How do I create a PST on the Macintosh?

Sorry, but you can’t.  At least not with a Microsoft Product… Unless your running Windows via a Virtual Machine, or Boot camp, there is no Microsoft Products on the Mac that will product a PST.

PST’s are a product of Outlook, or the Exchange server.  The file format is actually used for quite a few files…:

  • Personal Storage Table [File] (.PST)
  • Personal Folder File (.PFF)
  • Off-Line Storage Table (.ost)
  • Off-Line Folder File (.off)
  • Personal Address Book (.pab)

The file format has been reversed engineered, and through the libpst project, it can be read on other platforms than Windows…

As a general rule, PST files are not highly recommended, as they are easily corrupted, and damaged.  This corruption is more likely, when the file gets closer to the maximum file size.

Outlook 2002, and earlier had a maximum file size of 2 GB.  Outlook 2003, extended this filesize up to 20 Gb.

Microsoft has a PST Import Tool for Entourage.  This tool has to be one of the best kept secrets of Microsoft, since I rarely hear about a software package that has been in existance since 11/30/2005.

  • Office XP (aka Office 2002) PSTs can not be used with the MS PST Import Tool.
  • Although the documentation makes specific reference to Entourage 2004, the PST Import Tool can be used with versions of Entourage released after Entourage 2004, such as Entourage 2008.
  • Please note, I have seen very mixed results with this import tool.

A commercial package called “Outlook -> Entourage”, claims to transfer your email, address book, contacts, and calendars for $14.95. I haven’t tried it, but I have seen some comments about it… They’ve been generally positive.