153419 - Native import of PST and OST file formats needed

Status: NEW

(MailNews Core :: Import, enhancement)

Description

[Ketan Gangatirkar]

I have .pst (Outlook archive) files from a different installation of Windows.  I
do not have Outlook installed on this machine at this time.  As a result,
Mozilla balks at importing the mail from those archives.  Is there any way to
just point Mozilla at the .pst files and input some context (such as the email
address/name, destination mail account, etc.)?  The only way I see to do it now
is to install Outlook, import the archive files to Outlook, import the Outlook
mail to Mozilla, and then uninstall Outlook.

Comment 1

[Ian Perryman]

I have this same problem.  However, I think the problem is more general.  I am
having the same problem with mitgrating from an older PC to a new one.  The old
PC has Netscape 4.78 installed.  I want to mitgrate my account to a new PC on
the same network to Mozilla 1.x  When trying to use the import wizard, it does
not allow me to just point at my profile on the other box.  

This is probably a feature, but it seems to me a very valuable feature for
people mitgrating or upgrading.   

Comment 2

[Al Maw]

Outlook mail/contacts import is done via the magic of MAPI. PST is a proprietry
file format (whaddya expect from MS?). Although it might be possible to make a
native .PST reader, rather than requiring Outlook to provide the MAPI interface
to it, it would be complicated and infringe 101 Microsoft EULAs, etc.

It ain't gonna happen any time soon. :(
Should think this'll get WONTFIXed.

Comment 3

[Daniel Wang]

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 124486 ***

Comment 4

[Doug Wright]

*** Bug 260586 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 5

[Doug Wright]

*** Bug 261295 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 6

[Doug Wright]

*** Bug 264024 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 7

[Scott A. Colcord]

Regarding Comment #2, it's not helpful to promulgate vague legal threats.  If there is a specific EULA clause, it's best to cite it.  And even then, such clauses are often not enforceable, and/or can be worked around through clean-room techniques.

Comment 8

[Scott A. Colcord]

Reopening.  Bug 124486 is specific to Outlook Express; this bug relates to Outlook.

Comment 9

[Scott A. Colcord]

Also note <http://blogs.msdn.com/interoperability/archive/2009/10/26/roadmap-for-outlook-personal-folders-pst-documentation.aspx>, which indicates that Microsoft plans to release and document the .pst format.

Comment 13

[chrizilla]

Outlook contacts have formatted text in the notes field (see bug 1550302#c0). So for "lossless" PST/OST import, Thunderbird would also need formatted text in contact notes (bug 1226517).

Comment 14

[jnbanda]

I have a workaround that I would like to put out there for anyone else wanting to convert PST files for use in Thunderbird.
Third-party software exists for this conversion. I am not promoting any vendor here. I recently did the conversion myself after having been an Outlook user all my life. I recently converted 7 years worth of PST files and imported them into my Local Folders of Thunderbird, and I couldn't be happier. Everything is exactly how I had it in Outlook, including the folder structures. Since I archive by year, each PST represented 1 year's worth of email and occupies its own subfolder in Local Folders.

If you want a vendor recommendation, this is the one I used: PST to MBOX by PST Walker.