Importing contacts

[Bob G.]

I'm using Outlook 2003 w/XP.

I exported contacts in a .pst file from my Outlook 2007 on another computer.
But when I try to import that file into my Office 2003 on another computer.
it asks me where to import it. When I ask where that file might be, I find
that it should be at
drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook

But there is no such file on my computer. I have searched for .pst files
and found none. Yet my Outlook seems to be working and I can add contacts.

In my files structure under Docs & Settings I have only 3 folders.
Administrator, All Users, and Owner. Under none of then is a Local Settings
folder. I have seached for a local settings folder and can't find one.

Any suggestions?

Bob

 

[Brian Tillman]

I'm using Outlook 2003 w/XP.

I exported contacts in a .pst file from my Outlook 2007 on another
computer. But when I try to import that file into my Office 2003 on
another computer. it asks me where to import it. When I ask where
that file might be, I find that it should be at
drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Never import from a PST. It's likely you'll damage your mail profile.
Simply OPEN the PST with File>Open>Outlook Data File.

 

[Bob G.]

Bill, Are you saying when I export it from one computer, I should export it
as something other than a pst. file? If so, is there a preferential file
type?


When I click on the .pst file on my removeable drive, it asks me what I want
to open it with but outlook data file is not an option.

Bob

 

[Bob G.]

And where do I put the file in Outlook 2003? When importing it asked where
I want to put the file?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

No. You need to remove the words export and import completely from your
vocabulary when you talk about transferring Outlook data. You already have
an Outlook data file. Why would you export to create another one? Just copy
your Outlook data file, transfer it, place it in a location you'll easily
remember on the other hard drive, then open it in the other installation.
Repeat after me: I will never export Outlook data again...

 

[Bob G.]

OK. I've removed the offending words.

I copied the data file to my desktop. I then went to file/open/outlook data
file. When asked where I wanted to put it I said Personal folders. Well,
it put the new contact file in a new personal folders file without deleting
the old contact file. I then moved the new contact file to Outlook Today
where apparently my old contact file was, tho it is a file under Personal
Folders. But it didn't let me overwrite it. Instead, it added it as a
Contact1 file. But I can't delete the old contacts file, so now I have two.
How can I get rid of the old one?

Bob

No. You need to remove the words export and import completely from your
vocabulary when you talk about transferring Outlook data. You already have
an Outlook data file. Why would you export to create another one? Just
copy your Outlook data file, transfer it, place it in a location you'll
easily remember on the other hard drive, then open it in the other
installation.
Repeat after me: I will never export Outlook data again...
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Bill, Are you saying when I export it from one computer, I should export
it as something other than a pst. file? If so, is there a preferential
file type?


When I click on the .pst file on my removeable drive, it asks me what I
want to open it with but outlook data file is not an option.

Bob

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Post makes no sense. The File > Open dialog does not query you for where you
want to "put" an Outlook data file. Did you copy a valid data file or one
you exported? You cannot "move" a data file to a new location within
Outlook, so I have no idea what you could possibly mean by "I moved a new
contact file to Outlook Today."
You'll have to post accurately and clearly if you want help in a newsgroup
setting. Otherwise you should onsite help from people who can watch what you
are doing and see translate what you mean.

OK. I've removed the offending words.

I copied the data file to my desktop. I then went to file/open/outlook
data file. When asked where I wanted to put it I said Personal folders.
Well, it put the new contact file in a new personal folders file without
deleting the old contact file. I then moved the new contact file to
Outlook Today where apparently my old contact file was, tho it is a file
under Personal Folders. But it didn't let me overwrite it. Instead, it
added it as a Contact1 file. But I can't delete the old contacts file, so
now I have two. How can I get rid of the old one?

Bob

No. You need to remove the words export and import completely from your
vocabulary when you talk about transferring Outlook data. You already
have an Outlook data file. Why would you export to create another one?
Just copy your Outlook data file, transfer it, place it in a location
you'll easily remember on the other hard drive, then open it in the other
installation.
Repeat after me: I will never export Outlook data again...
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Bill, Are you saying when I export it from one computer, I should export
it as something other than a pst. file? If so, is there a preferential
file type?


When I click on the .pst file on my removeable drive, it asks me what I
want to open it with but outlook data file is not an option.

Bob

I'm using Outlook 2003 w/XP.

I exported contacts in a .pst file from my Outlook 2007 on another
computer. But when I try to import that file into my Office 2003 on
another computer. it asks me where to import it. When I ask where
that file might be, I find that it should be at
drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Never import from a PST. It's likely you'll damage your mail profile.
Simply OPEN the PST with File>Open>Outlook Data File.

 

[Pat Willener]

You don't put the file "in" Outlook, you put it somewhere on your disk.
But do *not* overwrite the existing PST file, place it somewhere else
(just not on the desktop!).

Then open it with Outlook (File | Open | Outlook Data File).

 

[Bob G.]

I opened the file I "exported" (a pst file of my contacts) from one computer
to a stick. When I got to the other computer, upon your instructions, I
went to Outlook File/open/datafile. You're right it didn't prompt me, but
it did open a Personal folders tree, which I don't remember having.

Thus I had Personal folders and under it deleted items, drafts, inbox, junk
mail ourbox, sent items and search folders (with subfolders under it). I
then had Archive foleers, and then this other Persoanl folders, whcih had
delted items, search folders and the new contact folder I had jsut opened.

Thus, when I clicked on the large contact button on the lower left of
Outlook, it opened the old contacts folder, not the one I wanted.

So yes, I did MOVE it by dragging the new contacts file to under the first
personal folders tree, and clicked it. So then when I clicked the Contacts
button on the lower left, it now opens the new file.

I then, in the contacts folder, right clicked at the top and through the
dialogie box, made sure that my address book looks only at the new contacts
folder.

So basically, I got where I wanted to be.

Thanks for your patience.

Post makes no sense. The File > Open dialog does not query you for where
you want to "put" an Outlook data file. Did you copy a valid data file or
one you exported? You cannot "move" a data file to a new location within
Outlook, so I have no idea what you could possibly mean by "I moved a new
contact file to Outlook Today."
You'll have to post accurately and clearly if you want help in a newsgroup
setting. Otherwise you should onsite help from people who can watch what
you are doing and see translate what you mean.

OK. I've removed the offending words.

I copied the data file to my desktop. I then went to file/open/outlook
data file. When asked where I wanted to put it I said Personal folders.
Well, it put the new contact file in a new personal folders file without
deleting the old contact file. I then moved the new contact file to
Outlook Today where apparently my old contact file was, tho it is a file
under Personal Folders. But it didn't let me overwrite it. Instead, it
added it as a Contact1 file. But I can't delete the old contacts file,
so now I have two. How can I get rid of the old one?

Bob

No. You need to remove the words export and import completely from your
vocabulary when you talk about transferring Outlook data. You already
have an Outlook data file. Why would you export to create another one?
Just copy your Outlook data file, transfer it, place it in a location
you'll easily remember on the other hard drive, then open it in the
other installation.
Repeat after me: I will never export Outlook data again...
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Bill, Are you saying when I export it from one computer, I should
export it as something other than a pst. file? If so, is there a
preferential file type?


When I click on the .pst file on my removeable drive, it asks me what I
want to open it with but outlook data file is not an option.

Bob

I'm using Outlook 2003 w/XP.

I exported contacts in a .pst file from my Outlook 2007 on another
computer. But when I try to import that file into my Office 2003 on
another computer. it asks me where to import it. When I ask where
that file might be, I find that it should be at
drive:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Never import from a PST. It's likely you'll damage your mail profile.
Simply OPEN the PST with File>Open>Outlook Data File.

 

[Bob G.]

Thanks, Pat. As per my reply to Mr. Personality (Valentine), I am where I
think I need to be. I just left the old contacts file where it is but
redirected my address book to the new one. Why can't I put the new contacts
folder where the old one is, although pre my original post, I can't find
where that is.

Bob

 

[Brian Tillman]

I opened the file I "exported" (a pst file of my contacts) from one
computer to a stick. When I got to the other computer, upon your
instructions, I went to Outlook File/open/datafile. You're right it
didn't prompt me, but it did open a Personal folders tree, which I
don't remember having.
Thus I had Personal folders and under it deleted items, drafts,
inbox, junk mail ourbox, sent items and search folders (with
subfolders under it). I then had Archive foleers, and then this
other Persoanl folders, whcih had delted items, search folders and
the new contact folder I had jsut opened.

All normal.

Thus, when I clicked on the large contact button on the lower left of
Outlook, it opened the old contacts folder, not the one I wanted.

Naturally. You didn't change your delivery location, so your default
folders wouldn't have changed.

So yes, I did MOVE it by dragging the new contacts file to under the
first personal folders tree, and clicked it. So then when I clicked
the Contacts button on the lower left, it now opens the new file.

You don't copy the folder itself. You open the added Contacts folder,
select all the items with Ctrl-A, and copy the selection to the default
Contacts.