Outlook, PST, EML and local folders
Hi,
I need help on topic "Outlook, PST, EML and local folders".
I have .. - Win 10, 64 bit - Outlook 2010 - current thunderbird, first time installed 10 days ago (newbie!) - a huge, locally stored PST file with a lot of folders, like "in_2014 / In_2015 / .. / Out_2014 / Out_2015"
I want .. - to have access to the mails in the PST with Thunderbird.
I did .. - read some information and found that there is no direct access - install ImportExportTools NG - tried to import "Via Outlook", but failed: "No profile found". I think Outlook 2010 is too old - install "Outlook Viewer" from CoolUtils. Opened the PST, exported a lot of EML-files, one for every single mail. - defined a "Local folder", called "in_2014" - copied the EMLs to this folder. They appear in the folder-tree of Thunderbird, but not as single "mails". I have to open (doubleclick) every EML to see the mail. - tried to "Import" the data (one by one / many together / from folder) to the local folder, but got a long error message with a lot a strange error-codes - tried to export data from PST to one single EML with many mails in it. Failed, the software does not offer this feature. - tried to "Import" the EML to a folder of a mail account. This was successful, but only the first step. - tried to move / copy the currently imported mails from mail-account to my local folder: failed again without reaction and without message.
What can I do now? How to get mails from a PST to a locally stored, Thunderbird readable structure?
Thanks in advance for help.
Chosen solution
Let's start with the EMLs in the folder you created using Outlook Viewer. Here are next steps:
- store the EML messages in a folder in windows file explorer (that is, not a folder in thunderbird)
- in thunderbird, highlight Local Folders, rightclick and create the folder 'in_2014'
- now, highlight the in_2014 folder, rightclick and select the importexport option to 'import all EML messages from a directory' and then locate and select the folder in which you stored the EML messages
The result should be as intended.
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Chosen Solution
Let's start with the EMLs in the folder you created using Outlook Viewer. Here are next steps:
- store the EML messages in a folder in windows file explorer (that is, not a folder in thunderbird)
- in thunderbird, highlight Local Folders, rightclick and create the folder 'in_2014'
- now, highlight the in_2014 folder, rightclick and select the importexport option to 'import all EML messages from a directory' and then locate and select the folder in which you stored the EML messages
The result should be as intended.
Hmmh, subsequent problems ..
I could import approx. 20'000 mails in 20 "local folders", this worked (rather) fine. Thunderbird crashed three times but finally I got it. The files have a size from 400 MB to 1.6 GB - and this seem to be a problem.
When I want to open a mail, it takes 10-15 sec "loading it". I tried to "compress" one data-file with 700 MB, but it increased to 1.6 GB, the MSF file has only 2 kB and the folder shows "1 mail in folder".
I can remake the destroyed(??) data-file, that's not the main problem. But I wold like to know if this data-load is too big for common usage. I have a computer with Win 10 64 bit with intel i7 - not the newest one, but works good.
Or does Thunderbird need some time (some hours?) to organize and to arrange the new mass of data?
Have a fine time!
I keep my folders small, but others have posted that it can be slow in setting up index for large folders. Someone else may be able to give more specific help for that.
I think I could solve it.
Every Local Folder has in its "Properties" the setting for "Include this folder for global search index". This is activated by default and caused a lot of heavy computer load. After deactivation the PC worked normally.
The folder with 1.6 GB showed only 6 mails, one with 960 and one with 750 MB ... I deleted it and imported the EML again, and now the folder size is OK. I hope that I can start daily (small) work now.
Have a fine weekend!
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