Like most programs, Outlook generates both data and configuration files. Maintaining copies of these files can take one of two forms:
Archiving
An Outlook feature that copies (and optionally deletes) items older than a specified date to a separate information store. Archiving is typically used to store records you no longer need to access on a daily basis. It can be invoked manually, or configured to run at specified intervals automatically (AutoArchive). Archiving is done from within Outlook, with the program running. Archiving does not back up the complete information store, nor does it back up any program configuration files. It simply moves items from the default information store to another information store.