KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q148271: XCLN: .Pst and .Pab Files Not Interchangeable

Article: Q148271
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): 4.0,5.0,8.0,8.1,8.2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbusage
Last Modified: 09-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Windows 95/98 client, versions 4.0, 5.0 
- Microsoft Exchange Windows 3.x client, versions 4.0, 5.0 
- Microsoft Exchange Windows NT client, versions 4.0, 5.0 
- Microsoft Exchange Macintosh client, versions 4.0, 5.0 
- Microsoft Outlook for Macintosh, Exchange Server Edition, versions 8.0, 8.1, 8.2 
- Microsoft Outlook 2001 for Mac 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

The .pst and .pab files are not interchangeable between the Microsoft Exchange
Macintosh and Microsoft Exchange or Outlook Windows clients.

This also applies the Schedule+ file types .sch and .sc2, as well as Offline
Folder .ost files and Advanced Security .epf files.

NOTE: The information in this article applies to older versions of the Macintosh
clients as listed above. Personal Folder (.pst) files used in Windows versions
of Outlook and Outlook 2001 for Mac are compatible and interchangeable. The
Personal Address Book (.pab) is not cross platform compatible. The workaround
for .pab files in the article continue to apply.

WORKAROUND
==========

For .PST Files
--------------

If you need to access Microsoft Exchange messages from both Macintosh and
Windows, save everything in your mailbox to the Microsoft Exchange server.

For example:

1. Log on to a Microsoft Exchange account from a Windows client.

2. Create a folder on the computer running Microsoft Exchange Server.

3. Copy all locally saved message (the Windows .pst) to the folder on the
  server.

4. Log on to the same Microsoft Exchange account from a Macintosh computer.

5. Copy all locally saved messages from the server to a personal folder (the
  Macintosh .pst)

For .PAB Files
--------------

If you want to add users from a Macintosh PAB to a Windows PAB, perform the
following steps:

1. Log into the Macintosh Exchange Client, compose a message, and place users
  from the PAB on the TO: line.

2. Save the message by selecting Save from the File menu.

3. The composed message will remain in your Inbox.

4. Log into a Windows Exchange Client and open the saved message.

5. Right click on a user on the To: line and select Add to Personal Address
  Book.

For .SCH Files
--------------

If you need to access Microsoft Schedule+ information from both Macintosh and
Windows, keep all Schedule+ information in your server (shared) schedule to the
Microsoft Exchange server. Do not use a local Schedule+ .sch file.

For example:

1. Log on to a Microsoft Exchange account from a Windows client.

2. Start Schedule+ and click "I do not want a schedule file on this machine."

3. If the profile already existed and Schedule+ is already configured with a
  local file:

   - On the Tools menu, click Options.

   - On the Synchronize tab, clear the "Work Primarily From Local File" check
     box. Click OK.

4. Log on to the same Microsoft Exchange account from a Macintosh computer.

5. Start Schedule+ and either select to not have a schedule file on this
  computer

  -OR-

  Disable the local schedule file as done in step 3.

For .OST Files
--------------

Offline Folder files are simply a mirror image of what is in your server mailbox.
Re-createOffline folder files on the platform for which they are intended to be
used.

For .EPF Files
--------------

Issue Advanced Security files and save them locally for each platform for which
they are intended to be used.

For additional information about Personal Folders in Outlook 2001, click the
article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q301563 OL2001: Release Notes for Outlook 2001 for Macintosh

  Q294647 OL2001: PST File Does Not Append .PST Extension to File Name

Additional query words: ol97 Outlook Migrate Migration import

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbusage 
Technology        : kbHWMAC kbOSMAC kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange400 kbExchangeClientSearch kbZNotKeyword kbZNotKeyword2 kbOutlook2001Search kbZNotKeyword3 kbOutlookMacSearch kbExchange500Mac kbExchange400Mac kbExchange400NT kbExchange500NT kbOutlook800Mac kbOutlook810Mac kbOutlook820Mac kbExchange400Win95 kbExchange500Win95
Version           : :4.0,5.0,8.0,8.1,8.2
Issue type        : kbbug

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.