OL98: How to Import ACT! 4.0 Contact Data Into Outlook (189712)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 98
This article was previously published under Q189712

SUMMARY

This article describes the steps necessary to export contacts from a Symantec ACT! 4.0 database and import them into Microsoft Outlook 98.

MORE INFORMATION

Outlook 98 does not include a converter for ACT! 4.0 for Windows 95 and Windows NT; however, Outlook 2000 does. To convert ACT! 4.0 contact data for use in Outlook 98 use one of the following processes:
  • Export the ACT! 4.0 data to an ACT! 3.0 file.
  • Export the ACT! 4.0 data into a Comma Delimited (.csv) file.
To export data from ACT! 4.0, click Data Exchange on the File menu and then click Export. For more information on how to export files from ACT! 4.0 consult your product documentation.

NOTE: You can also export data from ACT! 4.0 in .dbf format. However, the field names must be modified to precisely match Outlook internal fields before you can import the file successfully and some fields exported from ACT! 4.0 in this format may not be readable. You can use Microsoft Excel to edit the field names of the .dbf file so they precisely match the internal fields used by Outlook. For more information on using Excel to modify the fields, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

189181 OL98: How to Map Imported Files into Outlook Using Excel

185361 OL98: Internal Fields Used by Outlook Folders

NOTE: ACT!4.0 provides multiple address fields which may split an address into several different components. It may be necessary to concatenate these components into one field for import. For more information on modifying address fields prior to importing into Outlook, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

189121 OL98: How To Modify Multiple-Part Address Fields for Import

Importing the ACT! Data Into Outlook

  1. On the File menu, click Import and Export.
  2. Click "Import from another Program or file," and click Next.
  3. Click to select either ACT! 3.0 or "Comma delimited values (Windows)" and click Next.
  4. Enter the path to the file to import and click Next.
  5. Click to select the folder to import the file into, such as Contacts. Click Next, and then Finish.
For information on field mapping for Outlook, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

182728 OL98: Options For Custom Field Mapping When Importing Items

If, after you have imported the file into Outlook, some fields seem to be missing, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

185418 OL98: Data Missing When Importing and Exporting

REFERENCES

ACT is manufactured by Symantec, Inc., a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/27/2001
Keywords:kbExport kbhowto kbImport kbmigrate KB189712
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.