Convert Thunderbird mail to Outlook PST?

[Larry Sabo]

I have used the ImportExport Tool to create mbox files from TB folders, which I then dragged into corresponding folders in Windows Live Mail. These were then exported to a PST that was transferred to the active PST in Outlook. However, my client has many folders and the above method requires creating the folders in WLM first, then dragging the mbox into it. This would take forever in the instant case.

There are commercial programs that do this, but my client doesn't have a lot of money to spend on something that will be used once, and I don't get this request often enough to justify a tech version for use on multiple client accounts. I'm looking for recommendations of something that's good value but also effective. Suggestions?

 

[tpcg]

I have not tried this.
Looks to be a 2 step process.
check it out http://blog.nektra.com/main/2009/04...-from-thunderbird-to-outlook-outlook-express/

this 1 looks promising too but like I said I have not used these.
http://www.broobles.com/imapsize/th2outlook.php

 

[Larry Sabo]

Thanks for the suggestions. Address Magic Personal Plus looks good. I'll keep it in mind.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Running out of time, I went ahead and converted the TB mail to an Outlook PST via Windows Live Mail, as follows:

Method used with Windows 7

1. Install the ImportExportTools add-on to Thunderbird to use to convert mail folders to mbox files of the same name
2. Compact Thunderbird mail folders
3. Select the TB folders or accounts to be exported, right-click one of them, click Import/Export, Export all the folders with structure
4. Navigate to (or create) a folder into which to save the exported mbox files, click Select Folder
5. Verify that the mbox files were created in that folder
6. Download IMAPSize evaluation (Zipped distribution for a portable version) from http://www.broobles.com/imapsize/download.php
7. Open IMAPSize and click No need to create an account
8. Click Tools and then mbox2eml (it's free tool) to convert the mbox files to EML files as follows:
   
   • Click Select the mbox files to convert
   • Navigate to the folder containing the mbox files exported above
   • Click the Files of Type and select All files
   • Select just the files (each represents a TB mail folder) to be converted (not .sbd files)
   • Click Open to create a the list of files to be converted
   • Select the destination folder into which the EML files are to be created
   • Click Convert, then Okay when done, close IMAPSize program
9. Verify that a folder was created for (and with the name of) each TB mail folder, containing the corresponding eml files
10. (The dates will read the current date, but when imported in subsequent step, they will be original e-mail dates)
11. If Windows Live Mail is not installed, download and install it. No need to set up an account
12. Copy the above EML folders to Windows Live Mail (C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\Storage Folders)
13. Open WLM and the TB mail folders will appear in Storage folders after processing (allow time)
14. Click File, Export Email, Email messages, or Account if you set up a WLM account, Microsoft Exchange
15. Click Okay when told that this will export WLM to Outlook
16. Open Outlook and your exported mail files will appear as a PST data file
17. Copy contents to the primary Outlook data file as desired, or leave it as a separate PST
18. Delete the folders from WLM if they are no longer needed there

I'm sure there are easier, faster ways, but this wasn't so bad nor time-consuming. And the price was right, from my point of view.

 

[tech4546]

Thunderbird to Outlook

You can also try third party email converter tool to convert Thunderbird Mail Database to Outlook 2013, 2010, 2007 and 2003. http://www.thunderbirdtooutlook.info/

 

[Larry Sabo]

Thanks for the suggestion but at $399 USD it's a non-starter, because "my client doesn't have a lot of money to spend on something that will be used once, and I don't get this request often enough to justify a tech version for use on multiple client accounts."

 

[altrenda]

Sorry I didn't see this earlier. Looks like your system worked.

Did you look at emailchemy? http://www.weirdkid.com/products/emailchemy/ For a single user it's $30. I have a different license as I use it to convert AOL files to Outlook (bleh).

There is also reliefjet for around the same price http://www.reliefjet.com/Purchase

Also, maybe you could have exported eml files and used the free eml importer Outlook add in from here http://www.outlookfreeware.com/en/products/all/OutlookMessagesImportEML/

http://www.outlookfreeware.com/ also has a nice duplicate finder.

Note I do not violate the license. I have each client buy a copy of the software as part of the service and then I use it to perform the conversion. It costs the customer less, It's easier for me, and the software company gets their sale.

 

[tech4546]

Yes, but I found Mail Passport Pro (http://www.mailpassportpro.com/) from GLADwev Software converts multiple formats to MS Outlook. (Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Postbox, Entourage, MBOX, EML, RGE files to Outlook PST). All in one tool (Convert Unlimited Email Accounts, Life time license). So I mentioned here.

Choice is yours..

Thanking you

 

[doubleohalex]

Thanks for the suggestion but at $399 USD it's a non-starter, because "my client doesn't have a lot of money to spend on something that will be used once, and I don't get this request often enough to justify a tech version for use on multiple client accounts."

Have you resolved this? I have used the program Aid4Mail numerous times and it handles Thunderbird as well as numerous other formats to PST format. The best part is they offer a 2 week, 1 time use license.

http://www.aid4mail.com/buy-now?sel=a4m-mc

 

[Larry Sabo]

Thanks for the suggestion. I've downloaded the program for future potential use. I'm all for supporting developers, so if I have a need for it, I'll register it. At that price, it's a steal! Glad to hear that it has worked well for you, too.

Cheers!

 

[Larry Sabo]

Sorry I didn't see this earlier. Looks like your system worked.

Did you look at emailchemy? http://www.weirdkid.com/products/emailchemy/ For a single user it's $30. I have a different license as I use it to convert AOL files to Outlook (bleh).

There is also reliefjet for around the same price http://www.reliefjet.com/Purchase

Also, maybe you could have exported eml files and used the free eml importer Outlook add in from here http://www.outlookfreeware.com/en/products/all/OutlookMessagesImportEML/

http://www.outlookfreeware.com/ also has a nice duplicate finder.

Note I do not violate the license. I have each client buy a copy of the software as part of the service and then I use it to perform the conversion. It costs the customer less, It's easier for me, and the software company gets their sale.

Sorry, I missed your reply, altrenda. I'll have a look at those, too.

Cheers, Larry

 

[doubleohalex]

Thanks for the suggestion. I've downloaded the program for future potential use. I'm all for supporting developers, so if I have a need for it, I'll register it. At that price, it's a steal! Glad to hear that it has worked well for you, too.

Cheers!

No Problem! That program is definitely something to hold onto. I have thrown just about everything at it and we've always been able to figure something out even if it wasn't officially supported. The only format I have yet to find that it can't handle is Entourage and Outlook for Mac. Even then I can just convert those to mbox natively then throw the mbox into Aid4Mail.

 

[Merri Seibert]

Free tools are not available, but I will suggest you a Thunderbird to Outlook converter (http://www.thunderbird.mboxtooutlook.org) that I also used and find very effective. You can check this program free of cost.

 

[fabs]

IMAP is the simplest (cheapest) way to do that. If the original email account does not support it, you can use free email servers like hMailServer https://www.hmailserver.com/download
It can be installed on any windows system and supports IMAP. Just use it as a temporary server and you should be fine

 

[Larry Sabo]

Thanks for the suggestion, Stephanie, but strangely, I haven't had a need to convert anyone from Thunderbird to Outlook since I posted my request two-and-a-half years ago. If I do, I will use Aid4Mail, as it has the best price and seems more than capable of doing the job. I appreciate the suggestion, all the same.

 

[SOHOtechRob]

Try this: http://www.stellaroutlooktools.com/scan/mozilla-thunderbird-to-pst.php