Large file size on Tasks with inline images?

In Outlook 2013 when you start a new task and paste any image in the notes section it appears Outlook converts the image to some kind of uncompressed PNG file. The behavior is completely different than E-mails. I can paste an image into a task and have that Task's file size be 2mb. If I paste the same image into an email and save it as a draft it comes up at 100kb.

The image being pasted in can be from a screen capture (alt+print screen), the snipping tool, greenshot (a snipping tool alternative), or even just copied and pasted a jpg from a website. It doesn't seem to really matter.

Is there any way to stop this behavior? We use shared tasks extensively and our tasks folder sizes have gotten completely out of control. If a task has 4-5 screenshots it easily goes over 25mb. 10 of these a day, 5 days a week  and we are putting on a Gb every week per user.

I'm having a hard time tracking down an older computer with Outlook 2010 but as best as I can tell this is new with Outlook 2013.

April 11th, 2015 3:38pm

Hi Sean,

Thanks for your question.

What do you mean by "it appears Outlook converts the image to some kind of uncompressed PNG file"? How did you determine this?

Outlook should not convert/change the format of the image file. Try to right click the image in the task and choose "Save as Picture..." to save it locally, then check the size of it.

Regards,

Ethan Hua

Forum Support

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April 13th, 2015 2:25am
Here is Here is how you can reproduce - go to http://www.gazette-ariegeoise.fr/IMG/jpg/test.jpg , a very simple 48.4kb jpg. Copy and paste that inside AND INLINE of a task. (Again, emails are different than tasks). Save the task. Click File -> Properties. For me that task is now 3MB in size. If I close the task and open it back up again and then do as you asked, it asks to save the file as a Portable Network Graphic (PNG) file. Here is the part that cooks my noodle - that PNG is only 266kb. Now, that is WAY larger than the 48.4 kb jpg. But that isn't the 3mb the task is.

If you attach the test jpg or test png, the task file size basically matches the attachment side.

It is only when an image is displayed inline on a task that the file size grows. You can also do this by simply using the Windows Snipping Tool. Take a large snip, paste it into a task and save.

(On further review, inline images in Contacts behave the same way. I've also tested this on multiple computers that are outside of the normal GPOs.)

  • Edited by Sean P T 17 hours 44 minutes ago
April 13th, 2015 9:42am
Here is Here is how you can reproduce - go to http://www.gazette-ariegeoise.fr/IMG/jpg/test.jpg , a very simple 48.4kb jpg. Copy and paste that inside AND INLINE of a task. (Again, emails are different than tasks). Save the task. Click File -> Properties. For me that task is now 3MB in size. If I close the task and open it back up again and then do as you asked, it asks to save the file as a Portable Network Graphic (PNG) file. Here is the part that cooks my noodle - that PNG is only 266kb. Now, that is WAY larger than the 48.4 kb jpg. But that isn't the 3mb the task is.

If you attach the test jpg or test png, the task file size basically matches the attachment side.

It is only when an image is displayed inline on a task that the file size grows. You can also do this by simply using the Windows Snipping Tool. Take a large snip, paste it into a task and save.

(On further review, inline images in Contacts behave the same way. I've also tested this on multiple computers that are outside of the normal GPOs.)

  • Edited by Sean P T Monday, April 13, 2015 1:43 PM
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April 13th, 2015 1:41pm
Here is Here is how you can reproduce - go to http://www.gazette-ariegeoise.fr/IMG/jpg/test.jpg , a very simple 48.4kb jpg. Copy and paste that inside AND INLINE of a task. (Again, emails are different than tasks). Save the task. Click File -> Properties. For me that task is now 3MB in size. If I close the task and open it back up again and then do as you asked, it asks to save the file as a Portable Network Graphic (PNG) file. Here is the part that cooks my noodle - that PNG is only 266kb. Now, that is WAY larger than the 48.4 kb jpg. But that isn't the 3mb the task is.

If you attach the test jpg or test png, the task file size basically matches the attachment side.

It is only when an image is displayed inline on a task that the file size grows. You can also do this by simply using the Windows Snipping Tool. Take a large snip, paste it into a task and save.

(On further review, inline images in Contacts behave the same way. I've also tested this on multiple computers that are outside of the normal GPOs.)

  • Edited by Sean P T Monday, April 13, 2015 1:43 PM
April 13th, 2015 1:41pm
Here is Here is how you can reproduce - go to http://www.gazette-ariegeoise.fr/IMG/jpg/test.jpg , a very simple 48.4kb jpg. Copy and paste that inside AND INLINE of a task. (Again, emails are different than tasks). Save the task. Click File -> Properties. For me that task is now 3MB in size. If I close the task and open it back up again and then do as you asked, it asks to save the file as a Portable Network Graphic (PNG) file. Here is the part that cooks my noodle - that PNG is only 266kb. Now, that is WAY larger than the 48.4 kb jpg. But that isn't the 3mb the task is.

If you attach the test jpg or test png, the task file size basically matches the attachment side.

It is only when an image is displayed inline on a task that the file size grows. You can also do this by simply using the Windows Snipping Tool. Take a large snip, paste it into a task and save.

(On further review, inline images in Contacts behave the same way. I've also tested this on multiple computers that are outside of the normal GPOs.)

  • Edited by Sean P T Monday, April 13, 2015 1:43 PM
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April 13th, 2015 1:41pm

Hi Sean,

Thank you for sharing the info. This is a quick note to let you know that we are performing research on this issue.

Regards,

Ethan Hua

Forum Support

April 15th, 2015 7:55am
Thank you! I'd love to find some kind of resolution to this file size nonsense.
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April 16th, 2015 6:19pm

Hi Sean,

I apologize that it takes me so long to get back to you. 

We are able to reproduce the issue on our end. And we have performed lots of research, but failed to find a workaround to stop this behavior. At this point, I would suggest you open a ticket via Microsoft Support for further assistance.

We appreciate your understanding on this.

Regards,

Ethan Hua

Forum Support

April 23rd, 2015 11:22pm

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