Microsoft Outlook Express can import information that you created in other programs, including contacts, messages, rules, signatures, and account information. With Outlook Express, you can:
You can also import messages saved as an MBOX format text file. Some programs allow you to export your e-mail as this type of file, which stores many messages in a single text file. When you import an MBOX format text file to Outlook Express, the imported messages appear in your Inbox. Consult the documentation for the source program to learn how to export messages as an MBOX format text file.
Importing information from another program
Tips for users of other programs
Importing contacts from a text file
Importing information from Outlook Express 5.0, 5.01, 5.02, or 5.0.3
About synchronizing with a Palm handheld
Import information from another program
Tips for users of other programs
Importing contacts from a text file
Importing information from Outlook Express 5.0, 5.01, 5.02, or 5.0.3
Tips for users of other programs
When you switch to Microsoft Outlook Express from another e-mail program, many features will seem familiar. However, there may be some differences in terminology.
Term in other programs | Term in Outlook Express | Description |
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Mail Action, Conditions + Actions, Filter |
Rule | Set of conditions and actions that you create to process and organize your messages. |
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Enclosure | Attachment | A file that you send or receive with a message. |
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Browser | Message list | A pane that displays a list of your messages. |
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Warning | Error description | A dialog box that displays information about a problem that has occurred. |
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Address Group, Mailing List |
Group | A set of contacts and e-mail addresses that you create so you can quickly send messages to a set of contacts, rather than to each contact individually. |
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Article | News message | A message that you post to or receive from a newsgroup. |
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Importing information from another program
Importing contacts from a text file
Import contacts from a text file
Make sure that the text file you want to import is either tab-delimited or comma-delimited.
After you select the file you want to import, the Import window appears and displays data from the first contact record in the file. Fields that correspond to Microsoft Outlook Express fields appear opposite their counterparts in the left pane. Fields that do not correspond to Outlook Express fields appear in the right pane.
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If you replace a data field in the left pane with one from the right pane, the replaced data moves to the right pane. You can then assign that data to a different field. Fields that remain in the right pane after you click Import are not imported to Outlook Express. |
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You can change how data is assigned to data fields in the left pane by dragging the fields to new positions. For example, if a home phone number appears next to Work Phone, drag the home phone number so that it appears next to Home Phone. |
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Importing information from another program
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The exported contacts file is a tab-delimited text file that you can modify. |
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Importing contacts from a text file
Importing information from another program
Import information from Outlook Express 5.0, 5.01, 5.02, or 5.0.3
You might not need to import your information, depending on where the earlier version of Outlook Express stored it. To determine whether you need to import information, switch to the Finder, and then open the Outlook Express folder that contains the earlier version of the program. If the folder doesn't contain an Identities folder, the current version of Outlook Express will automatically find your information, so you don't need to import information.
If the folder contains an Identities folder, you should export your messages and contacts from the earlier version, and then import them to the current version of Outlook Express.
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If you haven't yet stored any information in the current version of Outlook Express, you can import your information more easily by moving the Identities folder from the earlier version's folder to the Documents:Microsoft User Data folder on your hard disk and replacing the Identities folder in that folder. If you do so, the current version of Outlook Express will automatically find your information the next time you start the program. You should then set up your mail account in the current version of Outlook Express. |
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To export your messages and contacts from the earlier version, and then import them to the current version, do the following: