![]() But there are some active alternatives still around: The past few years have seen several programs cease development, be abandoned by their creators, or fall into disuse. (Mail creates a folder-based mbox variant that other programs aren't designed to read.)Īs you're probably aware, the three mail clients described in this article aren't the only ones available for OS X. While Mail and Entourage can both generate an mbox file by dragging a message folder onto the Desktop, Thunderbird can only read the ones created by Entourage. However, you can install an ImportExportTools add-on that enables Thunderbird to read message files in mbox format. Messages can only be imported into Thunderbird from Eudora or Netscape Communicator. You may find it simpler to first open Entourage's exported address data in Excel, rearrange it and then import it into Thunderbird. Entourage can export its contacts to a compatible, tab-delimited text file that Thunderbird can import however, the process of matching the address fields in the exported data to Thunderbird's fields is painful, complex and time consuming. Although Address Book data can be exported in vCard format, Thunderbird can't read those files either. Thunderbird can't directly read contact data from OS X's Address Book (used by Mail) or from Entourage. Depending on the programs you're switching between, you may discover that importing your existing data is easy, requires a little or a lot of work, or is downright impossible. When you update your existing program, old messages and contact records are usually imported as part of the process, but switching programs, on the other hand, is not as simple and straightforward. In an e-mail client, backup is too critical to be relegated to manually tracking down files and copying them in the Finder, as Mail and Thunderbird require.Īfter digesting all this info, you may decide it's time to try out a new program. However, only Entourage provides tools and techniques for easily backing up individual messages, complete message folders and data from its other components, such as appointments and tasks. All three programs offer excellent tools for automatically handling incoming messages and reducing the influx of junk mail. This category was almost too close to call. Message handling and management winner: Entourage To back up a Thunderbird mail folder, you either need to locate it in the Finder and make a copy or install the ImportExportTools add-on. You can also back up any Entourage or Mail folder by just dragging it onto the Desktop to create a mailbox file. In Entourage, the Export command enables you to back up entire accounts, message folders and other items, such as notes, tasks and calendar events. You can save individual messages from any of the programs as ordinary text files.
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