Is there a simple way to move contacts?

D

Dale

Help!!!

I am trying to move my "contacts" data base to a new
computer and can't find a simple way to do so. I have
tried calling MS but no luck finding help. Any help will
be greatly appreciated.
 
N

neo [mvp outlook]

Not sure what version of Outlook you are using, but look for files with a
*.PST and/or *.PAB extension. (Contacts are stored in the *.PST while the
*.PAB is a legacy personal address book.)
 
S

Spike9458

Another way you can do this, while in Outlook Contacts, is to click on
file/Import and Export, choose Export to a file, {next}, then click on
Microsoft Excel for the type of file to create, then {next}, then select the
contacts folder you wish to export (if you have any subfolders under
contacts), then you'll select a place to save that file ... when you get to
the point of mapping fields, you should be set, as it's an export ... but
make sure the checkbox is checked in order to complete the export. In Excel
format, it remembers all the columns of data ... then take this file to the
new computer, and do a file import ... while in contacts I guess it would be
easier. I use Outlook 2003. Other versions may vary.

I'm just a hacker, but have been thru this drill many times, as I have 2
computers to keep the contacts (and subfolders) somewhat synchronized, and
the above method is how I do it.

--Jim
 
B

Brian Tillman

Spike9458 said:
Another way you can do this, while in Outlook Contacts, is to click on
file/Import and Export, choose Export to a file, {next},
Click to expand...

No! Don't export.

If you want to transfer just the contacts, create a new PST with
File>New>Personal Folders File (or Outlook Data File, depending you your
Outlook version). Then right-click the Contacts folder you wish to move and
choose "Copy". Select the new PST as your destination. When the copy
completes, right-click on the new PST and choose Close. Close Outlook.
Copy the PST to the other computer's hard drive (by whatever means you
have), making sure it's not read-only. Then, in Outlook on the second
computer, click File>Open>Personal Folders File (or Outlook Data File),
browse to the PST you transferred, select it, and click OK.
 
S

Spike9458

What's wrong with exporting it?

--Jim

Brian Tillman said:
No! Don't export.

If you want to transfer just the contacts, create a new PST with
File>New>Personal Folders File (or Outlook Data File, depending you your
Outlook version). Then right-click the Contacts folder you wish to move and
choose "Copy". Select the new PST as your destination. When the copy
completes, right-click on the new PST and choose Close. Close Outlook.
Copy the PST to the other computer's hard drive (by whatever means you
have), making sure it's not read-only. Then, in Outlook on the second
computer, click File>Open>Personal Folders File (or Outlook Data File),
browse to the PST you transferred, select it, and click OK.
Click to expand...
 
B

Brian Tillman

Spike9458 said:
What's wrong with exporting it?
Click to expand...

Exporting changes some of the information in the items being exported (like
time stamps) and can fail to include information in some items. Besides,
PSTs are the "native" file format for Outlook. To move a Word document from
one PC to another, you don't export it in Word first, do you? Why export in
Outlook, then, when you're tranferring a native file format?
 
B

Brian Tillman

Spike9458 said:
when getting to the other
computer, what folder should the .pst file go in?
Click to expand...

PSTs can co in any folder you choose. The default location, however, is
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook. If you
elect to place it there, do not overwrite any PST you may currently be
referencing. It can corrupt your mail profile if you do.
 
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