1. Computing & Technology
About.com
Email

Discuss in my forum

OutlookExtract Pro 1.3 - Outlook and Outlook Express Add-On

About.com Rating 4 Star Rating
Be the first to write a review

By , About.com Guide

See More About:
OutlookExtract Pro - Outlook and Outlook Express Add-On

OutlookExtract Pro - Outlook and Outlook Express Add-On

Heinz Tschabitscher

The Bottom Line

OutlookExtract Pro saves messages and attachments from Outlook or Outlook Express directly to disk — in a format that does not break (plain text or HTML) and automatically on a schedule if you want. A nifty viewer for thus archived mail complements OutlookExtract Pro. Filters and more output flexibility would be nice, though.

Pros

  • OutlookExtract Pro saves and archives emails from Outlook and Outlook Express in universal formats
  • You can also extract and save attachments with OutlookExtract Pro and schedule archiving
  • OutlookExtract Pro includes a nifty viewer for the archives it creates

Cons

  • OutlookExtract Pro cannot re-import messages to Outlook or Outlook Express
  • You cannot use filters to save only certain emails with OutlookExtract Pro
  • OutlookExtract Pro could offer more flexibility for path and saving format, too

Description

  • OutlookExtract Pro saves messages and attachments from Outlook and Outlook Express.
  • Extracted emails are saved to .eml, .msg or .txt and .html files by OutlookExtract Pro.
  • OutlookExtract Pro creates a folder hierarchy to match the email folder structure.
  • Email Explorer lets you view extracted emails and attachments conveniently.
  • You can also convert between .eml and .msg or save mail as .mht or PDF files with Email Explorer.
  • Email Explorer includes a flexible email search utility.
  • OutlookExtract Pro email and attachment extraction can be scheduled.
  • OutlookExtract Pro extraction parameters can be saved and used in command line batch processing.
  • OutlookExtract Pro supports Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/3/XP.

Guide Review - OutlookExtract Pro 1.3 - Outlook and Outlook Express Add-On

Outlook likes to keep all your data in one big file. This has certain advantages, but it comes with a number of disadvantages, too. Most critically, if this one file breaks, all your emails and contacts are at risk. Keeping a few backup copies of your PST file at a safe location is a prudent necessity.

OutlookExtract Pro has another, more finely grained approach that offers more benefits than just making individual emails available for easy recovery. Using OutlookExtract Pro, you can save messages from Outlook or Outlook Express to disk in a number of portable formats: .eml (used by Outlook Express and other email programs) or .msg files (used by Outlook), or plain text and HTML (depending on the email format). This makes it easy to move certain messages to an USB stick or other medium, and you can open them just about anywhere, no matter the device's operating system.

To make sure no content is lost, OutlookExtract Pro can save attachments in a similar fashion, too. While a simple and not entirely sufficient scheduler lets you automate the task, OutlookExtract Pro does not offer any filters for saving only certain mail (just today's messages, for example). Email Explorer, the companion program for viewing extracted messages and archives is great, however. Not only does it display the emails conveniently, you can convert them to web archives or PDF files, too.

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.