It is possible to work with Exchange mailbox data only if utilizing the Exchange organization’s tools; if it is necessary to use the offline EDB file and apply another program, the data in it needs to be converted to Outlook PST. There are a few different ways to accomplish this-
Manual Method Using PowerShell
There is the cmdlet called New-Mailbox Export Request in the Exchange Management Shell and it helps copy mailboxes from an Exchange database to the PST. Here’s how it works:
1-Launch the Exchange Management Shell in administrative mode.
2-Run the following cmdlet to get a list of mailboxes in the EDB database:
Get-MailboxStatistics -Database <DatabaseName>
3-List down the mailbox names you wish to export.
4-Run the following cmdlet to export a mailbox to a PST file:Run the following cmdlet to export a mailbox to a PST file:
New-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox <MailboxName> -FilePath ServerShareMailboxName. pst
5-Monitor the export request status with:Monitor the export request status with:
Get-MailboxExportRequest
This manual method works, but it has some drawbacks:
-It has the precondition that Exchange Server needs to be installed and active.
-The export of a mailbox is a one-time process which means that you can only export one mailbox at a time.
-It does not maintain the hierarchy of the folder structures.
-This does not work, depending on the type of folder, with Public folders.
Using the Exchange Admin Center
If you have an Exchange Server 2013 or later, you can use the Exchange Admin Center to export mailboxes to PST:
1-Click Exchange Admin Center then navigate to Recipients and then Mailboxes
2-Choose the mailboxes that are you would wish to export
3-This button will be the “Export to a PST file” button
4-Choose the export settings for your file and click the Save button.
This method is a bit easier than the PowerShell approach, but it still has limitations:
-The first is that Exchange Server must be running.
-It can only export a number of mailboxes at a time
-Though, it is not suitable when it comes to public folders
Using a Third-Party EDB to PST Converter Tool
In order to correct the limitation of these manual approaches, you may have to go for a specific EDB to PST conversion tool. These tools allow you to:
-You can use the program to save/export EDB files even when the Exchange server is not installed.
-It possible to convert multiple mailboxes and public folders in some cases at a time
-The resulting files should retain the structure of subfolders from the original folder
-Exclude every field that is not what you want to export
-Export also saves as PST in addition to other file extensions including EML, MSG, HTML, etc.
Among such tools, there is the Shoviv EDB to PST Converter. It provides a simple wizard-based interface to guide you through the conversion process:
1-Locate the folder where the EDB file is to be converted into PST.
2-Choose the mailboxes, the public folders and filters
3-Choose PST as the output option
4-The location of PST file has to be defined
5-Start the conversion
The tool supports Recovery of EDB files from all Exchange versions and the hierarchy of the folders will be intact. It also supports splitting of the large PST files into the small segments in order to enhance the management of the files.
Some other key features of the Shoviv EDB to PST Converter include:
–EDB to Office 365 and Live Exchange migration is possible directly.
-Choice of installing the attachments to a different directory
-Gradual migration to prevent the creation of duplicates
-Detailed log reports
-Demo trial version available
This is why the use of the tool above can easily help convert EDB to PST without the loss or addition of any data. The manual methods mentioned above have disadvantages and are even tiresome but with the help of a converter you can quickly get a result.
Conclusion
Therefore, to sum up, you can convert EDB to PST manually by PowerShell or Exchange Admin Center, and these tools have some inconveniences. PowerShell scripts need appropriate technical skills and knowledge to enable and execute while the Exchange Admin Center method is available only for updated Exchange Server versions. Manual methods also have their drawback of data loss or corruption during the process of conversion that both of them have.
However, there is a special EDB to PST converter tool named Shoviv EDB to PST Converter that provides an accurate, effective and easier solution than the manual method. It comes with a very friendly graphical user interface that gives clear instructions on the type of conversion to be done and how to go about it without having to type many commands.
