Importing contacts from Windows Live Mail
Have spent HRS searching your site and others for help!!! Trying to import contacts from WIndows Live Mail. All instructions I've tried to follow are WRONG INFO!!! It's disappointing that TB can't import contacts DIRECTLY from WLM's contact.edb file, but I've gone into WLM and exported the contacts into VCF form as recommended by TB. However, the directions then say to go to Thunderbird Address Book and go to Tools > MoreFunctionsForAddressBook > Actions for Contacts > Import vCard / VCF. NO SUCH OPTION EXISTS!!!! I've downloaded the latest version of TB, and under tools there is ONLY Address Book, IMPORT, EXPORT and OPTIONS. I've gone to import, and walked thru the steps, choosing to import VCF, then chose the folder location, but it opens the location folder showing ALL INDIVIDUAL CONTACTS, and there is NO WAY TO CHOOSE ALL, I can only click on ONE AT A TIME!!! ???? However, even when doing that, it places that contact in the address book list AS A NEW LIST/ADDRESS BOOK!!! There is NO WAY to force that vcf file to into the default existing "ADDRESS BOOK" there, I have gone in circles a hundred times, trying different things, but same result everytime. Then everytime I search for help on this issue, I come across different directions. SOME places say TB cannot directly import MESSAGES from WLM either, and those must be exported (DUMB in the case of a computer that is unable to boot and/or open WLM). Other places say TB CAN INDEED import messages directly from WLM's storage folders!!! Some places said press CTRL-A to select all vcf files in the export folder - NOPE!!! Still doesn't work. HOW DO I IMPORT CONTACTS???????
All Replies (19)
You have to install the MoreFunctionsForAddressBook add-on.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/switching-thunderbird#w_importing-windows-mail-contacts
The same article describes how to import WLM eml files.
Did you read my post?? As I stated, that option does not exist!!!! When I follow the directions, under tools, THERE IS NO SUCH OPTION!!!! If the option was there, I would not have needed to ask for support.
See the attached picture for an example where the add-on is installed.
I'm sorry, I don't get what you don't get! ??? For the third time, THAT OPTION IS NOT THERE!!! I am a computer tech, I KNOW and UNDERSTAND how to find "TOOLS" in Thunderbird's Address book area, but I'm telling you for the third time, in the new version of TB that I just installed, THAT OPTION IS NOT THERE. Can someone PLEASE TELL ME how to import contacts when the add-on referenced in ALL tech support documents does NOT EXIST??? I listed for you ALL THE OPTIONS shown under Tools.
If you have TB 68, the add-on won't install. Install TB 60 and then install the add-on. After you've imported the contacts, install TB 68 if you like. Download the TB 60 installer in the language of your choice from here:
http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/thunderbird/releases/60.8.0/win32/
THANK YOU!!!!!! That is the missing tidbit I've been waiting for. WHY is this not explained ANYWHERE (in COUNTLESS support documents) from TB?? And if it is, WHERE??? I searched for HOURS trying to find this info. I suspected it had to be something like this, but no matter how I worded my searches regarding this, it brought up ZERO helpful responses. EVERYTHING indicated to simply install the add-on.
The MoreFunctionsForAddressBook website clearly states it's compatible with TB 60, and the TB 68 release notes state that some add-ons may not work unless the add-on author performs the necessary changes to make them compatible with 68. The site that explains how to import the contacts assumes users are on TB 60, and will probably not be updated until TB 68 is in wide release. Current TB 60 users will not be auto-updated to 68 until 68.1 is released.
I am also trying to import my contacts and (hopefully) my emails from WLM to THunderbird. I followed the instructions given and downloaded version 60.8.0 but there is no option "Tools > MoreFunctionsForAddressBook". There are only the following options:
Mail & Newsgroups Address book Import... Export... Options
Any help will be appreciated and my replies will be snark free.
Jackson
jackson1 said
I am also trying to import my contacts and (hopefully) my emails from WLM to THunderbird. I followed the instructions given and downloaded version 60.8.0 but there is no option "Tools > MoreFunctionsForAddressBook". There are only the following options: Mail & Newsgroups Address book Import... Export... Options Any help will be appreciated and my replies will be snark free. Jackson
The option will appear after you download and install the add-on:
https://freeshell.de//~kaosmos/morefunctionsforAB-TB3-1.0b8.xpi
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/installing-addon-thunderbird
Thank you for your fast reply.
I added the MoreFunctions option, but all of the "Actions for..." options are grayed out.
The options are greyed out if you've select All Address Books, which is not a standard address book, in the left pane. Select Personal Address Book or similar.
sfhowes,
Thank you! I got all of my contacts in Thunderbird. I never would have been able to do it without your help.
Now, is there any way to get all of my emails from my old computer using WLM to TB?
The article mentioned above explains how to import WLM messages:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/switching-thunderbird#w_importing-windows-mail-messages
You can use the ImportExportTools add-on, or drag the eml files from an Explorer folder and drop them onto a subfolder of Local Folders in TB.
As a new user of TB, I'm somewhat discouraged at the lengths one has to go to for the importation of contacts.
In these days of seamless integration it seems the TB people have not so much dropped the ball, they never even had the ball in the first place FFS - I don't think I'll be using it now and will go off in search of a more 'user-friendly' open source mail client - it seems ridiculous having to go through what's been detailed above in what should be one of the most basic of all Mail Client software features.
They sound like a two-bob outfit to me if they can't even get something as integral as this when migrating from one mail client to another.
Modified by robbo3
sfhowes,
I tried to move my eml messages to TB but I'm having no luck.
I selected my "Sent Items" eml files (from WLM) in File Explorer, and tried to drag and drop them into the "Sent" folder in TB. It looked like it was going to do it, but nothing got moved or copied.
I have to agree with robbo3, in that this should be a LOT easier. Does anyone NOT want to transfer their contacts and email messages to their new email program?
OK, hold the phone. It looks like they DID get copied. I'll let you know for sure how this goes.
If you tried to copy the eml files into an IMAP Sent folder, there could be a delay or even failure if there were many messages, as this involves uploading to the IMAP server (uploading is generally much slower than downloading). Which is why it's recommended to copy to Local Folders.
sfhowes,
Well, I did get everything copied over to TB, although it wasn't nearly as easy as it should have been. I wouldn't have been able to accomplish this without help, and I can't imagine the average person would have the patience, or actually the ability, to do this even with help. Fixing this certainly would be something for the developers to add to the "To Do List".
Thank you very much for your help.
Thank's a lot.