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Address Book - wab to csv conversion

jordina1 -  
 Anonymous user -
Hello, I just switched PCs and moved from Outlook Express to Thunderbird. On the old PC, I successfully backed up the address book contacts in a wab file. I'm looking for a method to convert it into a csv file for importing into Thunderbird. I've only found a paid application in dollars. Do you have a solution or a lead? Thank you, best regards

Configuration: Windows / Firefox 85.0

4 answers

  1. Anonymous user
     
    Hello @jordina1

    Rather than trying to convert to CSV, I recommend using the LDIF format instead.

    CSV is a hassle to import into Thunderbird because you have to match each field one by one.
    LDIF imports directly.

    See this discussion thread:

    https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-5683274-importer-un-fichier-wab-avec-thunderbird
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    1. jordina1
       
      Hello SerBal22, thank you for your response. Following the discussion thread and even the link at the end, I wasn't able to create an LDIF format, but I did create a "contact" file containing all the email addresses, which was actually the only option. And I don't even know how to print it. But anyway! I've already made progress since I can retrieve them as I need them. Thanks again, have a good day.
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  2. Anonymous user
     
    Hello jordina1,

    I don't know if it exists, but if so, export the wab file to vCard format and refer to this tutorial, "Exporting WLM Contacts" section, to concatenate all the .vcf files into one, and then import it into Thunderbird:
    https://communaute.orange.fr/t5/Trucs-et-astuces/Migrer-de-Windows-Live-Mail-vers-Thunderbird/ta-p/1543124
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    1. jordina1
       
      Hello SerBal22, despite all my attempts, I couldn't create a single .vcf file for all my contacts. BUT: I finally imported my contacts into Thunderbird one by one in .vcf format and it worked: just a bit of patience and I didn't have too many addresses after all.... Thank you for your help, have a good evening!
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  3. Anonymous user
     
    Hello @jordina1

    "I wasn't able to create a single .vcf file of all my contacts"

    It's because you didn't follow my instructions exactly, as I guarantee that concatenating several .vcf files into one works by doing the following:

    - Windows key + R
    - Type cmd and then OK ==> You'll be positioned in the current DOS directory under your username

    - Go to the WLM Contacts directory in Documents by typing:

    cd documents\contacts wlm and type dir to check that the vcf contacts are indeed there

    - Type copy *.vcf contacts.vcf /v
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    1. jordina1
       
      Hello SerBal22, I don't dispute your method at all, I just went about it "clumsily" and messed something up. In any case, thank you so much for your help, and it's nice not to feel alone. Have a good evening.
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    2. kaumune Posted messages 22605 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   5 160
        
      - Go to the WLM Contacts folder in Documents by typing :

      cd documents\contacts wlm and type dir to check that the vcf contacts are there


      Hey

      Warning, cd documents\contacts wlm will not work

      You must enclose in quotes when there is a space in the path

      cd "documents\contacts wlm"
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  4. Anonymous user
     
    OK Thanks.

    My memories of DOS are a bit dated (50 years +).
    It's corrected in my procedure.
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