P

package (MSI file)

In Windows Installer, a relational database that contains all the information necessary to install a product. The MSI file associates components with features and contains information that controls the installation process.

Personal Address Book (PAB)

A customizable address book used to store personal e-mail addresses you use frequently. However, Contacts offers more advanced features for this function. Personal Address Book files have a .pab extension and can be copied to the hard disk.

Personal Folders file (PST file)

Data file that stores your messages and other items on your computer. You can assign a PST file to be the default delivery location for email messages. You can use a PST file to organize and back up items for safekeeping.

plug-in language features

User interface, online Help, and editing tools that users can install with Office XP to run Office in the users’ own language and to create documents in many other languages.

POP

Post Office Protocol. A common protocol that is used to retrieve e-mail messages from an Internet e-mail server.

private key

The secret key kept on the sender’s computer that the sender uses to digitally sign messages to recipients and to decrypt (unlock) messages from recipients. Private keys should be password protected. A message encrypted with someone’s public key must be decrypted with that person’s corresponding private key. Part of a digital ID.

public key

The key a sender gives to a recipient so that the recipient can verify the sender’s signature and confirm that a message or file was not altered. Recipients also use the public key to encrypt (lock) e-mail messages to the sender. Part of a digital ID.

publish

A method of advertising an application by using Windows 2000 Group Policy software installation. A published application is not advertised with shortcuts or Start menu icons. Instead, the application is configured to be installed the first time another application requests it, such as when double-clicking a DOC file from Windows Explorer. See also advertise, assign.