1. Introduction

While several programs exist to convert some formats such as Microsoft Outlook Express to Unix formats, Outlook users have a bit more of a challenge. One way to convert uses Mozilla Mail under Windows; another involves a more complicated method. Both are explained in this miniHOWTO.

The database format that Outlook uses for .PST files, called Jet, is documented at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/techart/olexcoutlk.htm

1.1 Copyright

Copyright (c) 2001 by Greg Lindahl

Please freely copy and distribute (sell or give away) this document in any format. It's requested that corrections and/or comments be forwarded to the document maintainer. You may create a derivative work and distribute it provided that you:

• Send your derivative work (in the most suitable format such as sgml) to the LDP (Linux Documentation Project) or the like for posting on the Internet. If not the LDP, then let the LDP know where it is available.
• License the derivative work with this same license or use GPL. Include a copyright notice and at least a pointer to the license used.
• Give due credit to previous authors and major contributors.

If you're considering making a derived work other than a translation, it's requested that you discuss your plans with the current maintainer.

1.2 Disclaimer

Use the information in this document at your own risk. I disavow any potential liability for the contents of this document. Use of the concepts, examples, and/or other content of this document is entirely at your own risk.

All copyrights are owned by their owners, unless specifically noted otherwise. Use of a term in this document should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.

Naming of particular products or brands should not be seen as endorsements.

You are strongly recommended to take a backup of your system before major installations, and backup your system at regular intervals.

Do not place your cat in a running microwave oven.

1.3 News

1.01: Fixed minor typo in inetd/xinetd startup instructions.

1.1: Added information about Kmailcvt, Mozilla, and how to get Outlook to talk to IMAP servers if it's in Exchange mode.

1.2: Added details about using Mozilla to do this same task

1.2.1: Fixed formatting typo

1.4 Other ways of doing this

A list of conversion utilities, many commercial, may be found at:

http://www.emailman.com/conversion/index.html

I've had a claim that the program Kmailcvt now converts Outlook mailboxes. However, I'm not 100% sure that this claim is true, since Kmailcvt definitely converts Outlook Express mailboxes, which are completely different from Outlook mailboxes. So, if you figure this out, please let me know.