backup contacts

[Darci]

I am trying to back up my Outlook contacts and when I select file to look for
import/export, the import/export option is not there. I am using MS Outlook
professional 2003.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I am trying to back up my Outlook contacts and when I select file to
look for import/export, the import/export option is not there. I am
using MS Outlook professional 2003.

You don't back up Outlook using export. See this:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

 

[Darci]

These instructions still say to go to file and select import/export. When I
go to Outlook / File - there is no option for import export. that's my
problem. I need to create the pst files.

 

[Brian Tillman]

These instructions still say to go to file and select import/export.
When I go to Outlook / File - there is no option for import export.
that's my problem. I need to create the pst files.

If you read that article, it says: "It's a general misconception that an
export of your mail is a good backup," then states what data you lose when
trying an export. And quite a but prior to this statement is a description
of how to make a backup. It says, "Backing up the pst-file is quite easy;
you just copy the pst-file to your safe location when Outlook is closed."
That's not difficult to understand and very easy to do. Backing up and
restoring a PST NEVER involves exporting or importing.

 

[Norman]

Hope I'm not overstepping my bounds Brian and I know you try to stay more on
the positive side of things. And that you are having trouble getting the
point into the user, Someone goofed.
Help files state that is how to do it.
Maybe the help file writer forgot to communicate that intent to the
programmer or it wasn't thoroughly tested as to function or a lot of other
guesses.

"But it doesn't work well"
Just make direct copies of the pst as Brian is pointing out, for backing up
purposes of the file as it is used in Outlook.
Other needs, outside of Outlook, may or may not be different.

Good luck
Norman

 

[Darci]

Thank you for your reply, Norman and Brian - I would appreciate your
patience.

Last time I switched computers two years ago, I simply exported the .pst
files and it worked great.

Now, I tried the instructions and still am having problems. When I get to:

From within Outlook;
Right click the root folder (most likely Outlook Today)-> Properties->
button Advanced...-> field Filename

I cannot get into Outlook. Also, when I did a search for the .pst files,
the only files that appeared were the two year old back up files that I made
with the export function.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide.

Darci

Hope I'm not overstepping my bounds Brian and I know you try to stay more on
the positive side of things. And that you are having trouble getting the
point into the user, Someone goofed.
Help files state that is how to do it.
Maybe the help file writer forgot to communicate that intent to the
programmer or it wasn't thoroughly tested as to function or a lot of other
guesses.

"But it doesn't work well"
Just make direct copies of the pst as Brian is pointing out, for backing up
purposes of the file as it is used in Outlook.
Other needs, outside of Outlook, may or may not be different.

Good luck
Norman

 

[Brian Tillman]

Now, I tried the instructions and still am having problems. When I
get to:

From within Outlook;
Right click the root folder (most likely Outlook Today)-> Properties->
button Advanced...-> field Filename

I cannot get into Outlook.

Open the Mail applet in Control Panel and click the Data Files button. That
will give you the same information.