How to extract the calendar from an OST file?

Read time 7 minutes

Exchange data can be readily accessed through the Outlook application by configuring it with an Exchange account. Nevertheless, there may be occasions when it becomes imperative to preserve this data, particularly Calendar information, in a distinct file format.
Consider the predicament of one of my acquaintances who expressed, “I encountered an urgent requirement to access and share my calendar events from my Exchange mailbox. To address this, I decided to extract the data from my OST file and store it in a more user-friendly and accessible file format.”
Drawing upon my friend’s research and personal experience, I’ve gathered some practical methods for extracting calendar data from an OST file, which I’m excited to share with you in this blog post
Before we dive into those methods, let’s first explore the conventional approach of accessing the calendar from an OST file through an Exchange Server connection.

Accessing calendar from the OST file

Accessing and viewing Calendar information from an Exchange OST file necessitates synchronization between the Outlook email client and the Exchange Server. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this:

1. Close your opened Microsoft Outlook application.
2. Move to the Control Panel on your system and click on Mail option.
3. Click on the Mail tab, then select the Exchange account and click on Change option.
4. Next, unselect the Use Cached Exchange Mode option and click on the More Settings option.
5. Switch to the Advanced tab. Here click on Offline Folder File Settings option.
6. Click on Disable Offline Use option. Click Yes to continue.
7. Once more, click on Offline Folder File Settings, click on OK. Further, click on Yes to continue.
8. Now, select the option saying Use Cached Exchange Mode>>click on OK>>click on Next>>click on Finish.
9. Close the rest of the opened dialogue boxes.
10. Start the Microsoft Outlook application and go to the Calendar section of the OST mailbox to view it.

The next task would be how to extract calendar data n from the Exchange OST file.

Extracting OST data and saving it in a portable format offers significant convenience to users. This process is akin to creating a backup of OST data in a more accessible format. Occasionally, it may result in the creation of multiple Outlook OST files, but there’s no need for concern, as this is a common occurrence.
At times, users may encounter orphaned OST files that are inaccessible due to the absence of an Exchange connection or profile credentials. Extracting data from these orphaned files is possible, but it requires the use of a professional utility, which we will delve into and discuss later in this blog.

One can manually extract Calendar data from an OST file and save it to a PST file using the Import/Export feature in the Outlook application. However, it’s important to note that the OST file must be in a healthy state for successful extraction of data. Follow these steps carefully to extract the calendar from an OST file:

1. Launch your Microsoft Outlook application. Navigate to File>>Open & Export >> Import/Export.



2. Click on Export to a file option and click on Next.



3. Select Outlook Data File (.pst) as the option and click on Next.
4. Select Calendar folder from the retrieved folders of the OST file, select Include all subfolders option and click on Next.



5. Using the Browse option, provide the saving location of the PST file to which the Calendar folder will be exported. Finally, click on Finish.
6. Now, you have the OST file calendar extracted to a portable PST file at the specified location which you can load or import to any Outlook account to view it.

With this manual process, an extra process of Outlook switch from working Offline to Online or vice
versa for OST file extraction is included to work with this process.

The process of manually extracting Calendar data from an OST file can only be performed if the OST file is in a healthy state. If it’s not, you’ll need to recreate the OST file before proceeding with the extraction. Additionally, to successfully extract data, the Exchange Server must be available, and you should have access to the original Outlook profile. This method is not applicable to offline OST files or orphaned OST files.

However, if you find yourself dealing with an orphaned or inaccessible PST file containing calendar data, you can still export it using a third-party tool. Choosing the right OST conversion tool can be challenging, especially for busy users. Therefore, we recommend using the highly regarded “Kernel for OST to PST Converter” for this purpose.

This tool is known for its effectiveness and user-friendly interface, making it a reliable choice for converting and recovering data from OST files, even in complex scenarios such as orphaned or inaccessible files.

Kernel for OST to PST Converter is a versatile tool that can effectively repair and recover OST data from corrupt, damaged, inaccessible, or orphaned OST files. It allows you to transfer this data to various destinations, including PST, Exchange, and Office 365. What sets this tool apart is its ability to convert OST to PST files intelligently, all without requiring an active Exchange connection. Let’s now explore how to extract calendar data from an OST file using this tool in the following steps.

1. Launch the tool.
2. Browse and add the OST file for export or conversion. Click Next.



3. Select the Calendar folder from the retrieved mailbox folders, preview any item if you need and then click on Next.



4. Click on Save option on the top and then choose PST from the list. Click Next.



5. Apply Filter options as per your need.



6. Provide a saving path to your converted PST file and click on Finish.



7. The saving process will get started and complete shortly.

So, accessing and extracting OST data is easier with this advanced tool which users can try on their own at no cost via its free version. So, hurry up and extract data from your OST files.

Conclusion

Exporting OST calendar data to PST using native features is possible only when you have access to your OST files through Outlook. However, third-party tools offer the advantage of exporting contacts from an OST file even if the OST file is inaccessible, providing a valuable solution in such situations.