How to Export OLM Folder to CSV on Mac?

Sarabjeet Kaur | Email Conversion email migration How to's mac os Outlook Software Technology Windows | 6 minutes read | Last updated on April 28th, 2023,
export olm folder to csv on mac os

Summary– In this blog, we’ll learn how to export OLM folder to CSV on Mac OS with complete data. Here, we’ll discuss what OLM & CSV file formats are, and how to export OLM file to CSV for Mac OS by using manual and professional software.

OLM File– An OLM file is a data file used by Microsoft Outlook for Mac. It stores email messages, contacts, calendar entries, and other information for an Outlook account. OLM files are created when you back up or archive your Mac Outlook data, or when you migrate your Outlook account to a new computer. OLM files can be imported into Outlook for Mac to restore your Outlook data or can be converted to PST (Personal Storage Table) files to be used in Microsoft Outlook for Windows.

CSV File– A CSV (Comma Separated Values) file is a simple file format used to store tabular data, such as a spreadsheet or a database. It consists of plain text data that is separated by commas to indicate different columns and by line breaks to indicate different rows.

In a CSV file, each row represents a record or data point, and each column represents a field or attribute of that record. For example, a CSV file could store data about customers, with each row representing a different customer and each column representing a different attribute, such as name, address, phone number, and email address.

Why Do We Need to Export OLM Folder to CSV on Mac?

Exporting OLM files to CSV format can be useful for a variety of reasons, depending on your needs. Here are a few possible reasons why you might want to export OLM files to CSV on Mac:

  • Data Backup: Exporting OLM files to CSV format provides an additional backup option for your Outlook data. By saving your data in a plain text format like CSV, you can ensure that it can be easily accessed and restored even if your Outlook application is unavailable or corrupted.
  • Data Analysis: CSV files can be opened and manipulated using a wide variety of software programs, including spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. By exporting your Outlook data to CSV format, you can perform more advanced data analysis and report on your email messages, contacts, calendar entries, and other information.
  • Data Migration: If you are switching from Outlook for Mac to another email application or platform, you may need to convert your OLM files to a format that is compatible with the new system. By exporting your OLM files to CSV format, you can ensure that your data can be easily imported into the new system.

Generally, exporting OLM files to CSV format can provide greater flexibility and accessibility for your Outlook data, and can help you to better manage and use your information.

How to Export OLM File to CSV for Mac OS?

There are just two methods that can be used to complete this task. The first step is to manually convert OLM contacts to CSV on your Mac by following the step-by-step instructions provided below. Additionally, you can properly import a large number of Outlook OLM files to CSV file format by utilizing the OLM File Converter for Mac. Let’s start with the manual process to convert Outlook for Mac to CSV for free utilizing the efficient manual method.

Manual Way to Export Contacts from Outlook for Mac to CSV on Mac

Here are the steps to import Mac OLM files to CSV format manually on a Mac:

  • Launch Outlook for Mac and select the folder or data that you want to export to CSV.
  • Press “File” menu & select “Export”.
  • In the Export window, select “Contacts to a list (tab-separated values)” or “Messages to a list (tab-separated values)” depending on the type of data you want to export.
  • Pick a location to save the exported file and give it a name. Select “Unicode (UTF-8)” encoding and click on “Save”.
  • Open the exported file in a text editor, such as TextEdit or Microsoft Word.
  • In the text editor, go to the “File” menu & opt “Save As”.
  • Choose “CSV (Comma Separated Values)” as the file format and give the file a name. Click on “Save”.
  • In the CSV Export window, choose the “Western (Mac OS Roman)” encoding and click on “OK”.
  • The CSV file will now be saved in the selected location and can be opened in a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.

Note that this method only works for exporting basic data such as contacts or messages to CSV format. For more complex data, such as calendar entries or tasks, you may need to use a third-party tool.

Drawbacks of the Free Manual Approach

While the manual method of saving OLM files to CSV format on a Mac is free and simple, there are a few drawbacks to keep in mind:

  • Limited Functionality: The manual method only allows you to export basic data like contacts or messages to a CSV file. If you need to export more complex data, like calendar entries, journal tasks, or notes, you will need to use professional third-party software.
  • Limited Functionality: The manual method only allows you to export basic data like contacts or messages to CSV file. If you need to export more complex data, like calendar entries, journals tasks, or notes, you will need to use a professional third-party software.
  • Time-Consuming: The manual way involves several steps and can be time-consuming, especially if you have a large amount of data to export.
  • Potential for Errors: Manually exporting and converting OLM files to CSV format can be prone to errors, especially if you are not familiar with the process. Errors could result in missing or corrupted data, or a file that is not in the correct format.
  • Lack of Support: Since the manual technique is not an officially supported feature of Outlook for Mac, there is no technical support available if you encounter any issues or problems during the process.

Overall, while the manual process of migrating OLM folder to CSV format is a good option for basic data and for those who are comfortable with the process, it may not be the best option for everyone. If you need to convert more complex data or want more support and functionality, it may be worth considering a professional third-party tool.

How to Export OLM Folder to CSV on Mac using Professional Tool?

Mac OLM to CSV Converter is a perfect program that is specifically designed to export contacts from Outlook for Mac to CSV on a Mac computer. Since OLM files are used by Microsoft Outlook for Mac, OLM to CSV Converter for Mac Tool is particularly useful for Mac users who need to import their Mac Outlook emails to a more flexible and widely supported format like CSV. The tool can export OLM folders to CSV file format quickly and easily, and may offer additional features such as batch processing, selective data conversion, supports all Outlook editions, maintain folder structure, etc. A wonderful interactive user-friendly UI interface makes it simple for even home users to perform tasks. Start the procedure by following the below-listed working steps-

  1. Download and install the CubexSoft Mac OLM Converter Tool on any Mac OS device.
  2. Launch the application and click on the “Add Files/Folder” button to add the OLM mailbox data that you want to move.
  3. Choose the CSV file format as the output format from the list of available formats.
  4. Select the Destination Folder where you want to save the converted CSV files.
  5. Hit the “Export” tab to start the conversion task. Wait for the conversion procedure to complete.
  6. Once the Conversion Process is Complete, you can navigate to the destination folder to access the converted CSV files.

Final Lines

Exporting Mac Outlook OLM files to CSV file format on a Mac can be done using a manual method or with the help of an alternative OLM File to CSV Tool. While the manual method is free, it has some limitations and may be prone to errors. On the other hand, using a dedicated OLM File to CSV Tool like the CubexSoft Outlook for Mac to CSV File Converter offers more advanced features and a user-friendly interface, making the conversion process faster and easier. Whether you choose to use the manual method or third-party software, saving OLM files to CSV format can be a useful way to make your Outlook data more flexible and widely accessible.