How to Migrate Mac OLM File to PST File Format

Introduction:

Outlook has been provided by Microsoft for both Windows as well as Mac Operating Systems. Microsoft Outlook 2011 that is provided for Mac Operating System is a widely used email client and is quite similar to Outlook for Windows in numerous ways. However, the difference lies in the data file formats used in both the client versions for storing user data. MS Outlook for Windows provides a local archive of the user’s mailbox on the system in a Personal Storage Table (PST) file format. In Outlook for Mac, the Microsoft User Data folder stores the data file. This file includes the entire data in the user’s mailbox such as; email messages, contacts, calendar events, notes, tasks, and other items.

Introduction to Outlook for Mac (OLM) File:

The data items in Outlook 2011 for Mac Operating System, cannot be accessed in any other Windows version. In order to open Mac Outlook 2011 data items in a different version of Outlook, the data file first needs to be archived manually into an OLM format file. The OLM file is the storehouse of user’s Mac Outlook mailbox data.

However, we already know that Outlook for Windows supports only PST file format and hence OLM files cannot be accessed in Windows Operating System. In such a situation, the only option that we are left with is to convert Mac OLM file to PST.

Convert Mac OLM File to PST – Why?

There can be plenty of scenarios which may lead us into converting our Mac Outlook OLM files to Windows Outlook PST file. Let us discuss a few common reasons of OLM conversion.

Suppose, you need to switch the OS from Mac Operating System to Windows. In this scenario, you will not be able to open the OLM file or access its data. Reason being, Windows support only PST file format. Or let us suppose you are presently using Outlook 2011 on your machine. However, at some point of time you wish to upgrade to a newer version of Outlook on your system. In this case it is important to note that you would not be able to open or access your OLM files in any other versions of Outlook. Hence, the only option to view data items of OLM file in Windows Operating System is to convert Mac OLM File to PST file format.
There is a common myth that Outlook for Mac is a replica of Outlook for Windows. Although there is a lot of similarity between the two, it cannot be concluded that they share a common feature set.
Related: DBX to PST converter.

As of today, there are a few Outlook features that are not supported in Mac but are available in Outlook for Windows:

Outlook for Windows runs certain Plugins that is not yet available in Outlook for Mac.
At the time of adding new contact to the Address Book in Outlook for Mac, the ‘new contact from same company’ option will not be available.
You cannot drag calendar directly to the mails in Outlook for Mac. Also, you can’t have your tasks shown up in calendar in Mac OS.
Unlike Outlook for Windows, you cannot adjust font formatting in Outlook for Mac outside the already provided options.
Outlook for Mac does not support the read receipt option that is available in Outlook for Windows to confirm that the messages have been read.
The delete receipt option is unavailable in Outlook for Mac but is supported on Outlook for Windows.
Outlook for Windows allows you to change the layout to ‘classic view’. However, this feature is unavailable in Outlook for Mac.
You are allowed to import Outlook PST files in Outlook for Mac, but you cannot do the same with OLM files on Outlook for Windows client.

The above mentioned limitations of Outlook for Mac have led many Mac users into switching their data from Outlook for Mac to Outlook for Windows owing to its easy availability. For this, OLM conversion is a necessary requirement that needs to be fulfilled.

You can export Mac OLM files to PST files, manually, by setting up an IMAP account. It is important to note that any discrepancy in this manual process of export may cause adverse affects, leading to corruption of the OLM file. This will further make the data items of the OLM file inaccessible. Therefore, the safest and secure option is to use a third party application for OLM to PST conversion.

OLM to PST Converter – The Ultimate Solution!

Using PST Converter is the most trustworthy tool that proves to be of great help for users willing to export their mailbox items from Outlook for Mac to Windows Outlook. This Mac OLM File to PST conversion tool (listed below) efficiently converts all the data items along with their attachments with a promise to maintain originality at the same time. Using this tool the user can import the OLM file data into PST/EML/MSG file formats.
Link: http://securasoft.com/olm-to-pst/