How to Convert PST to CSV? Quick Guide for Outlook Users
Summary: This blog post describes the 2 best techniques to convert PST to CSV files with or without MS Outlook email client. Hence, let’s continue to read this blog post and learn complete details to export PST to CSV format including emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, journals, and all crucial information. Read the entire blog and stay tuned with us for complete information.
PST file format stands for Personal Storage Table. This file format is used for storing emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, events, and all other personal information used by Microsoft Outlook Application.
On the contrary, the CSV file stands for Comma Separated Value and stores data in a tabular format. A lot of users wish to export Outlook contacts to CSV format because this is the standard format for storing contacts.
There are multiple times when a user wants to convert PST to CSV format for numerous reasons. Well. don’t worry, here in this blog, we will show you a complete guide and information to accomplish the task in an accurate & secure manner.
#1 Convert PST to CSV Using Outlook’s Inbuilt Option
- Launch MS Outlook on your machine and choose the File option.
- Thereafter, select Open & Export >> Import/Export.
- From there, select the Export to a file option and hit on the Next tab.
- Then, choose the Comma Separated Values option and click the Next button.
- Select the Contacts folder to export from Outlook client and Next.
- Choose the Browse button to select a specific destination and press Next.
- Now Map Custom Fields and hit on the Finish button.
- See the live process to convert PST to CSV format.
- Go to the destination path and get exported contacts in CSV format.
Export PST to CSV Via PowerShell and Scripts
If you already have a PST file stored on your system. Then, in such instances, one uses the PowerShell scripts and Outlook COM objects to convert PST to CSV. To do so, you need to save the script provided below on your desktop with the file name Export-PST-All.ps1. Thereafter, change the $pstPath to your desktop’s actual PST path. Secondly, change the $csvPath with the storage path where you want to store the export CSV file. Remember to change the Save as Type: All Files (*.*).
$pstPath = "C:\PST\MyData.pst"
$csvPath = "C:\PST\all_items.csv"
$outlook = New-Object -ComObject Outlook.Application
$namespace = $outlook.GetNamespace("MAPI")
$namespace.AddStore($pstPath)
$pstName = [System.IO.Path]::GetFileNameWithoutExtension($pstPath)
$rootFolder = $namespace.Folders.Item($pstName)
$allItems = @()
function Process-Folder {
param($folder)
foreach ($item in $folder.Items) {
try {
switch ($item.MessageClass) {
"IPM.Note" {
$allItems += [PSCustomObject]@{
ItemType = "Email"
Folder = $folder.Name
Subject = $item.Subject
From = $item.SenderName
To = $item.To
Date = $item.ReceivedTime
Company = ""
Phone = ""
Email = ""
BodyPreview = ($item.Body.Substring(0, [Math]::Min(100, $item.Body.Length)))
}
}
"IPM.Contact" {
$allItems += [PSCustomObject]@{
ItemType = "Contact"
Folder = $folder.Name
Subject = $item.FullName
From = ""
To = ""
Date = ""
Company = $item.CompanyName
Phone = $item.MobileTelephoneNumber
Email = $item.Email1Address
BodyPreview = ""
}
}
}
} catch {
Write-Warning "Failed to process item in $($folder.Name): $_"
}
}
foreach ($subFolder in $folder.Folders) {
Process-Folder -folder $subFolder
}
}
Process-Folder -folder $rootFolder
$allItems | Export-Csv -Path $csvPath -NoTypeInformation -Encoding UTF8
Write-Output "All PST items exported to: $csvPath"
How to Convert PST to CSV in PowerShell? Working Steps
- First, go to the Start menu and type Windows PowerShell.
- Now, from the right-side menu, choose to Run as Administrator.
- Next, use the cd (change directory) command to navigate to a script file location.
- Thereafter, enter the script file name as Export-PST-All.ps1 and press Enter.
- Finally, after running the script, you can find the all_items.csv file at the location you have entered in your script file.
Recognize Manual Method Limitations
However, the manual method of converting PST contacts to CSV format can be completed free of charge. However, this technique is available with some limitations. Let’s know the manual method limitations.
- Microsoft Outlook email client should be installed to perform the process of converting Outlook PST to CSV format.
- If you have an orphaned PST file, then first you will need to import it in Outlook then you can export its contacts to CSV format.
- This method is only suitable to convert PST contacts to CSV while users may have a desire to convert PST file to CSV together with emails and contacts.
#2 Convert PST File to CSV Using Software
BitRecover PST Converter Tool is one of the best solutions, that allows you to convert PST to CSV without Outlook. This tool can easily export PST file data with all data fields & information. This application can easily solve the user’s issue of extracting contacts, notes, emails, & other data from PST to CSV format.
This PST to CSV Converter utility always maintains the email folder structure during the whole process of converting PST to CSV format. In addition, the software offers you a dual option to load multiple single as well as single files. Users can entirely rely on data integrity as user data will not alter in any case.
This software’s graphical user interface is quite simple and can be used by every user. Non-technical users will not face any issues at the time of using this program. Also, the tool allows batch conversion from PST to CSV format. Download the software for free & follow the steps for good.
How to Convert PST to CSV without Outlook?
- First, install and run PST to CSV Converter on your computer and read all instructions.
- The software offers dual options to add Outlook data files in software GUI, choose accordingly.
- Now, check on the desired folders from the software panel to continue the conversion process.
- Then, select CSV as a file-saving option from the given drop list saving options.
- Thereafter, choose the desired destination path and encoding from UTP-8 or UTF-16.
- Click the Convert button to start the process to convert PST to CSV without Outlook.
- See Outlook PST to CSV conversion is running, please wait for completion.
Prime Features of PST to CSV Converter
- The tool is capable to convert PST to CSV format in bulk.
- The software is authorized to export PST to CSV with emails and contacts.
- Microsoft Outlook configuration is not required for PST to CSV conversion.
- Also, this utility allows users to convert corrupt PST files to healthy CSV.
- It gives facility to choose CSV Encoding i.e. UTF-8 or UTF-16.
- The software is available with a free demo, for the user’s efficiency.
- PST to CSV Converter is compatible with all the latest Windows and Mac OS machines.
Learn Similar: Best Ways to Convert Outlook Email to HTML
Conclusion
Here in the above blog, we have discussed how to convert PST to CSV without Outlook or with Outlook. This is a difficult task to export PST emails to CSV without an Outlook file, but you need not worry about it as we have shared the best solutions for it.
The manual method works only in those situations when users want to export PST contacts to CSV. That’s why we prefer to use software solutions. The software mentioned for conversion is the best choice to perform the task flawlessly. It will maintain the data hierarchy and it has a user-friendly interface and is available with all versions of Windows and Mac OS.
Answers to Common Inquiries
Q 1: How do I convert a PST file to CSV?
We have suggested 2 best methods to export PST file to CSV:
- Manual Method: If you want to convert PST contacts to CSV format then go with the manual approach.
- Pro Method: If you want to export PST to CSV including emails and contacts then use recommended software.
Q 2: How to convert PST to CSV without Outlook?
Instructions to export Outlook PST file to CSV without Outlook:
- Install and run PST to CSV Converter.
- Add PST file in the software window.
- Select the required email and contact folders.
- Choose CSV as a saving option.
- Set the destination path and click Convert.
Q 3: I have tried to export the inbox folder from Outlook PST to CSV but getting an empty CSV file, why?
Attention please, the manual method does not allow to export PST inbox to CSV because the Inbox folder stores emails. While the manual technique is only suitable to convert PST contacts to CSV.
