Open a WAB file

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ajimu Posted messages 81 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -  
Pierr10 Posted messages 13810 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   -
Hello,
Following the installation of Windows 10, my Office docs file has turned into a .wab
Checking with Notepad, the text is still there but I can't open it
It's my address book that I copied manually, so how do I recover it?
I thought about converting it but I couldn't find a way either
What should I do?

Thank you for your help
Best regards
Ajimu

--
A smile costs nothing to the one who gives it, but brings a lot to the one who receives it.

8 answers

Pierr10 Posted messages 13810 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   5 834
 
Hello,

As jfmimi wrote to you, wab files are the files that contain the address book of Outlook Express. In other words, it's an old format.

I have some wab files that were saved long ago, but I haven't found a simple solution to view the content.
  • There used to be a program that allowed you to convert the wab file to a csv file, but it is no longer available.
  • If you double-click on the file, Windows offers to import it into Contacts. Not wanting to mess up my computer with outdated contacts, I didn't go any further.
  • The best solution I've found is to use Windows XP. (I have a version on a virtual machine). When you click on the file, the content appears directly.

It is then possible to export it in .csv format. You get a usable file under Windows 10. The process certainly needs to be refined. I don't have the time to look into it in detail right now.
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jfmimi Posted messages 13734 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   1 928
 
Hello
a ".WAB" file is indeed a Windows address book file
It is most often used by Outlook Express
or other email software.
1
Pierr10 Posted messages 13810 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   5 834
 
I found something a bit simpler than using Windows XP:

You need to use a software called Dawn.
You can find it here
Click on Download and on the next screen click on Ignore. The download should begin.

You will get a file dawn_5-4_fr_11015.zip in the Downloads folder.
I advise you to create a folder that you will call Dawn (it doesn’t matter where you want), and move the zip file inside. Unzip it here. (If you unzip it in Downloads, you'll end up with files scattered everywhere).

Among the unzipped files, click on Setup to proceed with the installation.

The software installs. You will find the program in Start.
Choose Dawn Classic

The software is in English.
Click on File > Open > Open Address Book
In the next screen, select Outlook Express, then Select File and Browse
Indicate your wab file and its location. Click Next. The content of the file is displayed.

You can save in vcf format: File > Save > Save as vCard
Normally, you could then import it into an address book (it should work for Thunderbird's).

Have a good evening!
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ajimu Posted messages 81 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2
 
That doesn't tell me how to open it
when it was created it was in Excel

--
A smile costs nothing to the one who gives it, but brings a lot to the one who receives it
0
jfmimi Posted messages 13734 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   1 928
 
restore the old file extension
for example: ".doc or .xls etc..."
0
Ajimu
 
Thank you
The moral is that I ended up with "office 2007 is obsolete" and doesn't work anymore
Again and again a loss going from Windows 2007 to 2010
What a mistake I made to let myself be persuaded to change.
And if we add that my printer is no longer compatible
Not to mention the elderly who can't afford to buy new equipment
It becomes a scam on Microsoft's part.

I'm sorry to have vented, but it had to come out,
plus there are still plenty of functions I can't find.
Thank you all for coming to help me, it's nice

Best regards
Ajimu
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ajimu Posted messages 81 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2
 
Thank you
I will take care of it and keep you informed tomorrow
Have a good evening to you too

--
A smile costs nothing to the one who gives it, but brings much to the one who receives it
0
ajimu Posted messages 81 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2
 
Hello Pierr 10
First of all, I mechanically double-clicked
and there...surprise, I retrieved an Outlook contact file
that I had created either in 2003 or in 2007 under Office
so I have a few contacts recovered.
By the way, do the hotmail.com and .fr addresses still work?

So I will eventually find the one I'm looking for

Have a great day and thanks again for your help
Best regards
Ajimu

--
A smile costs nothing to the one who gives it, but brings a lot to the one who receives it.
0
Pierr10 Posted messages 13810 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   5 834
 
Hello,

The @hotmail.com and @hotmail.fr addresses are still operational.

Normally, the Dawn software should allow you to recover everything.
You can try opening the wab file with a spreadsheet: Excel or the Calc module of LibreOffice. You will get something quite awful, but amidst the weird characters, you will see the addresses you are interested in.
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ajimu Posted messages 81 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   2
 
Thank you for everything, you are amazing

--
A smile costs nothing to the one who gives it, but brings a lot to the one who receives it.
0
Pierr10 Posted messages 13810 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   5 834
 
Thank you for the feedback,

Have a nice day
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