Outlook Contact File Name/Location

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Guest

I want to copy my Outlook Contacts file so I can transfer it to another
computer but can't find it. What is its name and location?
 
All the items in Outlook are stored in a pst file which is a hidden file
located in the user profile under Document and Settings. You will need to
turn on "Show Hidden Files and Folders" from Control Panel || Folder Options
|| View Tab. If you do a Search for it and are using Windows XP you will
need to go into Advanced Search Properties and ensure that the option to
search hidden files and folders are checked. Another way to copy the data is
to use the File || Import/Export command in Outlook and export the Contact
folder to a file format. Be warned that posters to this group are advising
that exporting (and importing) to/from a pst file can cause data
loss/corruption. What ever format you decide on can be imported into Outlook
on the new machine or in the case of a pst file you can use File || Open ||
Outlook Data File (Personal Folder File) and then use drag and drop to move
items.
 
With the help of Noel and Brian, I was able to locate and copy the
appropriate files on my laptop, copy them and past then into desktop.
Unfortunately, I assume because of different Office versions, the files
weren't recognized and Outlook couldn't run them on the desktop. The laptop
version is Outlook 2003 (11.6568.6568) SP2 and the desktop is Outlook 2002
(10.6515.6735) SP3. I know how to export as a csv file but there is a lot of
work involved in this approach because fax numbers are transmitted as cell
phone numbers, etc. Is there a way to get the laptop to produce a pst file
that the desktop would recognize?
 
That was rather important information you left out, wasn't it? Exporting is
never a good way to transfer Outlook data. In Outlook 2003 you must create
an Outlook Data File in "Outlook 97-2002" format, copy your data into that
file, then open it in your older version to retrieve that data.
 
Thanks Russ, but how do you create the file in Outlook 97-2002? Sorry for
the ignorance but I am relatively new to Outlook and it doesn't seem to work
like other MS products in this regard.
--
Bill


Russ Valentine said:
That was rather important information you left out, wasn't it? Exporting is
never a good way to transfer Outlook data. In Outlook 2003 you must create
an Outlook Data File in "Outlook 97-2002" format, copy your data into that
file, then open it in your older version to retrieve that data.
Click to expand...
 
Right where you would expect:
File > New > Outlook Data File...
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
CA Reed said:
Thanks Russ, but how do you create the file in Outlook 97-2002? Sorry for
the ignorance but I am relatively new to Outlook and it doesn't seem to
work
like other MS products in this regard.
--
Bill


Russ Valentine said:
That was rather important information you left out, wasn't it? Exporting
is
never a good way to transfer Outlook data. In Outlook 2003 you must
create
an Outlook Data File in "Outlook 97-2002" format, copy your data into
that
file, then open it in your older version to retrieve that data.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
CA Reed said:
With the help of Noel and Brian, I was able to locate and copy the
appropriate files on my laptop, copy them and past then into desktop.
Unfortunately, I assume because of different Office versions, the files
weren't recognized and Outlook couldn't run them on the desktop. The
laptop
version is Outlook 2003 (11.6568.6568) SP2 and the desktop is Outlook
2002
(10.6515.6735) SP3. I know how to export as a csv file but there is a
lot
of
work involved in this approach because fax numbers are transmitted as
cell
phone numbers, etc. Is there a way to get the laptop to produce a pst
file
that the desktop would recognize?
--
Bill


:

I want to copy my Outlook Contacts file so I can transfer it to
another
computer but can't find it. What is its name and location?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Well, this is frustrating. I created the older version and copied it to the
desktop but the contacts folder was not transferred. I have now deleted the
new files and put the desktop back to its orginal condition but I am
disappointed that you can't move the contacts information form one computer
to the other as the csv approach is very time consuming. I guess what I want
to do is just not possible.
--
Bill


Russ Valentine said:
Right where you would expect:
File > New > Outlook Data File...
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
CA Reed said:
Thanks Russ, but how do you create the file in Outlook 97-2002? Sorry for
the ignorance but I am relatively new to Outlook and it doesn't seem to
work
like other MS products in this regard.
--
Bill


Russ Valentine said:
That was rather important information you left out, wasn't it? Exporting
is
never a good way to transfer Outlook data. In Outlook 2003 you must
create
an Outlook Data File in "Outlook 97-2002" format, copy your data into
that
file, then open it in your older version to retrieve that data.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
With the help of Noel and Brian, I was able to locate and copy the
appropriate files on my laptop, copy them and past then into desktop.
Unfortunately, I assume because of different Office versions, the files
weren't recognized and Outlook couldn't run them on the desktop. The
laptop
version is Outlook 2003 (11.6568.6568) SP2 and the desktop is Outlook
2002
(10.6515.6735) SP3. I know how to export as a csv file but there is a
lot
of
work involved in this approach because fax numbers are transmitted as
cell
phone numbers, etc. Is there a way to get the laptop to produce a pst
file
that the desktop would recognize?
--
Bill


:

I want to copy my Outlook Contacts file so I can transfer it to
another
computer but can't find it. What is its name and location?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Of course its possible. This is end user error. Where you made your error is
hard to tell until you tell us exactly what you did.
Just create the Outlook data file and copy whatever you want into it. There
is absolutely no reason you cannot copy your Contacts Folder.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
CA Reed said:
Well, this is frustrating. I created the older version and copied it to
the
desktop but the contacts folder was not transferred. I have now deleted
the
new files and put the desktop back to its orginal condition but I am
disappointed that you can't move the contacts information form one
computer
to the other as the csv approach is very time consuming. I guess what I
want
to do is just not possible.
--
Bill


Russ Valentine said:
Right where you would expect:
File > New > Outlook Data File...
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
CA Reed said:
Thanks Russ, but how do you create the file in Outlook 97-2002? Sorry
for
the ignorance but I am relatively new to Outlook and it doesn't seem to
work
like other MS products in this regard.
--
Bill


:

That was rather important information you left out, wasn't it?
Exporting
is
never a good way to transfer Outlook data. In Outlook 2003 you must
create
an Outlook Data File in "Outlook 97-2002" format, copy your data into
that
file, then open it in your older version to retrieve that data.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
With the help of Noel and Brian, I was able to locate and copy the
appropriate files on my laptop, copy them and past then into
desktop.
Unfortunately, I assume because of different Office versions, the
files
weren't recognized and Outlook couldn't run them on the desktop.
The
laptop
version is Outlook 2003 (11.6568.6568) SP2 and the desktop is
Outlook
2002
(10.6515.6735) SP3. I know how to export as a csv file but there is
a
lot
of
work involved in this approach because fax numbers are transmitted
as
cell
phone numbers, etc. Is there a way to get the laptop to produce a
pst
file
that the desktop would recognize?
--
Bill


:

I want to copy my Outlook Contacts file so I can transfer it to
another
computer but can't find it. What is its name and location?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
CA Reed said:
Well, this is frustrating. I created the older version and copied it
to the desktop but the contacts folder was not transferred.
Click to expand...

Just creating a new PST doesn't transfer anything. In Outlook, after
creating the new PST in the Ol 2002 format, right-click your calendar and
choose Copy. Specify the new PST as the destination. Do with with every
folder. When done, close the new PST with right-click>Close and close
Outlook. You can then transfer that PST to the other PC.
 
Thanks Brian, I have accomplished what I wanted to do with your help.
Interestingly, selecting all contacts and right clicking doesn't work nor
does right clicking the contact bar but it does work in the listing of files
at the top left. I had tried the other approaches earlier but after your
message searched for another way. Mission accomplished. Thanks again.
 
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