PAB File handling from Windows
 

My migration to Linux is in full swing. I have come across a problem of not being able to use my MS Outlook Personal Address book files.

I have these files and am willing to re-type or re-create these if I can find a universal file type to keep these in for my Windows partition to access, append etc from Outlook. Also being able to use various programs over a few distros of linux to send email from etc and to use the file of contacts too.

I realise the OutLook XP holds lots of formatting information and the fields in the database it uses will be different to those in the linux software I will be using.

Any help much appreciated.

Rob H

Address book files
 

Rob,

If I read your question correctly, you are trying to use Outlook and some Linux client together... I believe this is always a problem, especially if you want to continue using both Windows and Linux to send e-mail from.

You could try exporting from your Windows client...

Evolution supports importing vcard data (.vcd) and Outlook express 4 (.mbx) exports amongst others.

Kmail supports importing vcard and comma seperated value files (.csv) Importing csv files seems to be pretty useable.

Sylpheed only seams to be able to import .ldiff files (ldap output).

Getting new addresses back to windows should be possible as well, both Evolution and Kmail are able to export to vcard and if I am not mistaken Outlook can import vcard data.

I hope my reply will help you to solve you problem.

Marcel

Mozilla can import Outlook data files; I know for certain that it can properly import Outlook mail and contacts from PST files. It might be able to import Outlook address books too. Go download either the full Mozilla suite or Mozilla Thunderbird and see what happens.

If you run into problems, check the MozillaZine Forums at http://forums.mozillazine.org/