{"id":30243,"date":"2024-04-23T15:23:50","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T10:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aikdesigns.com\/blog\/?p=30243"},"modified":"2024-04-29T09:11:12","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T04:11:12","slug":"how-to-extract-contacts-from-ost-file","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aikdesigns.com\/blog\/how-to-extract-contacts-from-ost-file\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Extract Contacts From OST File?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/span><\/h2>\n

The content of this post aims to discuss the crucial function of OST files in Outlook. This post also sheds light on how extracting contacts from OST is essential to ensure the safeguarding of contacts in backup creation and data migration to a new system. You will also learn how to extract contacts from OST file using manual method as well as using OST PST conversion tool.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Introduction:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The OST (Offline Storage Table) file plays a pivotal role as one of the two data files used by Microsoft Outlook, a popular email client. Its importance increases by several folds when the Outlook is integrated with an Exchange Server as it ensures users to access Outlook mailbox items even without the Internet connection.<\/span><\/p>\n

It may be recalled that the OST files not only contain emails but also other mailbox essentials including contacts, calendar entries, etc. There are instances when the user wants to extract contacts from an OST file. Reasons for extracting data include creating data backup, switching to a different system and others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this blog post, we will discuss a simple and reliable approach using which we can convert OST to PST format and access the contacts.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Extract Contacts from OST File?<\/span><\/h2>\n

In the previous section we have cleared up the haze from OST (Offline Storage Table) file, its importance and the reasons why we might need to extract contacts from OST file. In this section, we will dive deep to understand the methods to perform this task. Following are the two methods of extracting contacts from OST files:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Manual Method Using Import\/Export Wizard in Outlook:<\/span><\/h3>\n

Microsoft Outlook has a built-in \u2018Import\/Export\u2019 feature that prompts user to export data to PST and CSV file formats. To do so, follow the given steps:<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 1: Explore the Outlook app and Open the File tab<\/span><\/p>\n

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Step 2: Select Open & Export & then Import\/Export Setting Tab<\/span><\/p>\n

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Step 3: It will take you to the Import and Export Wizard\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Step 4: Select \u201cExport to a File\u201d Option from the Dropdown & then click \u201cNext\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Step 5:\u00a0 Now you will come to Export to a File Section; Select \u201cComma Separated Values\u201d (CSV) as a file type and Click Next<\/span><\/p>\n

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Step 6:<\/b> Choose the Contacts folder to export<\/span><\/p>\n

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Step 7 Browse the location where you want to save the File and click Next<\/span><\/p>\n

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Step 8 You will come across the below Pop Up Message, click Finish to complete the task<\/span><\/p>\n

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With this step, you saved your Contact Detail\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Step 9 \u00a0 You will see the below message box as proof that the CSV file containing Contacts has been successfully exported and saved to the location you have selected<\/span><\/p>\n

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Finally, you have successfully exported the CSV file containing Contacts to the location you have selected.<\/span><\/p>\n

Limitations of the Manual Method:\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Although the import-export method remains a viable solution for extracting contacts from OST files, it has some limitations. This method will not work when the OST file is orphaned or Outlook\/Exchange is inaccessible. Some of the limitations are listed below:<\/span><\/p>\n