Importing into Entourage 2008

I installed Office 2008 today and launched Entourage. I asked it to
import my 3.1 gig database from Entourage v. X. It saw it where it had
been preserved in the Microsoft User Data folder and agreed to do the
import, but claimed it was complete a second later and asked me to
click the "finish" button, and it had imported nothing.

I tried navigating to a copy of the database on an external hard drive
and the result was the same.

The Old database had been freshly compacted, with all deleted mail
emptied as was suggested on the Entourage Help Blog.

Any suggestions?

hpoelzig
Wed Jan 16 16:58:19 CST 2008

On Jan 16, 5:49=A0pm, hpoel...@gmail.com wrote:
> I installed Office 2008 today and launched Entourage. I asked it to
> import my 3.1 gig database from Entourage v. X. It saw it where it had
> been preserved in the Microsoft User Data folder and agreed to do the
> import, but claimed it was complete a second later and asked me to
> click the "finish" button, and it had imported nothing.
>
> I tried navigating to a copy of the database on an external hard drive
> and the result was the same.
>
> The Old database had been freshly compacted, with all deleted mail
> emptied as was suggested on the Entourage Help Blog.
>
> Any suggestions?

I neglected to mention that I am using OS X 10.4.11.

Stephen
Wed Jan 16 16:58:15 CST 2008

I had the same problem. My 2 gig database from Entourage v. X would not export into the new Entourage 2008.

William
Wed Jan 16 21:26:28 CST 2008

hpoelzig@gmail.com wrote:
> I installed Office 2008 today and launched Entourage. I asked it to
> import my 3.1 gig database from Entourage v. X. It saw it where it had
> been preserved in the Microsoft User Data folder and agreed to do the
> import, but claimed it was complete a second later and asked me to
> click the "finish" button, and it had imported nothing.
>
> I tried navigating to a copy of the database on an external hard drive
> and the result was the same.
>
> The Old database had been freshly compacted, with all deleted mail
> emptied as was suggested on the Entourage Help Blog.

I don't think this is the exact same problem but can you verify that a
cache file does not exist in the same location as your Database file? If
it does, delete it and try again.

Hope this helps!

--

bill

William M. Smith, Microsoft Interop MVP - Mac/Windows
Entourage Help Page <http://entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

Diane
Wed Jan 16 21:50:59 CST 2008

On 1/16/08 2:49 PM, in article
eb9881fa-c3b7-4766-9602-0e9ac43acdce@l1g2000hsa.googlegroups.com,
"hpoelzig@gmail.com" <hpoelzig@gmail.com> wrote:

> I installed Office 2008 today and launched Entourage. I asked it to
> import my 3.1 gig database from Entourage v. X. It saw it where it had
> been preserved in the Microsoft User Data folder and agreed to do the
> import, but claimed it was complete a second later and asked me to
> click the "finish" button, and it had imported nothing.

Check the size of the database file in the Finder to be sure it's not a
blank database. The Entourage X database is 400 KB, the database cache 4 KB.

If you are pointing to your working database and Entourage 2008 is not
importing it, this needs to be reported. Use the Send Feedback feature under
Help or Instant Feedback in the Menu bar. I'll also esc this to MSFT.

There are other ways to get your data out of Entourage X. You can drag each
folder and subfolder to the desktop as MBOX files. These can be dragged into
any version of Entourage.

Easy way: MBOX files: Run this script on your messages: Export folders (this
gets subfolders too). The script will fail on a folder with corruption. If
you have subfolders with same name you will need to rename them so they can
be matched up to the root folder. The script does not put subfolders in a
subfolder.

<http://scriptbuilders.net/files/exportfolders1.1.html>

Contacts can be exported as a tab delimited file. Under File --> Export make
your selection.

For Rules, Mailing List Manager and other settings, You will need to start
from scratch. Use screen shots to help with the details.

--
Diane, Microsoft Mac MVP (MVPs are not Microsoft Employees)
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

hpoelzig
Wed Jan 16 22:48:45 CST 2008

On Jan 16, 10:26=A0pm, William Smith <meckli...@REM0VETH1S.comcast.net>
wrote:
> hpoel...@gmail.com wrote:
> > I installed Office 2008 today and launched Entourage. I asked it to
> > import my 3.1 gig database from Entourage v. X. It saw it where it had
> > been preserved in the Microsoft User Data folder and agreed to do the
> > import, but claimed it was complete a second later and asked me to
> > click the "finish" button, and it had imported nothing.
>
> > I tried navigating to a copy of the database on an external hard drive
> > and the result was the same.
>
> > The Old database had been freshly compacted, with all deleted mail
> > emptied as was suggested on the Entourage Help Blog.
>
> I don't think this is the exact same problem but can you verify that a
> cache file does not exist in the same location as your Database file? If
> it does, delete it and try again.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
> --
>
> bill
>
> William M. Smith, Microsoft Interop MVP - Mac/Windows
> Entourage Help Page <http://entourage.mvps.org/>
> Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

The folder contains a 3.1 GB database, a 20 KB Database cache, Mailing
Lists file of 16 KB and Signatures file of 140 KB. I removed the 20 KB
Database Cache file and then tried the import function and now the
browser says "No Entourage X identities found."

My Microsoft User Data folder contained a folder that is called
Identities, and another called Office X Identities, and the latter
contains the 3.1 GB database I wish to import. That is the one I'm
navigating to and which fails.

hpoelzig
Wed Jan 16 22:56:57 CST 2008

On Jan 16, 10:50=A0pm, Diane Ross <di...@invalid.entourage.mvps.org>
wrote:
> On 1/16/08 2:49 PM, in article
> eb9881fa-c3b7-4766-9602-0e9ac43ac...@l1g2000hsa.googlegroups.com,
>
> "hpoel...@gmail.com" <hpoel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I installed Office 2008 today and launched Entourage. I asked it to
> > import my 3.1 gig database from Entourage v. X. It saw it where it had
> > been preserved in the Microsoft User Data folder and agreed to do the
> > import, but claimed it was complete a second later and asked me to
> > click the "finish" button, and it had imported nothing.
>
> Check the size of the database file in the Finder to be sure it's not a
> blank database. The Entourage X database is 400 KB, the database cache 4 K=
B.


It is definitely being pointed at the folder containing the Entourage
X database of 3.1 GB.

Additionally, I exported my contacts from Entourage X and Entourage
2008 does not recognize this file, it being grayed out when I tried to
import it separately.

> If you are pointing to your working database and Entourage 2008 is not
> importing it, this needs to be reported. Use the Send Feedback feature und=
er
> Help or Instant Feedback in the Menu bar. I'll also esc this to MSFT.

I already used the feedback feature under help to make a report.
>
> There are other ways to get your data out of Entourage X. You can drag eac=
h
> folder and subfolder to the desktop as MBOX files. These can be dragged in=
to
> any version of Entourage.

Will these still include the links to replies and the data regarding
attachments which have been removed? That is crucial for me.
>
> Easy way: MBOX files: Run this script on your messages: Export folders (th=
is
> gets subfolders too). The script will fail on a folder with corruption. If=

> you have subfolders with same name you will need to rename them so they ca=
n
> be matched up to the root folder. The script does not put subfolders in a
> subfolder.
>
> <http://scriptbuilders.net/files/exportfolders1.1.html>
>
> Contacts can be exported as a tab delimited file. Under File --> Export ma=
ke
> your selection.
>
> For Rules, Mailing List Manager =A0and other settings, You will need to st=
art
> from scratch. Use screen shots to help with the details.

I'm hoping to find a better solution than the manual approach, and I
thank you for the assistance.
>
> --
> Diane, Microsoft Mac MVP (MVPs are not Microsoft Employees)
> Entourage Help Page =A0 <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
> Entourage Help Blog =A0<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

Diane
Wed Jan 16 23:10:38 CST 2008

On 1/16/08 8:48 PM, in article
6e694cc3-fbf0-4940-a0ab-02fec7c4a8ec@e4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com,
"hpoelzig@gmail.com" <hpoelzig@gmail.com> wrote:

> My Microsoft User Data folder contained a folder that is called
> Identities, and another called Office X Identities, and the latter
> contains the 3.1 GB database I wish to import. That is the one I'm
> navigating to and which fails.

I believe the Identity folder is for Outlook Express. The Microsoft User
Data folder can contain multiple Identities.
--
Diane, Microsoft Mac MVP (MVPs are not Microsoft Employees)
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

Diane
Wed Jan 16 23:16:01 CST 2008

On 1/16/08 8:56 PM, in article
ea5d6dee-4335-4676-9a4f-05e4360ad806@e23g2000prf.googlegroups.com,
"hpoelzig@gmail.com" <hpoelzig@gmail.com> wrote:

> Additionally, I exported my contacts from Entourage X and Entourage
> 2008 does not recognize this file, it being grayed out when I tried to
> import it separately.

Have you upgraded to Leopard? I'm wondering if this is a permissions
problem.

If you did upgrade to Leopard, move your Microsoft User Data folder and the
contacts file to Shared folder. Next in System Preferences create a new test
User. Switch to the new User and drag the Microsoft User Data folder to your
Documents folder, Open Entourage 2008 and try importing your Entourage X
Identity. What happens? Can you import the contacts file in the new User?

>
> Will these still include the links to replies and the data regarding
> attachments which have been removed? That is crucial for me.

I don't believe they will contain the links. You can loose links rebuilding
too.

Usually, import fails because of problems with database corruption. It's not
clear yet if there is a bug in importing some Entourage X database files or
if it's a Leopard issue.

--
Diane, Microsoft Mac MVP (MVPs are not Microsoft Employees)
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

hpoelzig
Wed Jan 16 23:56:47 CST 2008

On Jan 17, 12:16=A0am, Diane Ross <di...@invalid.entourage.mvps.org>
wrote:
> On 1/16/08 8:56 PM, in article
> ea5d6dee-4335-4676-9a4f-05e4360ad...@e23g2000prf.googlegroups.com,
>
> "hpoel...@gmail.com" <hpoel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Additionally, I exported my contacts from Entourage X and Entourage
> > 2008 does not recognize this file, it being grayed out when I tried to
> > import it separately.
>
> Have you upgraded to Leopard? I'm wondering if this is a permissions
> problem.
>
> If you did upgrade to Leopard, move your Microsoft User Data folder and th=
e
> contacts file to Shared folder. Next in System Preferences create a new te=
st
> User. Switch to the new User and drag the Microsoft User Data folder to yo=
ur
> Documents folder, Open Entourage 2008 and try importing your Entourage X
> Identity. What happens? Can you import the contacts file in the new User?
>
>
>
> > Will these still include the links to replies and the data regarding
> > attachments which have been removed? That is crucial for me.
>
> I don't believe they will contain the links. You can loose links rebuildin=
g
> too.
>
> Usually, import fails because of problems with database corruption. It's n=
ot
> clear yet if there is a bug in importing some Entourage X database files o=
r
> if it's a Leopard issue.
>
> --
> Diane, Microsoft Mac MVP (MVPs are not Microsoft Employees)
> Entourage Help Page =A0 <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
> Entourage Help Blog =A0<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

I'm still using Tiger, 10.4.11. I didn't update to Leopard as I had
read online that Office v. X didn't work under Leopard. The database
was rebuilt and compacted prior to any attempts to import it, it still
opens fine in Entourage X, and I repaired all permissions before
attempting this software installation.

hpoelzig
Wed Jan 16 23:58:52 CST 2008

On Jan 17, 12:10=A0am, Diane Ross <di...@invalid.entourage.mvps.org>
wrote:
> On 1/16/08 8:48 PM, in article
> 6e694cc3-fbf0-4940-a0ab-02fec7c4a...@e4g2000hsg.googlegroups.com,
>
> "hpoel...@gmail.com" <hpoel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > My Microsoft User Data folder contained a folder that is called
> > Identities, and another called Office X Identities, and the latter
> > contains the 3.1 GB database I wish to import. That is the one I'm
> > navigating to and which fails.
>
> I believe the Identity folder is for Outlook Express. The Microsoft User
> Data folder can contain multiple Identities.
> --
> Diane, Microsoft Mac MVP (MVPs are not Microsoft Employees)
> Entourage Help Page =A0 <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
> Entourage Help Blog =A0<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

Thank you! I never have used Outlook Express, so that explains why
that folder has been untouched.

hpoelzig
Thu Jan 17 00:04:48 CST 2008

On Jan 17, 12:16=A0am, Diane Ross <di...@invalid.entourage.mvps.org>
wrote:
> On 1/16/08 8:56 PM, in article
> ea5d6dee-4335-4676-9a4f-05e4360ad...@e23g2000prf.googlegroups.com,
>
> "hpoel...@gmail.com" <hpoel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Additionally, I exported my contacts from Entourage X and Entourage
> > 2008 does not recognize this file, it being grayed out when I tried to
> > import it separately.
>
> Have you upgraded to Leopard? I'm wondering if this is a permissions
> problem.
>
> If you did upgrade to Leopard, move your Microsoft User Data folder and th=
e
> contacts file to Shared folder. Next in System Preferences create a new te=
st
> User. Switch to the new User and drag the Microsoft User Data folder to yo=
ur
> Documents folder, Open Entourage 2008 and try importing your Entourage X
> Identity. What happens? Can you import the contacts file in the new User?
>
>
>
> > Will these still include the links to replies and the data regarding
> > attachments which have been removed? That is crucial for me.
>
> I don't believe they will contain the links. You can loose links rebuildin=
g
> too.
>
> Usually, import fails because of problems with database corruption. It's n=
ot
> clear yet if there is a bug in importing some Entourage X database files o=
r
> if it's a Leopard issue.
>
> --
> Diane, Microsoft Mac MVP (MVPs are not Microsoft Employees)
> Entourage Help Page =A0 <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
> Entourage Help Blog =A0<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

I also have a fresh Tiger 10.4.11 install on a second internal hard
drive. I booted from that drive, installed Office 2008 and tried again
to import Entourage X's database and the behavior was the same - in a
second it claimed the import was complete and invited me to click the
finish button, and then nothing was imported.

Diane
Thu Jan 17 17:31:58 CST 2008

On 1/16/08 10:04 PM, in article
f4bab447-23cd-4b9b-ba8c-3f6465294757@e23g2000prf.googlegroups.com,
"hpoelzig@gmail.com" <hpoelzig@gmail.com> wrote:

> I also have a fresh Tiger 10.4.11 install on a second internal hard
> drive. I booted from that drive, installed Office 2008 and tried again
> to import Entourage X's database and the behavior was the same - in a
> second it claimed the import was complete and invited me to click the
> finish button, and then nothing was imported.

There doesn't seem to be a known cause for the import not working. You
mentioned that you can't select the Tab-delimited file for you contacts. Try
opening it with Excel. Do you see your data?

Have you tried dragging in one of the MBOX files to see if they work?

One thought would be to see if Apple Mail can import your data. If that
doesn't work, it's indicating something wrong with your data. If it does
work, then you could try using it as a bridge to import your data into
Entourage.

--
Diane, Microsoft Mac MVP (MVPs are not Microsoft Employees)
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

hpoelzig
Thu Jan 17 19:14:17 CST 2008

On Jan 17, 6:31=A0pm, Diane Ross <di...@invalid.entourage.mvps.org>
wrote:
> On 1/16/08 10:04 PM, in article
> f4bab447-23cd-4b9b-ba8c-3f6465294...@e23g2000prf.googlegroups.com,
>
> "hpoel...@gmail.com" <hpoel...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I also have a fresh Tiger 10.4.11 install on a second internal hard
> > drive. I booted from that drive, installed Office 2008 and tried again
> > to import Entourage X's database and the behavior was the same - in a
> > second it claimed the import was complete and invited me to click the
> > finish button, and then nothing was imported.
>
> There doesn't seem to be a known cause for the import not working. You
> mentioned that you can't select the Tab-delimited file for you contacts. T=
ry
> opening it with Excel. Do you see your data?

The contacts exported as a TXT file, and the data is there, I can see
it with Text Edit.

> Have you tried dragging in one of the MBOX files to see if they work?

No, since as I mentioned before that route is not one I want to take.
I have hundreds of folders with sub folders and cannot have the
messages losing information about whether there has been a reply or
not.

The database works fine in Entourage X - no problems whatsoever - and
I'm using it again there and probably will until somebody at Microsoft
can figure out why Entourage won't import data from v.X.

> One thought would be to see if Apple Mail can import your data. If that
> doesn't work, it's indicating something wrong with your data. If it does
> work, then you could try using it as a bridge to import your data into
> Entourage.

If I import it into Apple Mail I will probably just use that instead
of Entourage.

Bill above asked about there being a cache in the folder along with
the database, and there always is - the Office X Identities folder
contains a Newsgroup Cache file and a folder labeled Main Identity.
Main Identity contains five files: Database, Database Cache, Mailing
Lists, Rules, Signatures. I suspect that if a similar folder in
Entourage 2004 does not contain a database cache file (I don't know, I
did not think it was a useful upgrade and stuck with v. X), perhaps
the importer is confused by that cache file, imports the miniscule
cache and then considers its work done. However, if that cache file is
removed from the folder as Bill suggested, the importer does not
recognize the other files in there.

The importer automatically navigated to the Main Identity folder, and
indeed the proper database is in there. It doesn't crash when trying
to import as I suspect it would if there was something wrong with the
data (and as I said above the database still works fine in Entourage
X). The import seems to be of a very small file which takes less than
one second before it says click to finish. This must be a bug.

I wonder how many people have successfully imported databases from V.
X into 2008?
>
> --
> Diane, Microsoft Mac MVP (MVPs are not Microsoft Employees)
> Entourage Help Page =A0 <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
> Entourage Help Blog =A0<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

Dave
Fri Jan 18 15:46:06 CST 2008

I have just spent 95 minutes on the line with Microsoft Technical Support, trying to resolve the problem of importing data into Entourage 2008 from v.X, with no success. It does appear that the addition of the Database Cache in the v.X identity folder is the wild card in making this transfer work. Does anyone have any additional thoughts on this matter? As it was said above, removal of the "Cache" file makes the import manager unable to see the identity as even existing, but with it left in place, the files will not import. <br><br>If this can't be resolved, this 2008 package is pretty much worthless to me.

Michel
Fri Jan 18 16:21:09 CST 2008

Can you still launch Entourage v.X? In that case, there are a number of
possibilities to export your data in a format that can subsequently be
imported into Entourage 2008. Let us know!


On 18/01/08 22:46, in article ee88e22.14@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw, "Dave S."
<> wrote:

> I have just spent 95 minutes on the line with Microsoft Technical Support,
> trying to resolve the problem of importing data into Entourage 2008 from v.X,
> with no success. It does appear that the addition of the Database Cache in the
> v.X identity folder is the wild card in making this transfer work. Does anyone
> have any additional thoughts on this matter? As it was said above, removal of
> the "Cache" file makes the import manager unable to see the identity as even
> existing, but with it left in place, the files will not import.
>
> If this can't be resolved, this 2008 package is pretty much worthless to me.

--
Michel Bintener
Microsoft MVP
Office:Mac (Entourage & Word)

*** Please always reply to the newsgroup. ***

hpoelzig
Fri Jan 18 18:31:00 CST 2008

On Jan 18, 5:21=A0pm, Michel Bintener <mbinte...@NOmvpsSPAM.org> wrote:
> Can you still launch Entourage v.X? In that case, there are a number of
> possibilities to export your data in a format that can subsequently be
> imported into Entourage 2008. Let us know!
>
> On 18/01/08 22:46, in article ee88e22...@webcrossing.caR9absDaxw, "Dave S.=
"
>
> <> wrote:
> > I have just spent 95 minutes on the line with Microsoft Technical Suppor=
t,
> > trying to resolve the problem of importing data into Entourage 2008 from=
v.X,
> > with no success. It does appear that the addition of the Database Cache =
in the
I am still using v.X as the alternatives for exporting mail messages
are ones which lose the data kept in each separate message which lets
you know if a reply was made, when it was made, with a quick link to
it. Keeping track of several hundred thousand messages with this data
is the reason I stick with Entourage. If the 2004 version could import
the database from v.X, one would think that the 2008 version should be
able to solve this as well.

I also have many mailing lists and many signatures which would take
some time to recreate. Having paid the price for software that seems
to say that it can import everything from v.X, then we customers
should be offered a way to do this without a going through such manual
efforts. If MS needs to supply us with some means to convert to the
2004 version and then into the 2008 version, that might solve things.

Dealing with the confusing v.X cache file should be something the
coders could solve.


> > v.X identity folder is the wild card in making this transfer work. Does =
anyone
> > have any additional thoughts on this matter? As it was said above, remov=
al of
> > the "Cache" file makes the import manager unable to see the identity as =
even
> > existing, but with it left in place, the files will not import.
>
> > If this can't be resolved, this 2008 package is pretty much worthless to=
me.
>
> --
> Michel Bintener
> Microsoft MVP
> Office:Mac (Entourage & Word)
>
> *** Please always reply to the newsgroup. ***

Linotype
Fri Jan 18 21:13:24 CST 2008


>
> Bill above asked about there being a cache in the folder along with
> the database, and there always is - the Office X Identities folder
> contains a Newsgroup Cache file and a folder labeled Main Identity.
> Main Identity contains five files: Database, Database Cache, Mailing
> Lists, Rules, Signatures. I suspect that if a similar folder in
> Entourage 2004 does not contain a database cache file (I don't know, I
> did not think it was a useful upgrade and stuck with v. X), perhaps
> the importer is confused by that cache file, imports the miniscule
> cache and then considers its work done. However, if that cache file is
> removed from the folder as Bill suggested, the importer does not
> recognize the other files in there.
>
> The importer automatically navigated to the Main Identity folder, and
> indeed the proper database is in there. It doesn't crash when trying
> to import as I suspect it would if there was something wrong with the
> data (and as I said above the database still works fine in Entourage
> X). The import seems to be of a very small file which takes less than
> one second before it says click to finish. This must be a bug.
>

OS X 10.4.11
Office X

Reading all the problems here about importing Entourage data from X to
2008 has me scared stiff to even open my box containing the Home &
Student Edition of Office 2008.

The MUD folder in my Documents folder has these folders:

Outlook Express Temp
Entourage Script Menu Items
Script Menu Items
Saved Attachments
Entourage Sound Sets
Identities
Printing Forms
Entourage Temp
Office X Identities

The "Identities" folder and the "Office X Identities" folder look like
this:

Identities
Main Identity
Database
Database Cache
Mailing Lists
Messages
Preferences
Rules
Schedules
Signatures
Newsgroup Cache

Office X Identities
Main Identity
Database
Database Cache
Mailing Lists
Rules
Signatures
Newsgroup Cache

What's the deal with the two "Main Identities" folders with the
duplicate folders inside of them?
Is this normal?

How much trouble would you predict I will have when I try to install
2008 and import Entourage X data?

Jolly
Fri Jan 18 21:19:43 CST 2008

In article
<fa113a52-fc69-4815-94d7-fde000134b80@y5g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
Linotype <r.schlemmer@comcast.net> wrote:

> Reading all the problems here about importing Entourage data from X to
> 2008 has me scared stiff to even open my box containing the Home &
> Student Edition of Office 2008.

Why? You do follow a daily/weekly backup schedule religiously, right?
If not, you should.

--
Note: Please send all responses to the relevant news group. If you
must contact me through e-mail, let me know when you send email to
this address so that your email doesn't get eaten by my SPAM filter.

JR

Diane
Fri Jan 18 21:58:32 CST 2008

On 1/18/08 7:13 PM, in article
fa113a52-fc69-4815-94d7-fde000134b80@y5g2000hsf.googlegroups.com, "Linotype"
<r.schlemmer@comcast.net> wrote:

> What's the deal with the two "Main Identities" folders with the
> duplicate folders inside of them?
> Is this normal?

The Microsoft User Data folder can contain multiple Identities from
different versions. The Identities folder is for Outlook Express.

> The MUD folder in my Documents folder has these folders:
>
> Outlook Express Temp--------> You can delete this
> Entourage Script Menu Items
> Script Menu Items --------> You can delete this
> Saved Attachments
> Entourage Sound Sets
> Identities --------> You can delete this
> Printing Forms
> Entourage Temp
> Office X Identities

If in doubt, rename your Microsoft User Data folder to Old Microsoft User
Data folder, and let Entourage recreate a new MUD folder. This way you'll
only have the folders you need. When you import you can point to the Office
X Identity folder for importing.

--
Diane, Microsoft Mac MVP (MVPs are not Microsoft Employees)
Entourage Help Page <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/>
Entourage Help Blog <http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/>

hpoelzig
Fri Jan 18 23:07:12 CST 2008

On Jan 18, 10:13=A0pm, Linotype <r.schlem...@comcast.net> wrote:
> > Bill above asked about there being a cache in the folder along with
> > the database, and there always is - the Office X Identities folder
> > contains a Newsgroup Cache file and a folder labeled Main Identity.
> > Main Identity contains five files: Database, Database Cache, Mailing
> > Lists, Rules, Signatures. I suspect that if a similar folder in
> > Entourage 2004 does not contain a database cache file (I don't know, I
> > did not think it was a useful upgrade and stuck with v. X), perhaps
> > the importer is confused by that cache file, imports the miniscule
> > cache and then considers its work done. However, if that cache file is
> > removed from the folder as Bill suggested, the importer does not
> > recognize the other files in there.
>
> > The importer automatically navigated to the Main Identity folder, and
> > indeed the proper database is in there. It doesn't crash when trying
> > to import as I suspect it would if there was something wrong with the
> > data (and as I said above the database still works fine in Entourage
> > X). The import seems to be of a very small file which takes less than
> > one second before it says click to finish. This must be a bug.
>
> OS X 10.4.11
> Office X
>
> Reading all the problems here about importing Entourage data from X to
> 2008 has me scared stiff to even open my box containing =A0the Home &
> Student Edition of Office 2008.
>
> The MUD folder in my Documents folder has these folders:
>
> Outlook Express Temp
> Entourage Script Menu Items
> Script Menu Items
> Saved Attachments
> Entourage Sound Sets
> Identities
> Printing Forms
> Entourage Temp
> Office X Identities
>
> The "Identities" folder and the "Office X Identities" folder look like
> this:
>
> Identities
> =A0 Main Identity
> =A0 =A0 Database
> =A0 =A0 Database Cache
> =A0 =A0 Mailing Lists
> =A0 =A0 Messages
> =A0 =A0 Preferences
> =A0 =A0 Rules
> =A0 =A0 Schedules
> =A0 =A0 Signatures
> =A0 =A0 Newsgroup Cache
>
> Office X Identities
> =A0 Main Identity
> =A0 =A0 Database
> =A0 =A0 Database Cache
> =A0 =A0 Mailing Lists
> =A0 =A0 Rules
> =A0 =A0 Signatures
> =A0 =A0 Newsgroup Cache
>
> What's the deal with the two "Main Identities" folders with the
> duplicate folders inside of them?
> Is this normal?
>
> How much trouble would you predict I will have when I try to install
> 2008 and import Entourage X data?

I have been informed that the seventh bulleted item under Known Issues
in Office 2008 lists the following:

"Office Setup Assistant cannot import identities that were created in
Office 98, Office 2001, and Office v. X. To import these identities
after installation, open Entourage 2008, and then on the File menu,
click Import."

Sounds promising, however using the import command under File brings
the same result of an import of the miniscule empty cache and not the
database file in the same folder for me. Perhaps you will have better
luck. Let us know if you do.

This issue seems to be a bug which needs a solution that preserves all
of the information present in the database for v. X. Perhaps if one
had access to Entourage 2004, one could import v. X databases into
that and then from there into Entourage 2008, however, I don't know if
trial version that would have this functionality is available. Having
to purchase 2004 solely as a means to get 2008 working properly does
not seem particularly fair.

PHG

Linotype
Sat Jan 19 10:06:05 CST 2008

On Jan 18, 11:07=A0pm, hpoel...@gmail.com wrote:
> I have been informed that the seventh bulleted item under Known Issues
> in Office 2008 lists the following:
>
> "Office Setup Assistant cannot import identities that were created in
> Office 98, Office 2001, and Office v. X. To import these identities
> after installation, open Entourage 2008, and then on the File menu,
> click Import."
>
> Sounds promising, however using the import command under File brings
> the same result of an import of the miniscule empty cache and not the
> database file in the same folder for me. Perhaps you will have better
> luck. Let us know if you do.
>
> This issue seems to be a bug which needs a solution that preserves all
> of the information present in the database for v. X. Perhaps if one
> had access to Entourage 2004, one could import v. X databases into
> that and then from there into Entourage 2008, however, I don't know if
> trial version that would have this functionality is available. Having
> to purchase 2004 solely as a means to get 2008 working properly does
> not seem particularly fair.
>
> PHG

What? 2008 can't import identities from X?
That clinches it, my copy of 2008 is going to be returned unopened.
I am not an IT person.
Why should I have to know the intricacies of any application?
Is it too much to expect a program to just work?
Did the developers envision a user having to dig through forums for a
list of steps to follow to make their product actually usable?

steve
Sat Jan 19 12:12:03 CST 2008

I'm trying to import identity from Office 2004 into 2008. Got message to rebuild database, have tried 3 times with no luck. Any ideas?

macwombat
Thu May 08 00:05:39 CDT 2008

Who would have thought that 4 months later someone else would be having exactly the same problem! I import my entourage v.X identity of 3.4gb and it is finished importing in 1 second - but there is nothing there.

Does anyone know if there has been a fix or a patch or a workaround created since January that doesn't involve individually copying every mailbox?

Diane
Thu May 08 17:48:23 CDT 2008

"macwombat@officeformac.com" wrote:

> Who would have thought that 4 months later someone else would be having
> exactly the same problem! I import my entourage v.X identity of 3.4gb and it
> is finished importing in 1 second - but there is nothing there.
>
> Does anyone know if there has been a fix or a patch or a workaround created
> since January that doesn't involve individually copying every mailbox?

No, but we hope to see a new update soon to both Entourage and Leopard.

Exporting as Entourage archive (.rge) is pretty painless. A few drags in
Entourage 2008 and you are have your mail.

How to manually move your data. (when import fails and/or you need to move
to a new Identity same version)

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/manual_install.html>

--
Diane

Mathew
Thu May 08 20:50:20 CDT 2008

> "macwombat@officeformac.com" wrote:

> How to manually move your data. (when import fails and/or you need to move
> to a new Identity same version)

> --
> Diane

THANK YOU! Your post was timed perfectly, just hours before I needed it! I followed the link you provided, and used the "Force Update" option which worked great!

Diane
Fri May 09 18:20:58 CDT 2008

"Mathew Roberson" wrote:

> THANK YOU! Your post was timed perfectly, just hours before I needed it! I
> followed the link you provided, and used the "Force Update" option which
> worked great!

Thanks for the feedback. Glad you got your data moved over. Be sure you
setup a backup strategy if your mail is important.

Entourage and Time Machine (creates chronological backup of Identity can be
used by both Tiger and Leopard)

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2008/01/entourage_and_time_machine.html>

Alternative method to use Entourage and Time Machine - Leopard only(does a
once a day or whatever time period you select) Leopard only

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2008/01/alternative_method_to_use_entourage_
and_time_machine.html>

--
Diane

chrisgrt
Thu May 15 04:19:06 CDT 2008

I also have the problem of getting the entourageX database into entourage 2008. I tried this on 4 MacPro with MacOs 10.5.2. Two imports were succesful, all the mails, adresses, user adjustments and calenders are seen in the new 2008 version, after the entourage importing process was finised.

But the same process failed on two other MacPros with the same configuration.

I can get the mails and adresses manualy from the x version into 2008. But, the most annoying thing is that I can't get acces to all the appointments and dates of the entourage x calender.

Until now it costs me hours of work to solve this problem. But now I see in this mailing list that I'm not alone. Maybe someone from that list can help ....

Diane
Thu May 15 18:42:02 CDT 2008

"chrisgrt@officeformac.com" wrote:

> I can get the mails and adresses manualy from the x version into 2008. But,
> the most annoying thing is that I can't get acces to all the appointments and
> dates of the entourage x calender.

Paul Berkowitz's Export-Import scripts ($20) will get that info.


ScriptBuilders: Export-Import Entourage 1.3.10
<http://scriptbuilders.net/files/exportimportentourage1.3.10.html>

--
Diane

MarkP
Fri Jun 06 08:51:14 CDT 2008

Hello:

Has this issue been resolved? I just installed Office 2008 and am facing the same problems of not being able to import any of my data, specifically, the calendar dates, appointments, notes etc. I've tried the "Force an update" method, but it doesn't work. When the window comes up asking to rebuild the database, its a blank window with the only button being 'Quit' available. Importing of my data frm Entourage X to 2008 is crucial! Please help!

Diane
Fri Jun 06 23:51:56 CDT 2008

"MarkP@officeformac.com" wrote:

> Has this issue been resolved? I just installed Office 2008 and am facing the
> same problems of not being able to import any of my data, specifically, the
> calendar dates, appointments, notes etc. I've tried the "Force an update"
> method, but it doesn't work. When the window comes up asking to rebuild the
> database, its a blank window with the only button being 'Quit' available.
> Importing of my data frm Entourage X to 2008 is crucial! Please help!

You can manually move your data over if you still have Office X installed.
Another option is to import into Apple Mail and import that into Entourage.

Manually move your Entourage X data
<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/import_export/manual_vX.html>

Paul Berkowitz's Export/Import Scripts are the easiest way.

--
Diane

Andy
Mon Jun 09 07:48:14 CDT 2008

Simple solution to the import problem:
Force an Update (X, 2004 to 2008)

If the Setup Assistant , First Run Setup Wizard, or File | Import. fails, you can force an update.

Move a copy of your Main Identity folder from your previous version of Office (x, 2004) into the Office 2008 Identities folder.

Your old Main Identity will overwrite the new blank Main Identity. (If Entourage 2008 has not created an Office 2008 Identities folder, then open Entourage 2008 and let it create one.)

Open Entourage and it will start a manual updating process.

After the process was over for me, I got "database corrupt" error.

Simply run the database repair utility and all should be well.

All messages, accounts, signatures and rules will come over to 2008.

MarkP
Tue Jun 10 09:12:28 CDT 2008

> Simple solution to the import problem:
> Force an Update (X, 2004 to 2008)
>
> Open Entourage and it will start a manual updating process.
>
> After the process was over for me, I got "database corrupt" error.
>
> Simply run the database repair utility and all should be well.
>
> All messages, accounts, signatures and rules will come over to 2008.
---
This would be the ideal solution for me. However, when I tried this, Office 2008 could not find a database to repair! The dialogue box would appear, indicating a database was corrupt and needed to be repaired. However, no database appears in the box allowing one to rebuild it!

The export/import scripts only seem to work with email messages. What about Notes? Calendar events etc etc?

Diane
Tue Jun 10 18:05:32 CDT 2008

"MarkP@officeformac.com" wrote:

>> Simple solution to the import problem:
>> Force an Update (X, 2004 to 2008)
>>
>> Open Entourage and it will start a manual updating process.
>>
>> After the process was over for me, I got "database corrupt" error.
>>
>> Simply run the database repair utility and all should be well.
>>
>> All messages, accounts, signatures and rules will come over to 2008.
> ---
> This would be the ideal solution for me. However, when I tried this, Office
> 2008 could not find a database to repair! The dialogue box would appear,
> indicating a database was corrupt and needed to be repaired. However, no
> database appears in the box allowing one to rebuild it!

Drag a copy of your database into the Office 2008 Identities folder. When
you open Entourage it will try to update the Identity.
>
> The export/import scripts only seem to work with email messages. What about
> Notes? Calendar events etc etc?

How to manually move your data. (when import fails and/or you need to move
to a new Identity same version)

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/install/manual_install.html>

Select your version for details from the links at the bottom of the page.

--
Diane