UNIX email conversion to MS Outlook---- $100

I have some files that represent a "Mail" directory.  Inside each
"Mail" directory are one or more mail files thought to be in the Unix
MBOX format.  Each of these files originally corresponded to what
today is considered mailbox "folders" and thus the structure of the
"Mail" folder for each user needs to be retained.
These individual mail folders are thought to contain individual emails
that may have file attachments in both Macintosh, Unix, and some PC
formats.

The bottom line is: I need these files converted from their native
format into Outlook.  Retaining the original folder structure is
essential.  If you think that you can do it, I will email you some
sample files to work with... if you figure it out you will be my best
friend!

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Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 07 Apr 2005 17:35 PDT

Dear b_law,

I think I have found instructions and supporting software that will
enable you to convert the Unix Mbox files to the MS Outlook format.
But since I don't know if the procedure will work for you, I would
like you to ask that you try it first (with backup versions of your
files, if I may recommend that) and then let me know if it worked to
your satisfaction. I won't post a final answer before you confirm that
it worked; otherwise, I hope that one of my colleagues has better
advice.

Here is what to do:

1. Read the instructions on this website carefully before following
the steps described there.:
http://wiki.complexfission.com/twiki/bin/view/Info/UnixEmailToOutlook

2. Please note that the link to the download of the conversion tool
"e2m" does not work anymore. But you can dowload the tool here:
http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/files/home.htm
It is the fourth link on that page. Make sure that you read the comment provided.

It is not a very comfortable method, but I hope that it will work.
Please let me know the results.

Regards,
Scriptor

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Clarification of Question by b_law-ga on 08 Apr 2005 13:55 PDT

The provided website didnt quite do the trick.  The first step of the
recomendation says: "Copy your current mbox into a file having .mbx
extention."  Unfortunatley  I dont have a simple mbox file to copy;
rather, I have a whole mess of Unix files that supposedly represent an
"MBOX" account.

What I really need to know is: what are the files that I have and how
can I restore them.  Is it possible to have someone look at my files,
or is this simply out of the scope of Google Answers?

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Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 08 Apr 2005 14:38 PDT

I think that this is indeed beyond what we can do. We are not allowed
to establish any kind of contact with customers outside Google
Answers, but that would be neccessary in order to send us those files.
And for obvious reasons, you can't even put them online and give us
the URL so we can download the files and analyze them - millions of
other people could read the URL here, download the files, maybe even
convert them and read your e-mails.

Neverletheless, I hope that one of my colleagues with better knowledge
in this field has an idea that can help you.

Scriptor

This is a rather high-level description of one possible way.

If the computer hosting the mail directories has a mail server
configured providing an IMAP interface, you can simply configure the
MS Outlook client to connect the mail servier, and then manually
download all the mail.  Once in Outlook, you can view, read, and even
archive, store, package the entire mail structure, including folders,
messages, and attachments in any of the formats that Outlook can
export.

Obviously, this solution relies on having a mail server with an IMAP
interface on the UNIX box.  It might be worthwhile to install one just
for this reason.

If you need to do this per user, the manually overhead is probably too much.
It might even be worthwhile to install one just to get the job done.