Moving email from Kontact to Evolution in Linux
I’m seriously considering moving from Kubuntu to Ubuntu. If I do so, I’ll want to use Evolution to handle my email and to serve as my PIM. Before I make that move, I wanted to try Evolution on Kubuntu.
First snag? Getting my email moved over.
I have all my essential information under a data storage file folder on my home folder — so I always know where my most important data is stored. This means when I set up a new system (or do a re-gen of a current OS) I point my programs to where the data is always stored so I don’t have to “hunt and peck” to find my mission critical info. I also don’t have to spend an afternoon Googling “where does ______ store ______” over and over again.
Since I’m just testing the Evolution, I made sure that the accounts I set up were marked to leave the email on the server — that way they will all still “land” in the Kontact system, until I make a decision.
To move my current email files from Kontact to Evolution, I took the following steps:
- Copied my Kontact emails into a new folder (so I didn’t hose my current emails accidentally).
- Created a new account in Evolution:
- Go to Edit, Preferences, Mail Accounts (and hit the plus sign to the right).
- Add in bogus information, calling the account “import”
- Select server type “Maildir-format mail directories”
- Under configuration, select other and add a path that leads to the top-most folder copied from your Kontact (called ‘mail’ unless you renamed it)
- Be sure this isn’t your actual Kontact data, but is a copy.
- Add in bogus information to complete the account.
- Open up the “import” account and all your emails should be present.
- Move the emails (and folders) into your actual email account on Evolution.
- Once all the emails are moved over, delete the “import” account.
Hope this makes it easier to move over and give Evolution a try, if you have been using Kontact. I’d love to hear the pros and cons of this move from others who have (or are) making the move.
