Loading ...Moving Outlook email (data) to Linux Evolution mail client
First I thought switching from MS-Outlook to Linux Evolution mail client will be easy. Evolution does not offer any easy method to import data directly from Outlook. After searching bit, I found solution:
MS-Outlook -> Import using Mozilla Thunderbird Under Windows -> Import using Evolution under Linux
You know, that is why I like the idea of using an IMAP server. No need to worry about import and export stuff. All you need to do is reconfigure Evolution/Thunderbird under Linux.
Anyway here is what I did to migrate from MS-Outlook to Linux client:
Step # 1: Import mails from Outlook using Thunderbird
- Download thunderbird for Windows XP
- Install Thunderbird
- Start Mozilla Thunderbird
- Do not setup Thunderbird as your default email client.
- Since this is your first run, it will prompt you to import mail and other settings.
- At Import dialog box, select Mail > Next
- Select Outlook > Next
- Within few minutes it will migrate all emails from Outlook to Thunderbird. Click Finish and shutdown Thunderbird application.
Step # 2: Transfer Thunderbird mail to Linux desktop
First, you need to find out your profile folder under Thunderbird application (you can also use Windows Explore to find out Thunderbird profile folder):.
Click on Start > Run > Type the command
cmd
And hit [Enter] key
Type the following commands to locate Profile folder:
C:> cd %APPDATA%\\Thunderbird
C:> cd Profiles
Now locate directory called "Local Folders". Again use CD command to go to Local Folders:
C:> cd "Local Folders"
C:> cd "Outlook Mail.sbd"
Copy all files from "Outlook Mail.sbd" folder to USB pen or use network connection to copy files to your Linux home-directory (~/.mozilla-thunderbird)
You are done. Now you can open mail using Linux thunderbird client.
Step #3: Import mail to Evolution
Copy all mails (files) from ~/.mozilla-thunderbird to ~/.evolution/mail/local directory.
Or, use GUI tools. Open Evolution > Click on File > Import. This will start Evolution Import Assistant program. Now just follow on screen instruction.
This is fine, if you have 1-2 desktop system. Now, just imagine having 250+ desktop system migrations from Outlook to Evolution. If anyone aware of bulk import or export method just comment it back below 
See also:
- Don’t forget to visit mozillazine migration articles. It will save lots of time for sure
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I am using outlook 2003… configured the pst file.
I followed the instructions…but thunderbird fails to import pst from outlook
following eror
An error occured importimg mail from outlook
Error importing mailbox, unable to create destination mailbox.
Error creating destination mailboxes,cannot find mailboxes
Hey,
just a thanks for this ‘workthrough’, worked perfect for me!
for needee, can only say that it looks like a permissions issue…
cheers and thans again Vivek
Thanks a lot for this superior suggestion but I have one more problem
” Earlier I am using linux and acoording to your suggestion succesfully imported the data from Outlook Express to Thunderbird ( On Linux ) I used that for a month but now due to some other works I again have to use Microsoft XP but problem is that How can I import thunderbird ( Linux) data to Outlook Express. ”
Pls help me !!!
I am using ms office outlook 2007.
I followed the instructions…but thunderbird fails to import pst from outlook
following eror
An error occured importimg mail from outlook
Error importing mailbox, unable to create destination mailbox.
Error creating destination mailboxes,cannot find mailboxes
plz,can you help me.
regards,
Rajamurugan K
needee, rajamurdan
You may want to try Outport from
http://outport.sourceforge.net/
I have tried it on Outlook 2003, and seems to work. I too had trouble with Thunderbird import from Outlook. Also tried Eudora, but it lost my photos, though the rest imported very well. All of these approaches need to run in Windows first, then migrate the data to Linux.
Hope that helps.
This is a good article when talking about the windows end. But when talking about linux starts assuming prior knowledge. For instance, the location ~/.mozilla-thunderbird is mentioned, but a full path would be more useful. I had to guess where it was, and I found one directory of this name, below a directory called etc. But I was informed that I did not have permissions to save the “outlook mail.sbd” file to there. Despite the fact I only have one user set up on this computer, which is the one that carried out the install. Please bear in mind that anyone who is likely to be moving files from windows to linux is likely to be a linux newbier, and thus a more in depth description of ops at the linux side would be welcomed.
~/.mozilla-thunderbird refers to your own home directory. For example, if your login name is tom, your home directory should be /home/top, so your path should be /home/tom/.mozilla-thunderbird or /home/tom/.mozilla.
~ refers to your own home directory in UNIX and Linux.
This solution is for the person who was having trouble importing outlook mail to thunderbird and was getting the following error:
“An error occurred importing mail from outlook
Error importing mailbox, unable to create destination mailbox.
Error creating destination mailboxes,cannot find mailboxes”
I was having the same problem, and the reason was that I had two sub-folders with the same name under two different parent folders. Once I renamed one of them the import worked fine.
Hope this helps!
Worked perfectly. Thanks
Hi,
Can Sucessfully tranfer mail from outlook to Evolution.
But …….. How do I do mass transformation with 300+ desktop and each user may have some folders created as well.
There can be a script written and can be run during the installation of linux desktops.
Any ways you need to have backup of mails from thunderbird manually.
I follow your procedure, but no luck with emails. I’ve got settings and contacts fine in Thunderbird for linux 2.0.6 (the one in Ubuntu repositories for my 7.10 Amd64) from windows version 2.0.9 but can only see a empty Local Forlders in main view. I tried to move around the mail directory, but no matter were I put it, it’s not recognized by Thunderbird. It looked simple, but is not working.
nice trick (: it works
I followed the instructions and…it works!!! Thanks!!
Worked GREAT! Successfully migrated from Outlook 2007 under XP pro SP3 to Evolution under Mandriva 2008… the “cd” areas are not quite the same as mine but I figured out the actual file locations easy enough. THANKS!
IBM Thinkpad R31, P3@1133MHz, 512 MB RAM.
Mandiva 2008 is AWESOME!
thanks..it worked..keep up the good work
I HAVE TRIED TO IMPORT DATA INTO THUNDERBIRD FROM OUTLOOK > MAIL, HOWEVER I GET THE FOLLOWING ERROR:
UNABLE TO SAVE YOUR MESSAGE AS DRAFT.
ERROR WRITING TEMPORARY FILE.
Note i have also arranged folder names in my personal folder to eight char long and there is no duplication in folder name between folders… if anyone can advise why the following error is occurring and suggest a solution.
This worked perfectly. Thanks!