Understanding Outlook OST & PST Offline Storage Limitations

Understanding Outlook OST &PST Offline Storage Limitations

As we all know that OST (Offline Storage Table) is a data storage file used by Microsoft Outlook to store data of Outlook profile offline on the user local system. It holds complete data of Outlook like emails,contacts,calendars,email addresses,attachments,and other details.

Sometime,users need to export or extract data items from Outlook OST file. It can be done easily through Export/Import feature of MS Outlook but to do so,Outlook should be connected to Exchange Server and it should be accessible. But with this blog,we have come here with a paid third-party tool that will help you to extract email addresses,attachments,contacts,and calendars from both OST and PST files even when –

• OST file is orphaned or corrupted
• When Outlook is not connected with Exchange Server
• Outlook becomes inaccessible due to any hardware or software issues

Key Features of Softaken Outlook Extractor Tool

Download Softaken Outlook Extractor Toolalso known as PST Extractor,which serves as an all-in-one standalone software to extract data items from Outlook OST and PST files without Outlook.

• Extract OST contacts to VCF/MSG– Contacts from the file OST to VCF/MSG are exported by the application. A single OST or multiple OST files processing at once to extract all contacts with all details like username,email address,images,mobile number,etc.
• Extract OST calendars to ICS/MSG– Transfer of calendars of OST to ICS/MSG is done by the application including all calendar details like scheduled tasks,appointments,meetings,etc. Users can either export calendars of OST to ICS or into MSG format.
• Extract OST/PST Attachments in Bulk– Safely extract all types of attachments in their original formatting. The software features an advanced Extension Filter allowing you to type or select a specific extension (e.g.,extracting only PDF files) and includes an option to Remove Duplicate Attachments based on file name and size.

• Extract OST email addresses– Email addresses from OST emails are extracted by the software. Users can extract all email address like to,cc,from,subject,etc. or extract desired email addresses.
• File and Folder Modes– No need to process files one by one. Use 'Folder Mode' to upload an entire directory containing multiple OST/PST files simultaneously.
• Inbuilt Tree-View Preview– Once data files are loaded,the tool generates a complete visual tree-view of all mailbox items on the left panel,allowing you to selectively mark or unmark items before running the extraction.

Multiple OST files can be loaded easily to extract data items from them. This is one of the highlighted features of this application that save manual efforts and precious effort of users.

How to Extract Outlook Data Using the Automated Software Tool

• Step 1:Install the program on your Windows system.
• Step 2:Choose a single OST or multiple OST file by using the Browse button.
• Step 3:Select items to extract – attachments,email address,contacts,or calendars.
• Step 4:Mention output path to save the extracted items.
• Step 5:Hit Process Now button and this starts exporting items from OST file.

Softaken Outlook Extractor Tool Interface

Traditional Manual Workarounds &Their Step-by-Step Processes

If you want to go for the manual solution to extract calendars,contacts,email address,and attachments from Outlook OST file,make sure to have MS Outlook installed and connected with Exchange Server.

Process to extract calendars from OST file

• Step 1:Open MS Outlook.
• Step 2:Click on File menu.
• Step 3:Go to Open &Export and select the Import/Export option.
• Step 4:Choose Outlook data file.
• Step 5:Select Calendars from OST file.
• Step 6:Provide destination path as per your choice and hit Finish.

Process to Manually Export Outlook Address Book/Contacts

• Step 1:Open MS Outlook and click on the File tab.
• Step 2:Click Open &Export >Import/Export.
• Step 3:Select Export a file and click Next.
• Step 4:Choose Comma Separated Values and click Next.
• Step 5:Select the Contacts folder from your target mailbox data.
• Step 6:Browse a destination path,name your file,and click Finish.

Process to extract OST contacts to VCF

• Step 1:Open Outlook and go to File menu.
• Step 2:Select the desired contacts.
• Step 3:Go to File menu and click on Save As.
• Step 4:Now,name the file and choose VCF under Save as Type.

Process to extract attachments from OST file

Users can open Outlook and can extract attachments from OST emails one by one. Other than that,no method is available to extract attachments of OST email messages.