OLEXP: How to Import and Export Address Books in Outlook Express

This article describes how to import and export address books and business cards (vCards) in Outlook Express.

When using Outlook Express, you can import address books and business cards from, and export address books and business cards to, other e-mail programs. To do so, follow the steps in the appropriate section below:

Exporting Address Books or Business Cards

To export an address book or business card from Outlook Express to another e-mail program, follow these steps in Outlook Express:

1. On the Tools menu, click Address Book.
2. On the File menu, point to Export, and then click Address Book or Business Card (vcard).
3. If you are exporting an address book, click the address book you want to export, click Export, and then proceed through the wizard. If you are exporting a business card, locate and click the .vcf file you want to export, and then click Save.

Importing Address Books or Business Cards

To import an address book or business card from another e-mail program to Outlook Express, follow these steps in Outlook Express:

1. On the Tools menu, click Address Book.
2. On the File menu, point to Import, and then click Address Book or Business Card (vcard).
3. If you are importing an address book, click the address book you want to import, and then click Import. Depending on the type of address book you are importing, either locate and click the address book file, and then click Open, or proceed through the wizard. If you are importing a business card, locate and click the .vcf file you want to import, and then click Save.

Outlook Express supports importing and exporting the following types of address books:

Export:

• Microsoft Exchange Personal Address Book
• Text File (comma Separated Values)

Import:

• Eudora Pro or Light Address Book (through v3.0)
• LDIF - LDAP Data Interchange Format
• Microsoft Exchange Personal Address Book
• Microsoft Internet Mail for Windows 3.1 Address Book
• Netscape Address Book (v2 or v3)
• Netscape Communicator Address Book (v4)
• Text File (comma Separated Values)
• Business Card (vCard)

For additional information about importing and exporting address books in Outlook Express, please see Address Book Help.

NOTE: If Outlook Express does not support the format used by your other address book program, you may find a common format. For example, Outlook 2000 will import and export a comma separated text file and so will Outlook Express. You can use the Outlook Express format "Text File (comma Separated Values)" in this example as a file format that is common to both programs. This format is a plain text file, such as a Notepad file, that contains your address data using commas as a delimiter between data fields.