How to Export NSF File to PST: A Trusted Method

HCL Notes, previously known as Lotus Notes and currently IBM Notes, is an email application utilized by sizable corporations. Proficiency in technical aspects is essential for navigating HCL Notes, making its usage somewhat intricate. Furthermore, employing HCL Notes can entail substantial financial costs. Data within HCL Notes is stored in the NSF File Format.

However, this informative blog will discuss the need and solutions to Export NSF files to PST. Stay tuned till the last, to discover the best method for your need.

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Difference Between NSF & PST File Formats

Some differences between NSF and PST File formats are listed below:

Parameters	NSF	PST
Full Form	Notes Storage Facility	Personal Storage Table
Created By	HCL Notes	Microsoft Outlook
Email Attributes	NSF file contains emails, contacts, attachments, calendars, etc., within a document-oriented database system.	PST file contains emails, contacts, calendars, attachments, and tasks organized in a traditional mailbox structure.
Platform Compatibility	NSF file offers cross-platform compatibility and is versatile for various organizations.	PST file is a proprietary format specific to Microsoft Outlook.
Third-Party Tool Compatibility	Support for NSF files in third-party software is limited.	A wide range of third-party applications support PST files.

Now that we’ve learned about some contrasts between NSF and PST, let’s talk about why there’s a need to export NSF file to PST.

Need to Migrate NSF to PST

There might be many reasons to export lotus notes to Outlook, however, in this section we have discussed the most prominent ones.

• HCL Notes can be complicated, making it hard for new users to navigate without training. This often leads to issues for those getting started.
• Additionally, using Lotus Notes requires more money compared to platforms like Outlook with Exchange. Because of this, many users prefer switching to Microsoft Outlook.

Method 1: Manual Way to Export NSF File to PST

Unfortunately, there isn’t a straightforward way to directly convert HCL Notes (NSF files) to PST. Nevertheless, we’ve tried and confirmed an approach that might be a little lengthy. To use this manual method, you need to follow three steps sequentially.

Step 1: Perform a mailbox export from Lotus Notes

1. Start by launching the Lotus Notes application on your Windows computer.
2. If the NSF file isn’t already open in Lotus Notes, follow these steps:
3. Go to the File menu.
4. Select Open and then choose Lotus Notes application.
5. Now, with the NSF file open in Lotus Notes, proceed to the next step.
6. Choose the specific NSF mailbox you want to export, and then from the File menu, click on Export.
7. In the export window that appears:
8. Specify the desired file name for the exported data.
9. Decide on the destination location where you want to save the exported file.
10. From the dropdown menu, select the Comma Separated Values (CSV) option.
11. Click the Export button.
12. Additional export options might be available. If so:
13. Configure any extra settings or preferences as needed.
14. Once done, click the OK button.
15. Finally, the chosen data will be exported to the CSV file format and saved in the location you designated earlier.

After following this step, proceed to the next step to implement the 2nd part to export NSF file to PST.

Step 2: Add the generated file to Outlook by importing it

1. Start Microsoft Outlook and go to the File menu.
2. Next, click on the Open and Export section, then select Import/Export.
3. From the list of options, choose Import from another program or file.
4. Select Comma Separated Values as the file type to import, and then move to the next window.
5. Locate and choose the CSV file that you exported from Lotus Notes earlier.
6. Once you’ve added the CSV file to the import wizard, follow the steps provided until you reach the Finish button.

Congratulations, the data has been effectively imported into Outlook, and the operation to convert NSF to PST is successfully completed. Also, read the blog to find out the techniques on how to convert Outlook OST to PST with all the attachments without losing any crucial OST file data.

Step 3: Convert NSF to PST File Format

After following the above 2 steps you will successfully, migrate NSF files to Outlook. Now if you want to specifically change them into PST then follow the below procedure.

1. Firstly, open Microsoft Outlook and go to the File menu.
2. From there, choose Open and Export, and click on the Import/Export button.
3. In the Import and Export Wizard, select the option to Export to a file.
4. Choose the Outlook Data File (.pst) option in the following window, and then proceed to the next step.
5. Select the specific data you want to export to PST from the imported files.
6. Navigate to the location where you want to save the resulting PST file.
7. Lastly, in the final step, click the Finish button to successfully complete the conversion of NSF to PST.

After Following all 3 steps you will be able to export NSF File to PST. However, the manual method has some drawbacks which are mentioned in the next section.

Drawbacks of the Manual Method

• Firstly, using the NSF to PST conversion program is that the default export feature in HCL Notes can occasionally lead to files lacking extensions. Therefore, renaming becomes necessary.
• CSV files are not designed for storing email messages. As a result, you shouldn’t anticipate them to perfectly retain all mailbox items.
• Finally, the manual to export NSF file to PST is the need to have sound technical knowledge.

Clearly, there are certain disadvantages associated with employing the free method for NSF to PST conversion. To ensure these issues don’t compromise the outcome’s quality, it’s advisable to consider the professional approach.

Method 2: Professional Way to Convert NSF File to PST

The SysInfo NSF to PST Converter permits users to transform NSF elements (such as emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, and notes) into the Outlook PST format. With this advanced NSF to PST conversion tool, users can eliminate duplicate items and all folders from NSF files. It also facilitates the seamless export of a large number of NSF files into Outlook PST formats, all while ensuring no loss of data. The steps to Export NSF File to PST using the software are:

1. Firstly, Install and Run NSF to PST Converter as an administrator.
2. In the software wizard click Select Files, then Browse and Add the NSF Files.
3. Now, select the desired files/folders from the tree-structured format and click Next.
4. Choose the optional filters in the software wizard.
5. Finally, select PST and click Convert.

After following the steps you will successfully export NSF file to PST.

Conclusion

It’s time to wrap up this blog. Throughout this blog, we explored the distinctions between NSF and PST file formats. We also emphasized the necessity to export NSF file to PST. We discussed methods for converting Lotus Notes to Outlook PST, including a lengthy manual approach that demands technical expertise. On the other hand, the NSF to PST Converter stands out as one of the top converters available. It not only saves a significant amount of time but also ensures a 100% accurate data export.