Importing address book from Outlook Express

[Tim Richards]

I recently bought a new computer and am having to upgrade my software from
Mac OS 9.1 to OS X (Leopard). I've started using ENTOURAGE 2004 for my
e-mail (v11.36), which works OK, but I need to export my old address book
from the other computer, where I was using OUTLOOK EXPRESS for Mac (v5.02).

I haven't yet tried this but I'm worried about losing information, as the
address, telephone and email fields seem to have a completely different
layout in Entourage. Also, there isn't a COMMENTS box, which I used in OE
extensively to store quite complex info relating to clients. Although not
labelled a 'comments' box, it's the large empty white field underneath all
the other info. I can't see an equivalent field in Entourage.

Is Entourage the correct upgrade for OE v5? Will it be possible to transfer
all the info I have stored? Please help!!

Thanks,
Tim

(e-mail address removed)

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

Hi Tim,

I recently bought a new computer and am having to upgrade my software from
Mac OS 9.1 to OS X (Leopard). I've started using ENTOURAGE 2004 for my
e-mail (v11.36), which works OK, but I need to export my old address book
from the other computer, where I was using OUTLOOK EXPRESS for Mac (v5.02).

You can probably export as VCF cards or event a .cvs file and re-import
in Entourage.

I haven't yet tried this but I'm worried about losing information, as the
address, telephone and email fields seem to have a completely different
layout in Entourage. Also, there isn't a COMMENTS box, which I used in OE
extensively to store quite complex info relating to clients. Although not
labelled a 'comments' box, it's the large empty white field underneath all
the other info. I can't see an equivalent field in Entourage.

That shouldn't be too much of an issue. Contact pictures are usually
more problematic. Categories are also lost in the process.

Is Entourage the correct upgrade for OE v5? Will it be possible to transfer
all the info I have stored? Please help!!

Well Entourage is simply not an upgrade for OE. They are different
applications.
Both are indeed e-mail clients with contacts, calendar and tasks, but
Entourage never really was meant to be the Mac version of OE. They are
different.

Corentin

 

[Mickey Stevens]

Hi Tim,



You can probably export as VCF cards or event a .cvs file and re-import
in Entourage.

I don't think Outlook Express for Mac supported vCards, but I think you can
export contacts as a CSV file. Try File > Export or File > Export Contacts
in Outlook Express to generate such a file.

That shouldn't be too much of an issue. Contact pictures are usually
more problematic. Categories are also lost in the process.

Fortunately, neither of those exist in Outlook Express so nothing to lose.
As for mapping fields, I think Entourage gives you the option to edit field
mapping so that the proper information ends up in the right place when you
import the contacts file using File > Import. Also, Entourage has a "Notes"
field under the "Other" tab of contact windows that is probably similar to
the "Comments" field in Outlook Express.

 

[Tim Richards]

Well Entourage is simply not an upgrade for OE. They are different
applications.
Both are indeed e-mail clients with contacts, calendar and tasks, but
Entourage never really was meant to be the Mac version of OE. They are
different.

Corentin

Thanks Corentin,

I realise that ENTOURAGE is not technically an upgrade of Outlook Express.
But what other option do I have for OSX Leopard?

Is there another e-mail application that would do the job better ­ ie: make
it easier to import my OE address book? I also use ŒMac Mail¹, but I thought
that by retaining a Microsoft email set-up I might retain some
compatibility?...

Tim

 

[Corentin Cras-Méneur]

Thanks Corentin,

I realise that ENTOURAGE is not technically an upgrade of Outlook Express.
But what other option do I have for OSX Leopard?

I just wanted to make sure you wouldn't have high hopes for features
that might not be there, that's it

Corentin

 

[Mickey Stevens]

Thanks Corentin,

I realise that ENTOURAGE is not technically an upgrade of Outlook Express. But
what other option do I have for OSX Leopard?

Is there another e-mail application that would do the job better ­ ie: make it
easier to import my OE address book? I also use ŒMac Mail¹, but I thought that
by retaining a Microsoft email set-up I might retain some compatibility?...

I think that Entourage is as close to Outlook Express for Mac as you will
find on OS X. In that it was actually based on Outlook Express for Mac
version 5, most of the features are here and then some. Follow the
instructions I gave in my previous post in this thread to import your data.
If you don't like Entourage, you can use Sync Services to transfer your data
to the Apple applications.