export archive applescript item types

[koagul8or]

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

Hi,

I want to write a script to export some of the items in my Entourage database on a regular basis.

From the Entourage Applescript dictionary I can see that the syntax for the export archive command is as follows:

export archive v : export archive data
export archive
to alias : destination file
[only specifier] : limits export to the referenced category or project
[item types list of mail items/contact items/calendar items/task items/note items/project files/all items] : item types to archive (default is all items)
[delete boolean] : delete records after exporting (default is false)
[retain boolean] : retain records that are also in another category or project (default is true; ignored if delete is false or if no category or project is specified)

but I cannot find a definition of valid item types.

I've tried various things but they have all failed.

I'm new to Macs and I'm new to Applescript! Here's what I have so far:

on run

tell application "Microsoft Entourage"
export archive to "/Users/Jason/desktop/test3.rge" item types ("mail items", "task items")
end tell

end run

Can anyone tell me what the vaild types are? Or even better, tell me where it is defined so I can work it out myself!

Thanks in advance,

J

 

[Diane Ross]

I want to write a script to export some of the items in my Entourage database
on a regular basis.

You can use Automator to run a script then schedule it in iCal. There is one
workflow now to export your contacts as .rge file.

There is a script to export all folders as MBOX files.

Export folders as MBOX files (includes subfolders)
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/downloads/scripts/jolly/Make_MBOX.zip>


Backup Entourage basics:

See these example workflows that use scripts to backup your Entourage data.


It's advised by the developers not to let Time Machine backup your Entourage
database. If the database is copied while being used, the backup could be
corrupt. You can set the Time Machine to exclude the Microsoft User Data
folder and create an iCal event to copy it over at night while not in use so
you get one backup daily in Time Machine.

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2008/01/alternative_method_to_use_entourage_
and_time_machine.html>

Entourage and Time Machine-like backup (creates chronological backup of
Identity can be used by both Tiger and Leopard)

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2008/01/entourage_and_time_machine.html>

 

[William Smith [MVP]]

on run

tell application "Microsoft Entourage"
export archive to "/Users/Jason/desktop/test3.rge" item types ("mail items", "task items")
end tell

end run

Can anyone tell me what the vaild types are? Or even better, tell me
where it is defined so I can work it out myself!

You're on the right track.

You don't need to put quotes around the item types. Use:

item types {mail items, task items}

Hope this helps!

--

bill

Entourage Help Page <http://entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>
YouTalk <http://nine.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/youtalk>
Twitter: follow <http://twitter.com/meck>

 

[koagul8or]

Thanks for the help guys, it is really appreciated.

In the end I went for a script to archive my tasks and calendar events (mail is already backed up), and a scheduled automator to run it etc.

But I may have been worrying un-necessarily. I reckon the fact that I sync task and calendar events means that they are (mostly) backed up anyway, in a sense.

Thanks again,

J

 

[Diane Ross]

But I may have been worrying un-necessarily. I reckon the fact that I sync
task and calendar events means that they are (mostly) backed up anyway, in a
sense.

You can never have too many backups. IMHO