OL98: Cannot Export to Personal Address Book (183462)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 98
This article was previously published under Q183462
NOTE: These procedures only apply if you have installed Outlook with the Corporate Workgroup/Other option. This option allows you to use Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) services. To determine your installation type, on the Help Menu click About Microsoft Outlook. In About Microsoft Outlook you should see "Corporate" if you have the Corporate Workgroup installation.

SYMPTOMS

Microsoft Outlook 98 does not display the option to export data to a Personal Address Book (PAB) in the Import and Export Wizard.

MORE INFORMATION

Outlook supports importing from a PAB to the Contacts folder. If a PAB exists prior to installing Outlook and is detected at first run, it can be imported automatically.

NOTE: All duplicates in the source file will be imported. Multiple imports will create duplicates as well.

A PAB can also be imported manually using the Import and Export Wizard.

WORKAROUND

There are two methods that can be used to import Contact information into the PAB. The first method employs the Address Book and is the preferable method. The second method is included as an alternative.

NOTE: Contacts will only be imported if they include an e-mail address or a fax number.

Method 1

This method assumes that the Outlook Address Book and PAB services are present in the mail profile. If you are unsure of what is in your Mail Profile, on the Tools menu, click Services. Outlook Address Book and Personal Address Book will be listed here. If they are not, click Add and click to select the service from the list.

  1. Using the right mouse button, click the Contact folder you wish to import and then click Properties.
  2. On the Outlook Address Book tab, click to select "Show this folder as and e-mail Address Book."
  3. On the Tools menu, click Address Book.
  4. In the box "Show names from the," click to select the Contact list you wish to import. The first item in the list will be selected.
  5. Scroll down to the bottom of the list, and while holding the SHIFT key down, click to select the last item in the list. The entire list should be selected.
  6. On the File menu, click "Add to Personal Address Book." Your Contacts are now in the PAB.
NOTE: If this process is carried out more than once, you will have duplicate entries in the Personal Address Book. Also be aware that any information deleted from the PAB is unrecoverable. Use caution when deleting items from the PAB.

Method 2

You can use this work around ONLY if you have access to a computer that has Microsoft Outlook 97 installed. Outlook 97 has the option to export to a PAB. The process requires that you export your Contacts from Outlook 98 and then take the resulting file to a computer that has Outlook 97 installed, and do the conversion there. You can then take the resulting file to the Outlook 98 computer and add the PAB to the mail profile.

Export Contacts from Outlook 98

  1. On the File menu, click Import and Export.
  2. Click Export to a file and then click Next.
  3. Click to select Personal Folder File, and then click Next.
  4. Click to select the Contact folder you wish to convert to a PAB, and click Next.
  5. Type the path and filename for the exported file. Note the path and file name for later reference. Click Finish.
The resulting file has a .pst filename extension. Copy the file to a computer that has Outlook 97 installed. Also, copy the current Personal Address Book to the same computer.

Outlook will export the contacts to the PAB listed in your mail profile. The export wizard does not allow you to choose a new PAB in which to export. On the Outlook 97 computer, you must modify the current mail profile to point to the PAB that was copied from the Outlook 98 computer. After the export has been completed, you can then modify the mail profile to use the original PAB.

Change the Personal Address Book for Import in Outlook 97

  1. On the Tools menu, click Services.
  2. Click to select Personal Address Book, and then click Remove. This will remove the original PAB from the current mail profile. Once the import procedure is finished, repeat these steps to add the original PAB to the mail profile.
  3. Click Add. Click to select Personal Address Book, and click OK.
  4. Type the path to the PAB that was copied from the Outlook 98 computer, and then close all dialog boxes. Quit and then restart Outlook, for the changes to take effect.

Export Contacts to the PAB in Outlook 97

  1. In Outlook 97 on the File menu, point to Open Special Folder, and then click Personal Folder.
  2. Locate and click to select the Personal Folder created in the steps above and then click OK. A new window will open.
  3. On the File menu, click Import and Export.
  4. Click to select Export to a file, and then click Next.
  5. Click to select the Contact folder that is to be converted to a PAB. Click Next.
  6. Click to select Personal Address Book, and then click Next.
  7. Click Finish.
The Contacts are now exported to the current Personal Address Book. Copy this file to the computer that has Outlook 98 installed, and add it to the mail profile.

NOTE: Windows Messaging only allows one Personal Address Book per mail profile.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/9/1999
Keywords:kbbug KB183462
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