# Outlook Express question: Rules import?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question-rules-import/448705>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 9, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question-rules-import/448705 "2008-05-09T15:10:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question-rules-import/448705/1 "2008-05-09T15:10:40Z")

</div>

Hey there,

I just got myself a brand spankin’ new computer, and I’ve managed to transfer over my mail files, my bookmarks, all that jazz. The only thing I haven’t been able to transfer over, or at least, have no idea how to do so, is my old message rules from OE. The thing is, every website I’ve seen says I have to do some serious editing to do this, stuff that ‘shouldn’t be done by amateurs’, and I’m about as skittish and amateur-ish as it gets. There’s gotta be an easier, more intuitive, and less dangerous way, right? … Right? Halp!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question-rules-import/448705/2 "2008-05-09T15:31:37Z")

</div>

[OEBackup](http://www.abf-soft.com/outlook-express-backup.shtml) will do this. The trial version is good for 30 days.  
It will back up and restore everything, including rules.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question-rules-import/448705/3 "2008-05-09T15:45:04Z")

</div>

The webpage listed says the trial version will only import / export the messages, not the rules. I’d rather not buy an entire program just for a one-off transfering of rules, although I will if I have to. Anyone have other suggestions / options?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question-rules-import/448705/4 "2008-05-09T15:49:50Z")

</div>

Oh, sorry.  
I bought it, so I didn’t realize there were limitations to the trial version other than the 30-day timeout.

Still… are you sure you really only want a one-off transfer? It sounds like your OE data is important to you and if it’s not backed up you are living dangerously.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\
**Post date:** [May 9, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outlook-express-question-rules-import/448705/5 "2008-05-09T16:20:59Z")

</div>

Well, the fact of the matter is that I know how to backup my messages and my accounts, there just seems to be no quick, easy way to back up -rules-, which baffles me quite a bit.