Outlook For Mac- Large PST Import

[DogCatMSMac]

I currently have my mail set up on the Windows side of Parallels. I'm thinking about using Outlook For Mac on the Mac side instead. I have a 14GB PST file I'd be importing. E-mails have been sorted into more than 30 folders. There are many zip files and other types of e-mail attachments. Would you expect to see any difficulties with the import? Would I see the same folder arrangement and have the same functionality on the Mac side that was on the Windows side?

 

[campyguy]

Yes or no, depending on the version of Win Outlook you're using. Yes, and it depends on your first answer. I'm also assuming you're not using Mac Outlook 2004.

Outlook for Mac can only import Unicode-based .pst files (Outlook for Windows) 2003 and later versions.

ANSI-formatted .pst files, were the standard personal folder format for saving data in Outlook for Windows in versions 97-2002 can't be imported into Outlook for Mac. I still have friends on Office 2000 or using Outlook 2002 (yikes!).

Regarding your data layout, keep in mind that you'll be left with a local data account - which is what you may be seeking anyway. I use Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2014 (Mac, just moved from 2011) - I prefer the Mac platform, and moved around 15 large PST files to a Mac-based server with Outlook 2011 running - the import of each PST file took a while, but the conversion was flawless. Keep in mind that the newer Mac versions of Outlook keep their messages "separate" in that they're not in one "lumped" file like a PST file, and your Mac will slow down for a while while Spotlight is searching through and indexing those new files.

I recently imported a PST (using Outlook 2011) with thousands of ZIP, CAD, PDF, and Office files - everything worked perfectly. My only issue was having to run out to buy a bottle of booze so that I could verify that all of the files were in fact properly imported. They were. 😀

I have found that Outlook 2014 is faster than 2011 at importing, but the end results were the same. Make sure you get your edition of Mac Outlook updated before you begin the import - at least v.14.3.9 or newer as there were some pretty significant backend changes made in Outlook with that update.

 

[DogCatMSMac]

Regarding your data layout, keep in mind that you'll be left with a local data account - which is what you may be seeking anyway.

I'm using the latest Windows and Mac Outlooks. As far as what you say above, being left with a local data account, I'm not sure what that means exactly. I'm thinking about the move because of more perceived security on the Mac side. I have a POP account with an ISP. I have a few different e-mail addresses that I can change to. Hopefully that won't end. Hopefully I'll still have all e-mails sorted into folders as before. Multiple files in place of one PST file probably is OK, do you mean a file for each folder?
Also, say I wanted to operate from a MacBook rather than a desktop for awhile, can the mail files be transfered back and forth between iMac and MacBook as needed? I don't particularly want to have this mail residing in the cloud.
Thanks

 

[campyguy]

"Local" means "On My Mac" - the data is on your hard drive or server, where you opt to store your "local" data, as opposed to a "cloud" source. My data is on a local server that I can put my hands on or on my laptop, depending on the account. In Outlook, the import reads as "On My Computer".

The PST files I have set up have a hierarchy of directories (or folders, if you wish?). The imports into Mac Outlook look identical to the Win Outlook export - files, given that I'm using compatible updates. Also, I'm my company owner, not the IT guy - dead simple is the way I like it, even given the 6 college degrees I've earned. Regardless of assurances by MS or Apple, after an import of data, I personally review the results of that import - I don't trust automated processes, but the import of PST files into Mac Outlook have been 100% correct. So far...

As to ensuring file mapping between multiple Macs, that's your deal to concern yourself with - I'm not being antagonistic here. I use a MBP to travel with and work in my office, and have a Mac Mini Server that hosts my files. Given what I wrote earlier here, I refer to email/attachments from archived messages often (generally for contractual reasons) - and keep a copy with one of my attorneys - but I do not "transfer" files between PCs/Macs, as I see this as a documentation (or "file check out") issue; maybe talking to your IT professional would be of help here?