importing to pst stops because file is too big

[Chemrat]

I was using Outlook Express for a long time because I first bought a version
of Office that didn't have Outlook.

Now, I have a new computer and Office 2003 with outlook.

I tried importing my emails from outlook express into outlook, just staying
on my old computer for now, to see if it would work (I am aware of the file
size imitations for pst file because I use Outlook on a number of other pc's,
so I was concerned).

Anyway, importing the emails from OE worked initially, but then stopped with
the error message something like "file space exceeded." I can create
multiple psts in the the Outlook account and move email into those pst's, but
what I don't understand is how to pick up importing where I left off when the
error occurred.

It seems that I just keep going back to the start and reimporting the same
mail.

Thanks!

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Since you knew of and were concerned about Outlook's file size limitations,
then you must have checked to see how closely your OE data came to exceeding
those limitations. What did you find when you checked?
I've never seen anyone who wanted to import messages from OE because that
changes all the dates. I've only seen people export from OE after they've
checked the file size compatibility.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

before importing, create a new pst in outlook using the new pst format, not
the 97-2002 format. Set it as your default message store and then import
into it.



** Please include your Outlook version, Account type, and Windows Version
when requesting assistance **

 

[rustyfender04]

Maybe it would be a good idea to compact all folders and archive old e-mails
in Outlook to free up some room.

It might also help to compact OE's items too before importing them to
Outlook.

 

[Chemrat]

Thanks to all!

I have about 8+ GB of email in OE. However, it is in a highly structured
and organized system of folders and sub-folders. I was hoping for magic I
guess, that the folders would go into different pst's or that I would be able
to direct them to different pst's during the import process.

I don't really "want" to import this ton of stuff to Outlook from OE, but it
is too much of a time-sink to search multiple email programs to find the
email I want.

Now having watched the process for exporting from OE (rather than
automatically importing to Outlook), I tink what I need to do is copy only
<2GB of OE folders at a time to the new computer, import them, and put them
in a separate pst. Does that make sense?

Since you knew of and were concerned about Outlook's file size limitations,
then you must have checked to see how closely your OE data came to exceeding
those limitations. What did you find when you checked?
I've never seen anyone who wanted to import messages from OE because that
changes all the dates. I've only seen people export from OE after they've
checked the file size compatibility.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I was using Outlook Express for a long time because I first bought a
version of Office that didn't have Outlook.

Now, I have a new computer and Office 2003 with outlook.

I tried importing my emails from outlook express into outlook, just
staying on my old computer for now, to see if it would work (I am aware of the
file size imitations for pst file because I use Outlook on a number of other
pc's, so I was concerned).

Anyway, importing the emails from OE worked initially, but then stopped
with the error message something like "file space exceeded." I can create
multiple psts in the the Outlook account and move email into those pst's,
but what I don't understand is how to pick up importing where I left off when
the error occurred.

 

[Chemrat]

Thanks, yes. I did do this, and do routinely with OE on my old HP tower,
Outlook on my laptop and elsewhere. I'm afraid that I have a lot of large
attachments (documents with graphics) and they take up a lot of disk space.
Not that 7 or 8 GB is much relative to today's disks, but it is to Outlook.
You might think I could delete these, but not really. I never know which old
version of text I might need to grab something out of, like something that
didn't make it into the final version, but is valuable and in a preliminary
version of a document.

 

[Chemrat]

Thanks but I don't understand. If I do this, won't I still run into the size
limit of 2 GB or so per pst? I don't see how to route imported email to more
than one pst by automatic importing. I think I need to import from OE in
parts as I mentioned in response to an earlier post, but if I am missing
something, please let me know.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Outlook 2003's new pst format holds up to 20 gb as is... it can be increased
to 3 TB.



** Please include your Outlook version, Account type, and Windows Version
when requesting assistance **

 

[Pat Willener]

PST files before Outlook 2003 (97-2002 format) had a size limit of 2GB.
Outlook 2003 and higher does not have this limitation. It is therefore
important that you create a Personal Folders File that is in the new format.

 

[Chemrat]

Thanks so much Pat (and Diane)! I obviously missed that incredibly useful
piece of information. Much appreciated! Jim (Chemrat)

 

[Gordon]

Thanks to all!

I have about 8+ GB of email in OE.

WHAAAT? Eight GIGABYTES? What on EARTH are you keeping there, the National
Archive? I suggest you do some SERIOUS SERIOUS pruning.
if you REALLY REALLY must keep all this stuff, then when you export from OE
use the "choose folders" option and just do one or two at a time....
It will take you a long time but just MIGHT make you realise that you don't
need to keep EIGHT GIGABYTES of emails......

 

[Gordon]

Thanks, yes. I did do this, and do routinely with OE on my old HP tower,
Outlook on my laptop and elsewhere. I'm afraid that I have a lot of large
attachments (documents with graphics) and they take up a lot of disk
space.

Then detach them to a document folder and put a hyperlink to the location in
the email......

 

[chemrat]

Good idea. I don't know how, though! Doing this retro-actively for 5 years
of work sounds scary. It does sound like a good approach from today
forward!!!

Regarding the data amount (your earlier response), perhaps you'd be suprised
how much info it takes to raise NIH funding these days, and things like
microscopy pictures can be huge (if quality is decreased, they lose dynamic
range: the big photos are a nightmare to print and process, but often
reviewers complain if they can't see "all" the detail). Also, with
collaborators who edit out my sometimes-brilliant prose, I may have to search
through many versions for that key phrase that answered about 10 critics at
once. I rename files about once a day (using the date)to be sure of readily
available backups. I have had so many system and disk crashes over the years
(locally, on servers, etc.), at critical times, that I'd rather buy 2TB for
backups than worry (at least at today's costs! not a year or two ago). Some
of these documents are 200 pages long and 20+ MB when all the budgets and
personnel data etc. are added in, I have no support staff but myself, and I'm
the one in the group who knows most about this! (scary thought). I may go
through 20 or 30 revisions (editing out the brilliant prose of my
collaborators, etc.), and write up to 10 different ones a year (average is
more like 4). Thanks.

 

[chemrat]

Thanks, 20 GB would take care of me for now. Will I find the process for
increasing the pst size realily via help or is it obscure?

 

[Pat Willener]

The PST file increases automatically until it reaches the specified
limit of 20GB. How to change that limit is described in this article
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/832925/

 

[Chemrat]

That is perfect! I have now created the newer pst version and moved most of
my email there, followed by compacting the original folders. I imagine I'll
erase them after I have moved everything (and will set the new folder to be
my default).

Going though this process allowed a much better defragmentation of the disk
than I had been able to achieve before (even though I had gone through some
recommended procedures for defragging pst's). Thanks again!

 

[Ron Williams]

I want to transfer (do you call that "exporting"?) my Outlook 2003 Personal
Folders Tasks (.pst files?) lists from my desktop computer to my laptop
computer. Have you actually done this yourself successfully? If you know how,
would you please be kind enough to e-mail me step-by-step instructions that
really work? Thank you for your help. (e-mail address removed)

 

[Roady [MVP]]

No need to repost; go back to your original thread on which you had already
received answers before posting this post.