What is PST and How to Paste It?
PST stands for Personal Storage Table, a file format used by Microsoft Outlook to store emails, contacts, calendar entries, tasks, and other information. When you want to share or transfer your Outlook data, you often need to export it as a PST file. This file can then be easily moved to another computer or imported into a different Outlook account.
Why Do We Need to Paste PST?
There are several reasons why you might need to paste a PST file:
- Sharing Outlook data: If you want to share your emails, contacts, or other information with someone else, you can export it as a PST file and then share the file with them.
- Moving Outlook data to a new computer: If you're upgrading to a new computer, you can export your Outlook data as a PST file and then import it into your new Outlook account.
- Creating a backup of your Outlook data: You can create a backup of your Outlook data by exporting it as a PST file and storing the file in a safe location.
How to Paste PST:
There are two main ways to paste a PST file:
1. Using the "Import and Export" feature in Outlook:
- Open Microsoft Outlook and click on File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
- Select Import from another program or file and click Next.
- Choose Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next.
- Browse to the location of the PST file you want to paste and click Next.
- Select the Import items into the current folder option and click Next.
- Choose the folder where you want to import the PST file and click Finish.
2. Using a third-party tool:
There are several third-party tools available that can help you paste PST files. These tools often offer additional features such as:
- Splitting large PST files: If your PST file is too large to be imported into Outlook, you can use a third-party tool to split it into smaller files.
- Repairing corrupted PST files: If your PST file is corrupted, you can use a third-party tool to repair it.
- Converting PST files to other formats: Some tools can convert PST files to other formats such as CSV, EML, or MBOX.
Tips for Pasting PST:
- Make sure the PST file is not corrupted: If the PST file is corrupted, you may not be able to import it into Outlook. You can try using a third-party tool to repair the file.
- Backup your Outlook data before pasting a PST file: It's always a good idea to create a backup of your Outlook data before importing a PST file. This will help you restore your data if something goes wrong.
- Consider using a third-party tool if you need advanced features: If you need to split large PST files, repair corrupted PST files, or convert PST files to other formats, you may want to consider using a third-party tool.
Examples of Pasting PST:
1. Importing contacts from a PST file:
- Export your contacts from your old Outlook account as a PST file.
- Import the PST file into your new Outlook account.
- Your contacts will now be imported into the Contacts folder of your new Outlook account.
2. Combining multiple PST files:
- If you have multiple PST files that you want to combine, you can use a third-party tool to merge them into a single file.
- Import the merged PST file into your Outlook account.
- Your data from all the PST files will be combined into your Outlook account.
Conclusion
Pasting PST files is a common task for Outlook users who need to share, transfer, or backup their data. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily import PST files into your Outlook account and access your important data.