ARCHIVED: Using Netscape Communicator 4.x, how do I import my Pine Address Book?

There is no quick and easy way to import your Pine Address Book into Netscape Communicator 4.x. However, following the instructions below may be faster than re-entering each address book entry by hand. This procedure does not work for distribution lists, only nicknames for single addresses. For other solutions, see the Knowledge Base document ARCHIVED: How do I convert my email address book into a format used by another email program?

For Windows

1. Use FTP or secure FTP to transfer your .addressbook file from the home directory of your Unix account to your personal computer. Make sure you transfer the .addressbook file as a text file, as opposed to a binary file.
2. Once you have transferred the address book to your computer, open it in a text editor (e.g., Notepad).
3. You will need to remove all lines containing distribution list entries; Netscape Communicator will not import those. You should be left with a list of nicknames, with each line looking something like the following:

     darth     Darth Vader     dvader@empire.gov

   Insert a comma after each address book field, including one between the first and last name. The modified version of the previous example would be:

     darth,     Darth, Vader,     dvader@empire.gov

4. From the File menu, select Save As..., and save the file with the suffix .csv.
5. Start Netscape Communicator, and from the Communicator menu, select Address Book.
6. After the Address Book window opens, single-click Personal Address Book. Then, from the File menu, select Import....
7. In the Netscape Messenger Import Utility dialog box, select Text file (address book), and click Next>.
8. The Import Address Book dialog box will open. In the "File Format:" field, select Comma Separated (CSV) (it will probably be selected by default).
9. Click Browse..., and navigate to the Pine address book file you downloaded earlier. Select the file and click Open.
10. Back in the Import Address Book dialog box, in the Communicator Field window, you will have to designate which Netscape Communicator field equates to which Pine Address Book field in your address book. Here is what a sample entry should look like after you have assigned the fields correctly:

      Nickname:     "dvader"
      First Name:   "Darth"
      Last Name:    "Vader"
      Email:        "dvader@empire.gov"

11. After you have done this for a single entry, click the Import button and Netscape Communicator will import the address book file, automatically formatting all of the entries in the manner you indicated. Your address book will now be ready for use.

For Mac OS

1. Use FTP or secure FTP to transfer your .addressbook file from the home directory of your Unix account to your personal computer. Make sure you transfer the .addressbook file as a text file, as opposed to a binary file.
2. Once you have transferred the address book to your computer, open it in a text editor (e.g., SimpleText).
3. You will need to remove all lines containing distribution list entries; Netscape Communicator will not import those. You should be left with a list of nicknames, with each line looking something like the following:

     darth     Darth Vader     dvader@empire.gov

   Insert a comma after each address book field, including one between the first and last name. The modified version of the previous example would be:

     darth,     Darth, Vader,     dvader@empire.gov

   Make sure you save the file after you have finished modifying it.
4. Start Netscape Communicator, and from the Communicator menu, select Address Book.
5. After the Address Book window opens, single-click Personal Address Book. Then, from the File menu, select Import Address Book File....
6. In the Open dialog box, locate the Pine address book file you downloaded earlier and click Open.
7. The Netscape Import Utility will open. Click Text file (address book), and then click Next>.
8. In the Open dialog box that appears, again find the Pine address book file you downloaded earlier and click Open.
9. Back in the Import Utility, in the "File Format:" field, select Comma Separated (CSV) (it will probably be selected by default).
10. You will have to designate which Netscape Communicator field equates to which Pine Address Book field in your address book. Here is what a sample entry should look like after you have assigned the fields correctly:

      Nickname:     "dvader"
      First Name:   "Darth"
      Last Name:    "Vader"
      Email:        "dvader@empire.gov"

    If, after you have selected the last category, the others are blank, go back and reselect them. They will stay active the second time.
11. After you have done this for a single entry, click the Import button and Netscape Communicator will import the address book file, automatically formatting all of the entries in the manner you indicated. Your address book will now be ready for use.