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Can't migrate Outlook 2019 address Book to Thunderbird

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  • Last reply by sfhowes

I have followed these instructions to letter multiple times : https://www.stellaroutlooktools.com/blog/import-outlook-contacts-to-thunderbird/

I created a comma separated CSV file, but after I open it in Thunderbird I don't see names or email addresses in the Tb Address Book (see attachment). Clicking on a head-an-shoulder icon does give me the missing info.

Also, when I start an email and click on "To" the address book does not appear.

I have followed these instructions to letter multiple times : https://www.stellaroutlooktools.com/blog/import-outlook-contacts-to-thunderbird/ I created a comma separated CSV file, but after I open it in Thunderbird I don't see names or email addresses in the Tb Address Book (see attachment). Clicking on a head-an-shoulder icon does give me the missing info. Also, when I start an email and click on "To" the address book does not appear.
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

In the first picture you have to select the row with Primary Email in the left column and click Move Up until it lines up with Email Address in the right column. If you add a 4th column to your csv with Home (or Work) Phone, select the row with Home (or Work) Phone in the left column and click Move Up or Down until it aligns with the 4th item in the right column. Then, when you select the imported address book in the 3rd picture, set View/Show Name As to First Last or Last, First.

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What do you have for View/Show Name As? Judging by your contact details, I would guess it's set to Display Name, i.e. empty. I don't know how phone numbers ended up in the Display field for some contacts.

The best way to import a csv is to open it in a spreadsheet or csv editor and rename and organize the columns to match the TB address book layout. Importing the edited csv is then much easier.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Import_address_list_from_text_file

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1012084

I appreciate your quick reply. The spreadsheet was a mess. The names /emails did not start until row 193. The first names were spread over columns A and B. The last names were spread over columns C and D. And the emails were way over in column BD. I reformatted all into columns A, B, and C (please see screen shot). But again, all I see in the Address Book is a column of Head-and-Shoulder icons. The phone numbers showed up in a column somewhere between last names and Email Address and I can manage without.

P.S. I am not exactly new to all this, but I have spent many hours trying to figure this out and it's driving me up the wall.

Chosen Solution

In the first picture you have to select the row with Primary Email in the left column and click Move Up until it lines up with Email Address in the right column. If you add a 4th column to your csv with Home (or Work) Phone, select the row with Home (or Work) Phone in the left column and click Move Up or Down until it aligns with the 4th item in the right column. Then, when you select the imported address book in the 3rd picture, set View/Show Name As to First Last or Last, First.

Great. Thanks much. I also have a problem migrating my emails. I'll leave that for tomorrow and a new thread, though. I'll be 89 next month and have worked with electronics all my life, but if it weren't for people like you willing to help, we'd really be in trouble. Hugo Kann

To import mail from Outlook, see this topic: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1247226

I have followed the procedure but cannot import my outlook 2010 Mail. I get an error message that says Outlook has to be the default mail client —but it is.

Then I clicked on the https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1247226 link shown above where for importing Outlook on Windows, MailStore Home is recommended as an intermediary between Outlook and TB (import to MSH, export to mbox, import to TB). BUT: In a MailStore Home Community discussion https://community.mailstore.com/en/t/export-to-thunderbird/1378 the moderator states that: "MailStore Home is not a migration tool."

I have tried very hard to make Thunderbird my primary email account, but I just can't get there.

Did you install MailStore and import mail from Outlook, then export to mbox, and import to TB? The link you supplied doesn't say you can't perform those steps.

I am not too keen on having all my email files stored in MailStore—only as a last resort. So, I also have a Windows 7 machine with my saved emails through March 31 in Live mail. Have transfers of .eml file extensions to Thunderbird MBOX file format encountered any problems?

(I recently switched to a new Windows 10 machine and Outlook 2010 which has been nothing but trouble. I am desperately looking for an email account where I can keep my .mchsi domain—with most accounts such as Gmail that is not possible.)

I much appreciate your having been working with me.

If you import the Outlook data to MailStore, then export to mbox and copy into TB, it's not necessary to keep MailStore active or installed. As for importing eml files, create a subfolder of Local Folders in TB then add the eml files to the subfolder by drag and drop. ImportExportTools NG is another method for importing complex folder structures, and also for mbox files.