office 365 journal

Question

I have been using Journal for a couple of years to record various events. (I now realize that was a mistake, but ...) In any case beginning yesterday, when I opened Journal it would hesitiate and then close Office. I can no longer get Journal to open. I also cannot find the data I have stored on Journal over the past couple of years. There is no file entitled Journal in the file list as I have been told by various google searches there should be. Really at this stage all that I want to do is recover the information I have put in Journal over the years. Help!

Answer 1

Hello Hugh H.,

Welcome to Microsoft community.

According to your description, I understand that when you open Journal, it cannot be opened normally. Regarding this, I was wondering if it would work if you didn't choose to open the Journal, but instead right-clicked and looked at its properties? If you can view the properties, please click to view the folder size under General. If it is convenient, we hope you can upload screenshots to share with us.

Also, you can try Outlook File--Open and Export--Import/Export. In the import/export interface, select "Export to file", then click "Next", select "Comma Separated Values", click "Next", click "Journal", and save it where you want to view it later s position. Then open this file to see if it contains the data you saved on the Journal earlier.

We have to go through a series of steps to find the real cause of the problem. If you still have problems, please let me know and I will continue to help you with the problem.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Mavis - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 2

I have had a similar experience. I've been using Journal since the early 2000s - when it was fully functional. I have Quick Access and custom Ribbon links to access Journal. An update in the last few days has broken the Quick Access Toolbar and custom ribbon links to Journal: now, clicking these links closes Outlook. Removing and replacing these links does not help. Also, a VBA macro that used to open Journal now causes Outlook to close. Looks like MSFT QA failed to fully evaluate whatever change they just rolled out.

Hugh - you may be able to open Journal through the Folders view - that's how I'm getting access now. Your Journal folder data is still there, likely in in the default (.OST) Outlook data file for your email account.