[SATLUG] exporting an outlook file

[Tom Weeks]

On Friday 09 June 2006 16:18, Robert J Hewitt wrote:
> I just updated one of my systems and I wanted to export all of my old
> messages from my 2000 server old HD (I upgraded to I-COP and it works just
> fine) now I need to get the messages off that HD wich is installed into a
> pullout drive that I installed on my main system.  I was using an IE6
> outlook express and I now have outlook 2003.  where and what files do I
> have to move to get outlook express old emails to my new outlook 2003

Well.. even though this IS a Linux list... This is a valid technology 
question.  This question would have been better asked on the XCSSA mail list 
(http://xcssa.org/mailman/listinfo/xcssa).  But that being said...  Maybe 
instead of using this information to entrap yourself in another proprietary 
Microsoft only cage, you'll use the final bit of info here to convert your 
file to a more open solution.

Look for your .pst file.  If you're stored your email locally.. That's the 
file the email is in.  I think that there are various utils out there for 
converting MS .pst files to Mbox or MDir...  I'll include one known method at 
the end of this.

But to your question...

Outlook/OutlookExpress files of interest are:
	.pst	Outlook local email (Note: does not get exchange server side email)
		(locate/get your archive.pst file also)
	.iaf 	Outlook email account settings
	.wab	"Windows Adddress Book", or outlook contact list (hidden*)
	.dbx	O.Express mail folder dirs (hidden*)

*NOTE: You need to "unhide" all the hidden files to get to these.

Converting from Outlook Express->Outlook:
Outlook Express and Outlook are two totally and completely different pieces of 
proprietary code from Microsoft.  By themselves they're not compatible.  
Check out a couple of these folks tools for reading/exporting Outlook Express 
DBX files:
http://www.mailnavigator.org/read_outlook_express_dbx_files.html
And There's a free utility here for getting the RFC822 messages into outlook 
(your PST file) here:
http://www.maclean.com/Outsmart/Import-Export/
(haven't used that method myself tho)

Now What I WOULD recommend is instead of sticking with Outlook (once you're 
there), is to go with a more open solution that doesn't get you in this 
situation again...

Converting From Outlook to Open Standards:
You can also "convert" a pst file into a more open standard mail format, like 
that used by Mozilla or thunderbird...  Some people have had limited success 
using procmail to do this, but there are better ways for going from outlook 
via a conversion util called outport.  Then a more standard mail package such 
as with Mozilla or Thunderbird.  See here:
 
http://linux.uta.http://www.maclean.com/Outsmart/Import-Export/edu/article.php?pid=5

After you have you remail coveted... you'll be able to take it to any platform 
of mail suite you want.  BTW.. If you like outlook.. check out Evolution:
	http://www.gnome.org/projects/evolution/

More info on migrating from outlook to Evolution:
http://www.novell.com/documentation/nld/index.html?page=/documentation/nld/evolution/data/outlook-migration.html

Don't think that just because your office uses Outlook, that you have to also.  
Be different.. think.. ;)

Cheers,

Tweeks
p.s. In a past life.. I too was a Microsoft Johnny.. But I got better...  ;)