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Post by trlove on Dec 27, 2014 18:54:19 GMT -5
I have recently had to buy a new computer with Win7 and I am trying to migrate to Thunderbird. I have been able to get all of the e-mails transferred to Thunderbird on Win7, but I can't seem to get the address book to transfer from Outlook Express to Thunderbird. Does anyone have any experience with this or know how to do it correctly. Some of the contacts seem to transfer, but they are completely jumbled when they are displayed in Thunderbird's contact list. Every search on the web says that I have to reorganize the columns within a .cvs file but this doesn't seem to solve the problems. Thanks for any help that you can give.
Tom
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drcard
Software Review Panel
Posts: 581 
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Post by drcard on Dec 28, 2014 14:30:08 GMT -5
Hi Tom,
Although you can import the OE address book via the CVS file way, the columns have to be rearranged in a spreadsheet (Excel) to match exactly the order used by the Thunderbird address book. The procedure is simple, but is tidiest. Make a least one entry into the Thunderbird address book and export to a cvs file. Open this Thunderbird cvs file in Excel to display the correct order of the coulmns. Open the exported OE address book cvs file in Excel and rearrange the columns to match exactly the oder of the Thunderbird cvs file. Save the modified OE cvs file and import this into Thunderbird. It should import correctly.
There is another way to do this where Windows and Thundebird can keep the data straight.
Place a copy of the OE address book file (this is the actual .wab and not the exported cvs file) on the HD of the new Win 7 PC.
Press the Start logo and enter into the Search box "wab" amd press the Enter key. This will open Windows Contacts (Win 7 version of the adress book). Across the top, just below the menu bar is a toolbar with tabs. Press the Import tab and select from the list Windows Address File (Outlook Express contacts). Direct the import to the OE address wab file that you copied onto the HD. This will import your contacts correctly into the Win 7 address book.
Now open Thunderbird and have it import choosing OE files and direct it to this Windows Contacts folder. It will import correctly keeping things organized.
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Post by trlove on Dec 29, 2014 17:18:35 GMT -5
Thanks Dana for your reply. The second option did not work as the info was still in the wrong fields. I finally used the first option and you are right. It is a pain to do it that way. I am still debating on which email program to use, either Live Mail or Thunderbird. I need to come up with a back up plan and I can't seem to find the folder with the address book for Live Mail. Going from XP to Win7, the learning curve goes straight up the chart!!
Tom
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drcard
Software Review Panel
Posts: 581
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Post by drcard on Dec 29, 2014 19:40:44 GMT -5
Hi Tom,
The problem is that with each new version new fields are added and location of the fileds are changed. The CSV format basically lists the data for all fields in one line of text using commas to separate the data for each fields. Thus a CSV file from a set number of fields in a specific order will not correctly populate a page with a different number of fields or fields in a different order. Many programs like Windows, will have capabilities to read a CSV file and readjust the arrangement to work correctly in their address book. However, such capabilities are limited to one version older. Thus when upgrading XP to Win7 it bypasses Vista upgrade and thus is a two version upgrade. Manual rearrangement is the only option left.
The address book for Windows Live Mail is in a folder labeled DBStore. The file is contacts.edb. This is a hidden system file and Explorer must be set to show hidden and system files for it to display. The normal PATH is
C:\Users\usersname\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live\Contacts\ZZZZZ\DBStore
username is your Login ID name. ZZZZZ is different based upon what version of Live Mail is installed. It could be a GUID or 15.4 or 15.5, etc. One of the folders in that Contacts folder. You can also find the Windows Live Mail address book by searching for contacts.edb (search must include hidden and system files).
A better and easier way the backup the address book is to export the address from with Live Mail....have Live Mail create your backup for you.
I have used Live Mail and did not like it. I have not used Thunderbird, but have helped many with problems using it. Enough problems to have me not try it. I use Outlook for many reasons including this upgrade address book problem. I know the price tag on Outlook drives many away and everyone wants something for free, but from my years of experience solving email problems you get what you pay for. For me, the things that Outlook can do over other email programs far exceeds the purchase price.
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