Converting from Entourage to Outlook

[Wowbagger]

Someone I know is moving off the Mac, and into the furious world of Windows.
(Not me, I am already a furious Windows user.)

The biggest issue they need to tackle is: What to do about their e-mail.

We could not, yet, deduce the easiest way to convert Entourage files to Outlook files.

We are not using Exchange Server. The "Thunderbird" Middleman strategy seems to leave much to be desired, such as loss of attachments. Etc.

Anyone have any good ideas?

[elgarak]

I found this article that described a process that may work (disclaimer: I have not tried it -- A Mac-user myself, I avoid using Entourage at all, despite having to use Exchange. Apple Mail does Exchange well enough, even without Snow Leopard, thank you very much). It's older, but should still apply.

Short version:

1) Make folders on the Mac (normal folders using Finder, e.g. on the desktop) appropriately named (i.e., Inbox, Sent Mail etc.). Drag and drop the emails out of Entourage into these folders. Then move the folders over to the PC. There, drag and drop the files in the folders into the appropriate field within Outlook. Attachments should go with it. Some formatting may be lost. I don't have any Outlook available in my Windows VM, so I cannot try the second part of the process. The files are saved as .eml.

2) To export contacts: Export to tab-limited from Entourage. Open the exported file with Excel (or some other appropriate program). Export to comma-separated (CSV). The CSV file can be opened by Outlook.

Being that both Entourage and Outlook are Microsoft products, one would assume an easier way. Seems that someone at Microsoft has a huge chip on his/her shoulder against Apple, and wants to hurt anyone who has ever used a Mac.

[Wowbagger]

Originally Posted by elgarak

I found this article that described a process that may work

I think he managed to do something similar with attachments. He sent the e-mails, as attachments, inside one e-mail, from Entourage. Then, from Outlook, he dragged the attachments into the inbox or sent items folders.

Certain things kinda sucked about that. But, it was better than nothing.

Originally Posted by elgarak

Being that both Entourage and Outlook are Microsoft products, one would assume an easier way.

Yeah, you'd think...

[rjh01]

Just because you do not know how to do something does not mean that it cannot be easily done.

.
No idea about Entourage. To export from Outlook go to File / Import and Export. Then you can export a folder (Inbox, Sent Items, or whatever) somewhere such as an Excel spreadsheet, which is what I have just done. Should be something similar in Entourage.

Edit2. Do not export to a Excel spreadsheet. That cuts the body to 256 characters. Use comma separated values. That did work. I imported my files back to Outlook.

[GreNME]

Originally Posted by elgarak

I found this article that described a process that may work (disclaimer: I have not tried it -- A Mac-user myself, I avoid using Entourage at all, despite having to use Exchange. Apple Mail does Exchange well enough, even without Snow Leopard, thank you very much). It's older, but should still apply.

Short version:

1) Make folders on the Mac (normal folders using Finder, e.g. on the desktop) appropriately named (i.e., Inbox, Sent Mail etc.). Drag and drop the emails out of Entourage into these folders. Then move the folders over to the PC. There, drag and drop the files in the folders into the appropriate field within Outlook. Attachments should go with it. Some formatting may be lost. I don't have any Outlook available in my Windows VM, so I cannot try the second part of the process. The files are saved as .eml.

2) To export contacts: Export to tab-limited from Entourage. Open the exported file with Excel (or some other appropriate program). Export to comma-separated (CSV). The CSV file can be opened by Outlook.

Hey, not bad. Definitely bookmarked for later reference.

Originally Posted by elgarak

Being that both Entourage and Outlook are Microsoft products, one would assume an easier way. Seems that someone at Microsoft has a huge chip on his/her shoulder against Apple, and wants to hurt anyone who has ever used a Mac.

I've always had a distinct dislike for Ballmer as a public figure. Something about his attitude and behavior comes across to me as baseless arrogance mixed with the blowhard qualities of an AM political ranter.