Since I am no database specialist however, it is difficult for me to grasp the full implications of each point and since you indicate that the db size limit may be around 1.5GB then I must really be on the brink of disaster…
My mail_data.dat is already close to 1.8 GB, so what should I do now, other than deleting messages? (assuming that deletion automatically reduces the database size. I see no “Compact” button…)
As a general suggestion, I think it would be very useful if the size limits, possible workarounds and precautions were published for the benefit of all users and if eM Client would alert the user when size limits are approached.
I hope the developers can give us a feedback.
There is no real size limit for eM Client database. Only issue with large databases is that eM Client may become less responsive. That’s why we will implement archive feature in the future, but you don’'t need to be afraid that eM Client will stop working when fe. 2 gigs are reached (if you use NTFS).
Hello Michal,
Thank you very much for your clarifications. I feel better now.
I have Windows 7 (native NTFS) on a fast 64 Bit machine so for now eM Client is still responsive.
I had a bad experience with Outlook and did not want to lose emails again. I do backup the eM Client directory from time to time to an external drive but it takes a bit of time because of db size. Incremental backups obviously do not work so it has to be the whole database.
It will be good when the archive will be functional if that keeps the db size down.
I am considering eM Client for business purpose. Can it handle more than 16 GB email database (including attachment)? Thunderbird is choked even before reaching 10 GB. Thanks in advance!
Right now we are working at some memory optimalizations (that can handle even much more bigger databases) which will be available in one of the future versions/updates.
Actually my Specific Data Collection about eM Client File Size are like Below :
01 - Maximal Authorized Size by the Application = ? => HD’s WTD = To Find the Maximal Authorized Size Value in Go related to this Application named “eM Client” knowing that :
01 - Result of Sorting by Size from Highest to Lowest is like below :
01 - N° 01 :
01 - Storage = Laptop ACER Aspire 7720G
02 - File or Folder Name = C:\Users\DESVAUX\AppData\Roaming\eM Client\
03 - Type = all
04 - Size Value Record Collection in Go = 6.35
05 - Date = Su 17tth of 07/2011 at 07:10 pm
06 - Maximum eM Data Size Value in Go related to Folder Name = C:\Users\DESVAUX\AppData\Roaming\eM Client\ = ?
02 - N° 02 :
01 - Storage = HFC ( Home Fix Computer )
02 - File Name =“mail_data”
03 - Type = DAT
04 - Size Value Record Collection in Go = 0.864
05 - Date = Su 17tth of 07/2011 at 07:10 pm
06 - Maximum eM Data Size Value in Go related to File Name =“mail_data” = ?
02 - Actual Size Record : =
01 - N° 01 :
01 - N° 01 : Overall :
01 - Hardware Storage = Laptop ACER Aspire 7720G
02 - File or Folder Name = C:\Users\DESVAUX\AppData\Roaming\eM Client\
03 - Type = all
04 - Size Value Record Collection in Go = 6.35
05 - Date = Su 17tth of 07/2011 at 07:10 pm
02 - N° 02 : the Biggest File Name :
01 - File Name =“mail_data”
02 - Type = DAT
03 - Size Value Record Collection in Go = 0.559
04 - Date = Su 17tth of 07/2011 at 07:10 pm
Can You please answer to me related to my Request about Maximal Authorized Size by the Application eM Client ?