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How to Export Thunderbird Address Book to CSV Format?
Summary: Are you also one of the users who want to export Thunderbird address book to CSV format and you are looking for a manual method or a professional Thunderbird contacts converter? If yes, then you are on the right page.
Here I will explain one of the best and finest methods for your help. Also in this write-up, we will explain to you the complete details of the MAB and SQLite files.
As we know Mozilla Thunderbird is a widely used email client around the world which is open source and freely downloadable. Several people have expressed a desire to be free of it. The explanation for this is simple: they must be upgraded from time to time for various reasons. Thunderbird is a standalone desktop email client, whereas most users are migrating to the cloud.
However, before starting the “export Thunderbird address book” process, it is most important to understand the address book/contacts of Thunderbird.
The Thunderbird stores address book as Abook.mab file and Abook.SQLite file.
The Old Thunderbird email client saves the address books in MORK format. And the contacts are stored in abook.mab file format.
But in the new edition of Thunderbird email client address books are stored as SQLite files. Whenever Thunderbird stores a contact in the abook.sqlite file, it generates several temporary files, including abook.sqlite -shm and abook.sqlite -wal, to ensure that no contacts are lost during the process of writing them.
About MAB and SQLite Files
Thunderbird MAB File
MAB is a data format utilized by Thunderbird and Sea Monkey. It’s a file type for Netscape and Mozilla mail. It records names, email addresses, phone numbers, and addresses for both individual and commercial use.
Thunderbird Address Book SQLite File
SQLite Files is an integrated data seen in many apps. These apps utilize SQLite File as a self-contained data store to save data. The Android, Blackberry, and iPhone systems use SQLite to store data in tables, triggers, and fields. SQLite is used by desktop apps, online browsers including Chrome and Firefox, and instant messaging apps.
Below we have mentioned some steps to locate the default location of MAB and SQLite files.
What is the Thunderbird Address Book File Location?
- Firstly, open Thunderbird email client.
- Click on the “Menu” >> “Help”.
- Choose “More Troubleshooting Information”.
- Next to the “Profile Folder” click on “Open Folder”.
- At last, you will get the location of the .mab and .sqlite files.
How to Export Thunderbird Address Book to CSV?
- Step 1: Start the Thunderbird contacts converter.
- Step 2: Load your Thunderbird profile’s data.
- Step 3: Choose the folders from the panel.
- Step 4: Choose CSV as your saving option.
- Step 5: Enable the filters and select the location.
- Step 6: Click on the Convert icon to Thunderbird export contacts only.
These are the working steps of the Thunderbird contacts converter tool, which is very famous for converting Thunderbird’s data. To know more about it, you can check the professional solution.
How to Export Thunderbird Contacts to CSV Manually?
- Open Thunderbird on your system.
- Click on the “Address Book” from the top.
- Select the contacts that you want to export.
- Choose the “Export” option from the “Tools”.
- After that, browse the location to save the file.
- Lastly, click on the “Save”.
Manual Methods Drawbacks
- Users can not export Thunderbird address book to CSV including SQLite and MAB files in bulk.
- For each contact, the user must repeat the procedure again and again.
- This manual approach only works when your Thunderbird has been in working condition.
- Also, your Thunderbird account must configure properly.
Alternate Way to Export Thunderbird Address Book to CSV
RecoveryTools Thunderbird Contacts Converter is one of the best and most amazing software to convert Thunderbird address books. This tool is fully capable of exporting Thunderbird address book SQLite and MAB files. Also, users can easily migrate their huge address book without any file size restriction. Also, the Thunderbird address book converter loads data directly from the configured Thunderbird account.
Why Should Users Choose Professional Tool?
- The Thunderbird contacts converter can convert multiple MAB and SQLite files at one time.
- Also, this tool can select the data manually or automatically load the MAB and SQLite directly from the location.
- You can upload your single or multiple contacts files (MAB and SQLite) using the Select Files and Select Folders options.
- Also, automatically loading data from Thunderbird profile whether Thunderbird is working or not working is my favorite feature.
- The Thunderbird address book converter provides two file formats for containing data: CSV and vCard to export Thunderbird address book.
- Also, users can preview all the data before conversion by using the Thunderbird contacts converter.
- If your Thunderbird is corrupted or unable to open, in that case, this software will load all Thunderbird contacts data from the default location.
- Also, during the migration, the Thunderbird contacts converter preserves all formattings and headers.
How to Export Thunderbird Address Book to CSV/vCard?
- Firstly, download and install the Thunderbird contacts converter on your pc.
- After that, choose between “Convert Email” or “Convert Contacts & Calendars”.
- Choose any option to upload your Thunderbird contacts manually or automatically.
- After that, all the data of MAB and SQLite files will appear on the screen.
- Next, click on the “Select Saving Option” and choose the “VCF” or “vCard” option, as per your need.
- And then browse the desired saving location.
- Lastly, click on the “Convert” icon to export Thunderbird address book to CSV.
You Can Also Check
Why CSV and vCard Files?
CSV and vCard, are the only two formats which is best for containing your contacts & address books data. Here we have mentioned some more information about both formats for better understanding.
CSV File Format
A CSV file is any file that ends in “.csv.” This data file stands for “comma-separated value file” and is a frequent spreadsheet result. Also, a comma-separated value file contains data divided by commas. To make the data simpler to view and update, the spreadsheet app organizes comma-separated data into tables and rows.
Benefits of CSV File
- Widely used by others.
- Organize and edit easily.
- Also, many corporate software systems use it.
- Most spreadsheet applications use it.
vCard/VCF File Format
vCard is a common way to store and share contact information. vCard is preferable to CSV in that it can hold contact photographs, audio samples, and text (i.e., assigned ringtones). Email clients and platforms commonly accept vCard files. Therefore, no data is lost during contact exchange utilizing the vCard format.
- VCF is one of the quickest methods to exchange contact details.
- It also allows users to attach VCF files to emails and send contacts via tablets, phones, and laptops.
- Also, vCard files are suitable to use and accepted by many devices, apps, and platforms.
- The fundamental benefit of VCF files is that they can open and read in a text editor like Notepad.
Final Words
Finally, it’s time to say goodbye, we described everything about how to export Thunderbird address book to CSV format by using the best Thunderbird contacts converter and a complete overview of MAB and SQLite files. Also, the Thunderbird address book converter comes with a demo version, so users may utilize the free edition of this tool to export Thunderbird contacts.