How to Bulk Import PST to Lotus Notes without Losing Any Formatting?

Dual software giants, Microsoft & IBM, have delivered remarkable email applications packed with special features widely utilized in enterprise as well as corporate environments. Outlook is a leading email client from Microsoft, while IBM Notes (formerly Lotus Notes) is a robust desktop email client from IBM. Enterprises rely heavily on the advanced functionalities of both applications, which offer rich features like direct messaging, task scheduling, and contact management. In this article, we’ll walk you through the manual process of importing emails from Outlook PST to Lotus Notes.

Microsoft Outlook is one of the most popular desktop email client application, favored in corporate and business organizations due to its powerful and effective features. Several factors contribute to its widespread use: in environments where the email server runs on Microsoft Exchange, users benefit from seamless native support, making it easy to switch to Outlook on their computers. Additionally, the Outlook interface is familiar to Microsoft Office users, requiring minimal time to adapt to its functionalities such as Task Manager, Contact Manager, Address Book, Calendar, Journal, and Notes. One of the key components is the PST file format, which serves as Outlook’s personal storage file, managing all email data efficiently.

Now, let’s dive into the step-by-step process of importing files from Outlook to Lotus Notes.

Need to Import PST to Lotus Notes

Sometimes, Microsoft Outlook users who are completely familiar with this mail client find themselves facing challenges when they change workplaces and wish to switch to IBM Lotus Notes for email communication. IBM Lotus Notes is widely used in business enterprises due to its safe email environment and rich feature set. However, Outlook’s PST files cannot be directly accessed in IBM Notes because Lotus Notes uses its own file format called NSF (Notes Storage Facility).

IBM Lotus Notes offers many advanced features beyond just email, including data management, web server capabilities, programming support, replication, and so on. Because of the essential differences in file storage formats, users must export their PST files into IBM Notes NSF files to continue working flawlessly in the new environment.

How to Import Outlook Files to Lotus Notes?

You can import PST files to NSF format using a couple of methods. One common way is to use the nUpgrade.exe utility, which helps transfer mailbox data from Outlook to Lotus Notes. Alternatively, you can opt for various reliable third-party tools available online for this purpose.

In this post, I’ll walk you through an appropriate freeware method that uses the nUpgrade.exe utility to perform the migration efficiently.

Manual Procedure to Import PST to NSF Format

#1- Open Command Prompt: Navigate to the directory where nUpgrade.exe is located. Type the command nUpgrade.exe 3 and press Enter.

#2- Upgrade Setup Window: The upgrade setup window will appear. Tick Next to proceed.

#3- Select Output File: Choose the Outlook data file you wish to export either PST or PAB. Hit the Next to continue.

#4- Select Upgrade Technique: Select either Express or Custom upgrade:

• Express: Converts all PST or PAB files linked to the selected profiles into IBM Notes.
• Custom: Allows you to select specific items to convert.

After selecting your preferred option, check the corresponding box and tick Next.

#5- Database Creation: The upgrade wizard will create an IBM Notes database in the mail folder within the Notes client data directory.

#6- Begin Upgrade: A confirmation window will appear. Click Finish to start the migration process. You will be prompted to enter your IBM Notes User ID during the process.

#7- Conversion Done: Once the process completes, the transformed PST or PAB files will appear in the Lotus Notes folder view as XXX_PersonalFolders.nsf. Additionally, Outlook contacts will be available in Names.nsf within the Personal Address Book on the local workstation.

Limitations of Manual PST to NSF Migration Using nUpgrade.exe

• The manual process requires command-line operations and several steps, which can be difficult and time-consuming, especially for non-technical users.
• The utility may struggle or fail when handling very large PST files, leading to incomplete migrations.
• There is a risk of data loss or corruption during the manual migration, especially if steps are not followed correctly.
• nUpgrade.exe is an older utility and may not fully support the latest versions of Outlook or IBM Notes.
• Since it is a freeware utility, professional support may not be available if issues arise during migration.

Import PST Files to Lotus Note Using Professional PST to NSF Converter

The manual conversion methods have limitations, especially when dealing with corrupted or large PST files. While manual tools may work fine for small and healthy PST files, they often struggle or fail with larger or damaged files, causing errors or incomplete conversions.

A more reliable alternative is to use robust Outlook PST Converter like the one offered by BitData Migration. This software is specifically designed to handle corrupted PST files and perform seamless, error-free conversions into NSF format. Its standout feature is robust support for damaged PST files, ensuring that even compromised data can be migrated successfully. This tool guarantees a safe conversion migration without any data loss, making it an ideal choice for exporting Outlook data to Lotus Notes.

Steps to Convert PST Files into Lotus Notes NSF File

1. Open the PST to Lotus Notes Tool on your device.
2. Click on the Add File(s) button to browse and select the PST file(s) you want to convert.
3. The software loads the PST file and displays the emails and mailbox folders in a preview pane.
4. Choose Lotus Notes (NSF) as the output format from the list of available formats.
5. You can apply date range, email filtering, or folder selection if you want to convert only specific emails.
6. Choose the location on your computer where you want the converted NSF files to be saved.
7. Click the Convert button to begin the PST to Lotus Notes conversion process.
8. After completion, the software shows a success message, and you can open the converted NSF file in Lotus Notes.

Difference between Manual and Professional Outlook Converter Solutions

• Manual conversion requires technical skills, while professional PST File Converter offer user-friendly interfaces suitable for all users.
• Manual methods struggle with corrupted PST files; professional solutions can repair and convert damaged files seamlessly.
• Manual processes often fail or slow down with large PST files, whereas PST to Lotus Notes Converter Tool efficiently manage large and multiple files.
• Professional Outlook to NSF Converter allow selective migration and attachment management, which manual tools lack.

Time to Wrap Up

Sometimes, users want to import Outlook PST files into NSF file format. But, when they try to convert these files directly, they are denied access because Outlook does not support the Lotus Notes NSF file format. To overcome this issue, we’ve provided two solutions: one manual method and another using PST to NSF Converter.

I hope this blog is beneficial and answers all your questions on this topic.