One of the more useful email functions is the ability to import and export messages to and from Outlook Express. As an email administrator one of your goals is to ensure that all users are able to perform their daily work without problems. That includes the need to import and export files and messages.

But from time to time a user or two will run into trouble during the import or export process. One of the error messages they may receive when they try to import something will look like the following:

A message or messages could not be imported from the MAPI (Message Application Programming Interface) client. The error message is also kind enough to notify you that “…an error has occurred.”
 
Error alerts can also be generated when users attempt to export messages from Outlook Express. A notification will occur to indicate that the export process could not be performed and that there may have been an error while initializing MAPI.

There are more than a couple reasons why imports and export cannot happen. It is always possible that there are network issues. One of the easiest and most routine diagnostic check to make is to issue the “ping” command.

It is also possible that after a successful import of mail from Outlook into Outlook Express, that Outlook itself may have been removed from the server before the attempt to import the mail into Outlook Express. It is also possible that Outlook Express has been configured as the default Simple Messaging application programming interface (MAPI) client. Or, one of the simplest explanations is that Outlook is not installed on the server computer.

If you want to check your network connection you can ping an IP (Internet Protocol) address by opening up an (MS-DOS) Command Prompt window and then running the “ping” command.

• Go to the Start in the lower left corner
• Click on the Start button
• Pull right on the All Accessories arrow and find the Accessories pull-right menu
• Pull-right or click on the Accessories to bring up the menu
• Select Command Prompt.

You can test the ping command by typing “ping 127.0.0.1” to verify your loopback connection. But in this case you will most likely give the IP address for your router or gateway. You can also type in the IP address (or domain name if you are using DNS services) of a well-known machine such as www.google.com.

All of the steps above can be used to determine if you are able to make a connection to the outside world. If true, then you can go to verify that your import/export related settings are correct.

Once you’ve determined that your network connection is okay you can try two or three procedures to fix the import/export problem.

The first option is to reinstall Outlook but only temporarily. If you already removed Outlook and are trying it import mail from Outlook into Outlook Express you can try to reinstall Outlook and then again try to import your mail.

Another task you need to perform is to verify your MAPI settings are correct. If you need to change your MAPI settings then you must configure Outlook Express so that it is not the default Simple MAPI client before you import any mail items.

The first task you need to do is to:

• Restart your computer.
• Start Outlook Express.
• Bring up the Tools menu.
• Click on Options.
• When you get the Connection tab you should click Change which will open the Internet Properties dialog box.
• Next, on the Programs tab, select an email application from the email list that is not Outlook Express.
• Click Apply and then either hit the Enter key or click OK.
• You will also need to close the Options dialog box so click OK.
• Exit Outlook Express, and then restart it.

You should now be able to import and export messages with no issues.

Don’t forget to configure Outlook Express as the default MAPI client. Review the article, 178077, in the Microsoft Knowledge Base if you need more information about how to configure Outlook Express as the default MAPI client.

Obviously Outlook must be installed or you will receive additional error messages. You should also note that Outlook Express import and export capabilities are limited to an Outlook .pst file or an Exchange Server mailbox.

The last solution available to you is also a basic solution: an upgrade. You may need to upgrade to an email application which supports the import and export of messages.