Many specialists have discussed the differences between Lotus Notes and Outlook applications, and the majority of them believe that the sole reason for the conversion from IBM Notes to Outlook is the exorbitant cost of the Lotus Notes email client. Without a doubt, it might be the reason for moving Lotus Notes email to the Outlook program, but there are many more reasons that we will examine in this post, as well as the correct way to backup the Lotus Notes database to Outlook without mistake. Let us take a brief look at some of the reasons why the process of converting the Lotus Notes database to an Outlook email client has to be regulated.
Advantages of Microsoft Outlook Email Program:
It was discovered that one-third of Lotus Notes customers migrate their databases to Outlook apps just for the benefit of Outlook email clients. The reasons for how to backup Lotus Notes database to Outlook are listed below:
- Microsoft Outlook enables offline work and provides database management features.
- Compared to Lotus Notes, it offers additional security capabilities to protect the database.
- Users are most familiar with the Outlook email client.
- This program is easy to use for all users, unlike others.
- Outlook has lower maintenance costs compared to Lotus, which has higher expenses.
- Users may easily share their Outlook databases.
- One of the most notable features of Outlook is its multitasking capability.
How Do I Export an NSF File to Outlook Manually?
Users may get a comprehensive free solution by following the step-by-step guidance provided.
Part 1: Export NSF files to CSV format.
- Begin by downloading the Lotus Notes email program on your PC.
- Now, choose the desired emails to export to Outlook.
- Press the File button and select Export. When you click the export button, a dialog window will appear.
- After that, give the file a name and save it in the “Structured Text” format to the appropriate folder.
- To export, click the Export button, enter the required information in the dialog box, and click OK.
When the Lotus Notes exported data is saved to the appropriate place you specified, save it in a format that MS Outlook recognizes. Microsoft Outlook does not support the “Structured Text” format. The ideal format is CSV (Comma Separated Values). It may also be done using a simple script (as advised by Microsoft). Once the Lotus Notes data has been converted to.csv format, you may import it immediately into an Outlook program.
Part 2: Import CSV File in Outlook.
- Start Microsoft Outlook, an email program.
- Go to File > Open > Import. This operation brings up the Import and Export dialog box.
- Select “Import from another program or file” and go to the next step.
- Select CSV as the file type for conversion.
- Enter the location of the exported NSF file and verify for duplication with imported items.
- Choose a folder to import the database and click Next.
Pros
- Supports Lotus Notes to Outlook conversion.
- Free solution for converting NSF files to PST.
Cons
- There is no assurance of successful conversion.
- Skipping any of the lengthy processes may result in database loss.
- Unsuitable for big NSF files, which may cause process interruptions.
- Technical users can control the process, while non-technical users may struggle with some processes.
- Remove encryption from NSF files.
- This procedure requires converting a single file at a time. And if you want to convert thousands of NSF files to PST, you must repeat the same processes thousands of times.
- Requires significant user time investment.
The verdict
I hope you now have a better understanding of whether the manual approach is appropriate for the conversion or whether it is a solution to the problem of how to back up Lotus Notes databases to Outlook. As you can see above, this free technique is unsatisfactory since it has several difficulties that never stop. If you still want to use this free solution, make a backup of your Lotus Notes database and then follow the manual instructions.
Still, if the technique fails, you should go with the expert’s recommendation, which provides TrustVare NSF to PST Converter Software that never fails and offers many benefits in addition to conversions, such as a batch option for bulk NSF file conversion and a free demo version to test the software before purchasing it.
So, to conclude this piece, I’d want to point out that it is entirely up to you to pick any strategy to convert your files.
