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How to import outlook 2003 contacts to thunderbird

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  • Last reply by Merel

Merel
Merel
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What is the easiest method to import the outlook 2003 contacts (adresbook) to Thunderbird which is installed on Ubuntu. (Windows XP + Ubuntu 14.04 installed on same computer)

I'm a bit surprised that even today, this somehow seems to remain kind of a problem. Articles are pointing to complicated procedures, implicating various other programs which should helping in resolving what should be a simple import of the oulook.pst files.

Outlook can export to various type of files. Which format could Thunderbird itself use to import "directly" with some chance of succes ?

I trust that Mozilla is aware of it that it still is a point of concern to users. Focussing on migration is the first priority after installation.

I found a very good Dutch article about installation http://support.mozilla.org/nl/kb/thunderbird-installeren-linux.

But about importing from Oulook (2003 or other) , I wasn't able to find some straigthforward guidance for a "easy" and simple import operation, probably because there still isn't one yet.

Thank you.

What is the easiest method to import the outlook 2003 contacts (adresbook) to Thunderbird which is installed on Ubuntu. (Windows XP + Ubuntu 14.04 installed on same computer) I'm a bit surprised that even today, this somehow seems to remain kind of a problem. Articles are pointing to complicated procedures, implicating various other programs which should helping in resolving what should be a simple import of the oulook.pst files. Outlook can export to various type of files. Which format could Thunderbird itself use to import "directly" with some chance of succes ? I trust that Mozilla is aware of it that it still is a point of concern to users. Focussing on migration is the first priority after installation. I found a very good Dutch article about installation http://support.mozilla.org/nl/kb/thunderbird-installeren-linux. But about importing from Oulook (2003 or other) , I wasn't able to find some straigthforward guidance for a "easy" and simple import operation, probably because there still isn't one yet. Thank you.

Chosen solution

I am somewhat surprised at the number of people who think the outlook proprietary file format which runs to over 200 typed pages to describe should be supported by anyone other than Microsoft and Microsoft products. Microsoft should offer a non proprietary export format from their product don't you think. http://www.wikihow.com/Export-Contacts-from-Outlook Method 2 works for me.

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Matt
Matt
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Chosen Solution

I am somewhat surprised at the number of people who think the outlook proprietary file format which runs to over 200 typed pages to describe should be supported by anyone other than Microsoft and Microsoft products. Microsoft should offer a non proprietary export format from their product don't you think. http://www.wikihow.com/Export-Contacts-from-Outlook Method 2 works for me.

Merel
Merel Question owner
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My point is to draw attention of Mozilla to the fact that the more users find it easy to import from Windows, the better there is a chance to switch towards open source.

Yesterday I imported from Outlook 2003 (on my wife's PC) her address book into Thunderbird last version (with Ubuntu 14.04, also last version). I can assure you that it was NOT a piece of cake ! It took quite a time to adjust on data selection and organizing fields. Is that Microsoft fault ? I'm not so sure.

I agree on Microsoft's wrong attitudes, and therefore always was a Linux follower, hoping that open source would become better and more userfriendly than Windows.

My attitude towards open source is to give it confidence to become even better. So I'll never give up, but there still is much work to do. Ubuntu has improved quite a lot, at each new release. Still it runs slower than XP on my old machine.


And neither of both burned Mint installation CD's would not even run.