Import & Export Data

[LadyDungeness]

I've read here several times that it is DANGEROUS to import data and
to NEVER do it. So I clicked customize my toolbar and changed the
name of the File > Import & Export Data command to:

File > Export DATA ONLY (do NOT ever import!) ...

Hopefully this will remind me to NEVER import data. Have I got it
right?

`
Lady Dungeness
Crabby, but Delicious!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Karl Timmermans]

As the old saying goes "never say never". There is a time and place for
everything - ergo there are times when you shouldn't and times when
importing is the only acceptable and logical choice.

The problem with many of the posts in this forum about "never importing" is
that the response omits the reason(s) why importing is not the optimum
solution for the specific task that the person was trying to accomplish with
the most common reason being the need to "move Outlook data from one machine
to another"

In the that case, copying the PST file to the other machine and just opening
it on the new machine is the way to go versus importing/exporting. The rest
of the response in terms of what else may need to be done would depend on
the circumstances provided. Importing/exporting in this scenario is
completely unnecessary and <SHOULDN'T> be done (don't care which program
would be used to accomplish the import/export - including ours).

If you have external data in a format acceptable to Outlook and are not
importing data custom fields (with or without a custom form being involved),
for the most part the Outlook import/export wizard will do you just fine
with no problems (yes there are always going to be some people who encounter
issues but there are usually other causes for the problems).

If on the other hand you need to import/export to/from custom fields either
created in a folder without using a custom form or via a custom form, then
you will either have to write your own code or use a 3rd party utility (such
as ours or any other you may find that fills the requirement(s)).

In summary, if importing/exporting didn't work "at all - ever" - our
products wouldn't be getting purchased/used and people would have some
serious application issues because they would not be able to get at their
data. Can assure you - importing / exporting works just fine for the most
part and the Outlook environment will not suddenly come to a complete end if
used correctly and <when required> whether you use the Outlook
import/export wizard or 3rd party product.

Karl
___________________________________________________
Karl Timmermans - The Claxton Group
ContactGenie - Importer 1.3 / DataPorter 2.0 / Exporter
"Power contact importers/exporters for MS Outlook '2000/2007"
http://www.contactgenie.com

 

[Gordon]

I've read here several times that it is DANGEROUS to import data and
to NEVER do it. So I clicked customize my toolbar and changed the
name of the File > Import & Export Data command to:

File > Export DATA ONLY (do NOT ever import!) ...

Hopefully this will remind me to NEVER import data. Have I got it
right?

(Courtesy of Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook])

Importing an entire PST may well corrupt your profile and may create a ghost
PST that you can't close. Importing PST's will lose:
1. Custom Forms
2. Custom Views
3. Connections between contacts and activities
4. Received dates on mail
5. Birthdays and anniversaries in calendar
6. Journal connections
7. Distribution Lists

Opening a PST file will preserve all of these. That is why we do not advise
people to import a native file into Outlook.