OLEXP: How to Import MMF File into Outlook Express (176267)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Outlook Express 4.0 for Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q176267

SUMMARY

This article describes how to import mail messages into Outlook Express from:

  • a Microsoft Message File (MMF).
  • an Exchange or Outlook client Personal Information Store (PST).

MORE INFORMATION

How to Import MMF Files

Outlook Express is not designed to read or import MMF files. Outlook Express is designed as an Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) or Internet Messaging Access Protocol (IMAP) client for Internet mail and news servers. However, you may want to include mail messages from a Workgroup Post Office (WGPO) or Microsoft Mail 3.x post office on your network. You can import your MMF into Microsoft Exchange as a Personal Information Store (PST) file. You can then import your messages into Outlook Express.

To do so, follow these steps:

  1. On the desktop, double-click Inbox.
  2. On the File menu, click Import.
  3. In the Specify File To Import box, type the path to the MMF you want to import, and then click Open.
  4. In the Import Mail File dialog box, verify that the MMF is the one you want to import, and then click OK.

    The wizard leaves your original MMF intact, and copies the messages into the current personal folder.

    NOTE: The Microsoft Exchange client, unlike Microsoft Exchange Server, does not support shared or replicated sets of folders to let large groups of people share documents and messages. If you have previous shared folders, they cannot be converted in the Microsoft Exchange client. You lose the mail in these shared folders when you upgrade to Windows 95 unless you import the shared folders to another MMF.
  5. On the desktop, double-click Outlook Express.
  6. On the File menu, point to Import, and then click Messages.
  7. In the "Select an email client to import from" box, click Microsoft Exchange, and then click Next.
  8. In the Select Folders box, click Select All Folders, and then click Finish. You can also click Selected Folders and select the folders you want to import, and then click Finish.
NOTE: You cannot use this workaround to communicate between your post office and Outlook Express. You can only import your messages once, unless you want to use Microsoft Exchange as your mail client. If you do so, you need to repeat steps 5-8 each time you want to add messages from your mail client to Outlook Express.

How to Import PST Files

To import messages from an existing Exchange or Outlook client PST, follow these steps.

  1. Open Outlook Express, on the File menu point to Import, and then click Messages.
  2. In the "Select an email client to import from" box, click the appropriate mail client, Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft Outlook, and then click Next.
  3. Click Next, and then in the Profile Name box, click the Profile name from which to import the PST, and then click OK.
  4. In the Select Folders box, choose All Folders, or to import specific folders, choose Selected Folders, and then click the folder that you want to import into Outlook Express. NOTE: If you choose Selected Folders and want to import more than one folder, press and hold the SHIFT key and then click each folder you want to import.
  5. Click Finish.
You can now view messages that were located in your Microsoft Exchange PST or Microsoft Outlook PST in the Local Folders folder in Outlook Express.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/29/2004
Keywords:kbhowto KB176267
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.