Copying Entourage files between Macs

[tyronehowe]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: intel
Email Client: pop

Hi All

My job means that I am often away from home. I have a main computer at home that I use for all my emails, but when away I use a laptop. I would want to "take" the emails with me on the laptop, use the laptop during the week, and then copy it all back to my main machine when I returned home.

When I solely used Windows XP (and Office 2003), this was very easy. All I had to do was copy the outlook.pst file between the laptop/main machine and all emails/calendars/contacts would be transferred.

Now that my main machine is a Mac Pro and my laptop is a MacBook and I use Office 2008, is there a similar way to "copy" the emails/calendars/contacts between the Entourage on each machine?

Thanks in advance

Tyrone Howe

[Sorry if this is a repost, but I couldn't find my original message anywhere on the forum)

 

[William Smith]

Now that my main machine is a Mac Pro and my laptop is a MacBook and
I use Office 2008, is there a similar way to "copy" the
emails/calendars/contacts between the Entourage on each machine?

Hi Tyrone!

Have a look at this page on the Entourage Help Page:

"Move/Transfer from Another Computer"
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/move.html>

If you have any questions, please post back.

Hope this helps!

--

bill

William M. Smith, Microsoft Interop MVP - Mac/Windows
Entourage Help Page <http://entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

 

[Diane Ross]

Hi Tyrone!

Have a look at this page on the Entourage Help Page:

"Move/Transfer from Another Computer"
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/move.html>

To add to this....moving back and forth is a bit different than a one time
move. I would set up my accounts as IMAP. As far as the Calendars and
contacts look over this page for some sync options.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/faq_topic/address_book.html#ab7>

#10 the option to put the Microsoft User Data folder on an external thumb
drive might be your easiest option.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/database/sync.html#sync10>

 

[tyronehowe]

Hi Tyrone!

Have a look at this page on the Entourage Help Page:

"Move/Transfer from Another Computer"


If you have any questions, please post back.

Hope this helps!

Hello Bill. Many thanks for your fast reply. Yes I think that answers it perfectly. If I understand it, I just have to copy the:

Microsoft User Data/Office 2008 Identities/Main Identity

Folder form MacPro and MacBook and all my emails, accounts, contacts and calendar will be transferred. Just like moving the old OUTLOOK.PST file under Windows.

If that's the case, then it really is perfect! I only have one identity ("Main identity") on each machine, and it is the same identity with the same accounts. I just want to take all my email/contacts/calendar away with me when I work, update it (by sending/receiving email, updating calendar/contacts) when I'm away, and copy the updated version back to my main computer when I return. From what I understand, just copying (and overwriting) the Main Identity folder will do the trick.

It’s one of the things I loved about Outlook 2003, everything was stored in that one OUTLOOK.PST file – it was very easy to keep copying it back and forth, or even to backup in case of a Windows reinstall.

To add to this....moving back and forth is a bit different than a one time
move. I would set up my accounts as IMAP. As far as the Calendars and
contacts look over this page for some sync options.



#10 the option to put the Microsoft User Data folder on an external thumb
drive might be your easiest option.

Hello Diane. Again many thanks for your fast reply. I’m sure you won’t remember me, but you answered my “pre-purchase” questions about the licensing of the Home/Student product. You were very helpful. In the end, I paid up and went for the full Business version.

I don’t quite understand why you say “To add to this....moving back and forth is a bit different than a one time move.” Will something go wrong of I keep copying (and overwriting) my Main Identity folder?

Are you suggesting that I use IMAP so that when I’m away I don’t delete the emails (only view them), and then I can download them “to keep” once I’m at home on my main machine? If that's the case, does that mean that I won’t be copying the Main Identity folder, in which case I’d lose any calendar or contact updates I made while away?

Hmmm ... I can see the advantage of using a thumb drive. Presumably, I’d have to somehow tell Office 2008 that I want to use my thumb drive for the Microsoft User Data folder. How do you do that please?

I must say I’m a bit nervous about keeping all my business emails/calendar/contacts on a thumb drive – a bit too easy to lose.

Thanks again for your replies.

 

[Diane Ross]

I don¹t quite understand why you say ³To add to this....moving back and forth
is a bit different than a one time move.² Will something go wrong of I keep
copying (and overwriting) my Main Identity folder?

No, it's a situation where there are other options when it's a regular
occurrence.

Are you suggesting that I use IMAP so that when I¹m away I don¹t delete the
emails (only view them), and then I can download them ³to keep² once I¹m at
home on my main machine? If that's the case, does that mean that I won¹t be
copying the Main Identity folder, in which case I¹d lose any calendar or
contact updates I made while away?

IMAP is only messages. You could access your mail via a web browser in case
you had problems with your laptop. Copying the Microsoft User Data folder
gets it all. It's all a matter of finding what works for YOU.

We are all keeping our fingers crossed that Mobile Me will work with
Entourage. That would be the ticket!

I just saw where Comcast is offering the Plaxo premium service ($49.95) for
free with Comcast accounts.

Hmmm ... I can see the advantage of using a thumb drive. Presumably, I¹d have
to somehow tell Office 2008 that I want to use my thumb drive for the
Microsoft User Data folder. How do you do that please?

Place the Microsoft User Data folder on the thumb drive. Now make an alias
or symlink back to your Documents folder.

I must say I¹m a bit nervous about keeping all my business
emails/calendar/contacts on a thumb drive ­ a bit too easy to lose.

You would want to make regular backups. You could just copy over for your
laptop when you travel.