Outlook 2003 PST 2GB limit - missing cal af Unicode conversion

[JGT]

I've found several postings suggestion a solution and I finally managed to
work my way through the mess but just discovered that my calendar, notes,
todo list etc did NOT covert with the process, e.g. they are not available in
the new PST file. I still have a copy of my OLD PST file - I just copied the
old file to a backup drive. The old PST file is nolonger in my Outlook view
(Outlook 2003, WinXP Pro) but I'm not sure how to open the old backup copy.

How do I copy my calendar, notes, todo list (and whatever else I need to
copy) to the newly converted Unicode format file?

BTW, I have other WinXP Pro system I can move the old PST file to if I have
to. I'd rather not go through the conversion unless this is my only option. I
spent about three hours updating my filters after the conversion and then I
ran the archive function. Also HD space is NOT an issue for me.

Please provide instuructions at the for dummies level... Big thanks!

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Open the old file with the FIle | Open | Outlook Data File command. You can then move the items from the folders in the old file into the folders in the new file by dragging them.

 

[JGT]

When I attempt to open the file, I see the outlook screen flash as if it is
being updated (refreshed) but I don't see the contents of the old PST file.
When I converted to the new format I was able to drag the email items from
the old PST file to the new PST file but at that time I did NOT see anything
for the calendar, todo or notes. What should I have seen? I did move (the
drag & drop actually moved) everything I saw. Obviously I'm lost at this
point.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

By default, Outlook opens to the Mail navigation module, which would show you only mail folders. That's why you might have overlooked the folders for other types of items. You can see all folders on the Folder List navigation pane. If you opened the .pst file in an earlier Outlook session, it will already be present in the folder list, along with all its folders and all your old data.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54

 

[JGT]

Now I understand why I did not see the other folders (darn!!!!) but I'm
missing something in that I still don't see the other folders. BTW I've been
using outlook 2003 since it was released but I was NOT aware that my PST file
was not automatically converted when I brought it over from OL 2002. I became
aware of this yesterday when I got the message that it was full.

Also I'm still confused as to why I cannot open the BU copy of my PST file.
I clicked File > Open > Outlook Data File > then I found my BU copy and
selected it. The screen flickers as if it is being refreshed but I don't see
the old data or if I do I don't know what I'm looking at.

Ops I think I see the old file, at least the mail folders (yea) but I don't
see the other stuff.

Ops more progress, if I select the calendar view I do see an option (in the
nav pane) that will allow me to view "Calendar in Personal Folders (2)" and
if I select this option I see my current calendar (which is empty) and I see
my old calendar. How do I move/copy the stuff in the old calendar to my new
empty calendar. I don't see any folders in the nav pane as I do when I'm
looking at the mail. I have the same issue with the other folders.

Again BIG THANKS, we are making positive progress (yea)

 

[JGT]

OK I've managed to copy the calendar stuff over but my color coding did not
copy over (e.g. tele-conference one color, business teaching another color,
vacation another color, travel another color, etc.). interestingly the
anniversary and birthday entries color coding did come over. Following is
what I did.

Open the calendar
Menu View > Arrange by > Current view > By Category view
Opened my backup PST file (File > Open > Outlook Data File > then I found my
BU copy and selected it. I now see multiple calendar icons in the pane.
Click on the icon for the BU calendar
In the right pane where you see all of the calendar entries, select one,
then press Ctrl+A to select all entries.
Hold down the Ctrl key, left-click on the highlighted calendar entries, drag
& drop on the new calendar icon in the nav pane.
, select all items, and Ctrl+drag to copy them
into the other calendar folder.

 

[JGT]

I've manually updated all of my calendar entries. It is very disappointing
that MS did not provide better conversion controls for this.

Good Giref! I just discovered that my contacts, notes, task or journal
entries did not come over. Oh crap, will this ever end? Now my major concern
is that I've overlooked something and will not know about it until it is much
too late.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

I can't tell from your description whether you drilled down using the Folder List navigation pane to explore all your folders. That's the one view that will show you all the folders available in whatever .pst file you open.

 

[JGT]

At the VERY last (after my last post) I accidently discovered the Folder List
view. Tis would have made life easier for me however other issues I
encountered would still be present (1) difficult to transfer the notes - I
got some weird message that a new entry would be created and it would open a
window for one note when I closed the window I was not sure if the other
items selected were copied or not. Beacuse I only had 38 notes I finally gave
up after 37 were transfered and I'm not sure if some of those were dups. I
did remove the dups I saw and I did not disover why I was one short.(2) loss
of label coloring on numbers calendar entires - I was not able to detect a
pattern as to why some still had the color and others did not (3) I don't
have the warm confortable feeling that it completed without issues and I have
no way to verify. IMHO MS screwed this up.

Thanks for your help!