OL98: How to Import Act 4.0 Contact Data Into Outlook

ID: Q189712

The information in this article applies to:

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 there is a three step process:

To import contacts from ACT! 4.0 to Outlook, you must first export them from ACT! 4.0 to a .dbf format. Although Outlook can import .dbf files, the field names must be modified to precisely match Outlook internal fields before you can import the file successfully.

For more information on how to export files from Act! consult your product documentation.

Edit the Fields in the .dbf File Using Excel

Excel can be used to edit the field names of the .dbf file so they precisely match the internal fields used by Outlook.

For more information on Outlook internal fields, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q185361 OL98: Internal Fields Used by Outlook Folders
To open the .dbf file in Excel, follow these steps:

  1. On the File menu, click Open. In Files Of Type click dBase Files (*.dbf).


  2. Locate the folder where the ACT! .dbf file is located. Double-click the file to open it.


  3. Field names will appear in row 1 of the Excel spreadsheet.


  4. Edit the field names to match Outlook internal fields as described in article Q185361.

    NOTE: ACT! 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:
    Q189121 OL98: How To Modify Multiple-Part Address Fields for Import


  5. On the File menu click Save As. Ensure that "DBF 4 (dBase IV)(*.dbf)" is selected in Save As Type, and then click Save.


Importing the .dbf File 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 dBase 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.


After you have successfully imported the file into Outlook, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q185418 OL98: Data Missing When Importing and Exporting
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.


REFERENCES

For information on field mapping for Outlook, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q182728 OL98: Options For Custom Field Mapping When Importing Items
For more information about importing files into Outlook, search the Help Index for "Import dBase," or ask the Microsoft Outlook 97 Office Assistant.

Additional query words: 98 


Keywords          : kbinterop kbdta IntpImEx Intp3rdPty 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: August 2, 1999