Cannot export Outlook XP address book

[Guest]

I am unable to extract my address book entries from Outlook XP so they can be
copied and imported to my new PC running Outlook 2003. It appears there is
something wrong with my address book setup in Outlook XP. When I open the
address book, it is set to use address info from the Contacts list. If I
choose to use address info from the address book, it is empty. When I close
the address book and view my contacts by selecting the Contacts folder item
from the Outlook folder list, there are very few contacts and the data does
not match what I see in the address book. The address book says there are
many contacts with correct info, but the contacts folder is not correct
(small and out of date). All of the info I've read discusses exporting the
contacts folder, which I can do but it is not the correct list of names and
addresses. I've read articles about copying and/or importing/exporting
address books, but the address book data is empty. Can someone tell me where
my contact data is being stored that I see in the address book and how to get
it out of Outlook so I can reuse it in Outlook 2003. I really don't want to
do one by one vCard exports or re-enter hundreds of address book entries by
hand.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

The address book has no exporter. Outlook's export feature is on the main Outlook window, under File | Import and Export.

Maybe you have multiple contacts folders? View | Folder List will show you all your folders.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Gordon]

I am unable to extract my address book entries from Outlook XP so they can
be
copied and imported to my new PC running Outlook 2003. It appears there
is
something wrong with my address book setup in Outlook XP.

Nothing wrong at all. That's how Outlook post-2000 works.
Create a new pst file - (File-New-Outlook data File), copy all your contacts
to it, close Outlook and copy that pst file onto your new machine. In fact
if your next question is "how do i copy all my email", then just copy the
existing pst file, and you will get the whole lot - including email,
calendar, tasks, contacts, the whole 9 yards.

 

[Guest]

Gordon,
How do I copy my contacts from the address book window? The contacts I see
in the contacts folder are not correct. I have not been able to determine
how to do mass copies of contact data from the address book window. I am
familiar with copying the PST file. This is how I got my email transferred
to the new computer. It just did not come with the correct contacts from the
address book.

 

[Guest]

Sue - I haven't see multiple contacts folders. But, I will check again
tonight. I think the PST file may have evolved from an earlier version of
Outlook. Maybe I've copied it too many times and should be creating it anew

 

[Gordon]

Gordon,
How do I copy my contacts from the address book window? The contacts I
see
in the contacts folder are not correct.

How do you mean "not correct"?
If you are using Outlook 2002 then it doesn't use the addressbook - it uses
Contacts.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

You can copy a .pst file as many times as you like. It won't make any difference to the file. The only reason to use a new .pst file is to gain access to the new features in Outlook 2003 that allow for larger and more stable .pst files.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Guest]

The contacts I see in the address book window do not match the contacts I see
when I look in the contacts folder or when I export the contacts folder to an
external file. Not sure why. But, that is probably the root of the problem.