Use PST Collection Tool to Import Multiple PST File at Single Location

Unorganized file structure is always a cause of errors in an organization. It slows down the system performance as the process has to look for files at different locations. Moreover, if the file is not available at a specific place it generates error messages. Same thing is applicable if PST files are scattered over the network in an organization. It delays the process and affects the import PST feature in Outlook. PST Collection Tool from Microsoft helps to save multiple PST files to a central location.

This tool is available for free and it not only collects the PST files but also import PST to Office 365 or Exchange mailboxes. Multiple PST can be imported at once if they are available at a centralized location. The PST collection tool is the best way to search, import and delete PST files for free. The tool works on a command prompt window. Here we will see how to find, import and delete PST files over the network in an organization.

What PST Collection Tool Does

The tool first searches the PST files from several computers, devices over the network

• Collect mode saves the files in a single location
• Now import these files to Office 365 mailboxes
• Delete PST Files from the network

Thus, the PST Collection Tool enables Admins to manage files easily and ensure better organization of files.

How To Use PST Collection Tool

1. Find PST Files

Open the command prompt as administrator and from PST collection tool extract the DataCollectorMaster.exe

Run the command: DataCollectorMaster.exe -DataSource Pst -Mode Find -JobName PstSearch1 -Locations "CN=FILESERVER01,CN=Computers,DC=contoso,DC=com";"CN=FILESERVER02,CN=Computers,DC=contoso,DC=com" -LogLocation "c:\users\admin\desktop\PSTCollection" -ConfigurationLocation "c:\users\admin\desktop\PSTCollection\Configuration"

The command will look for PST at specified locations including server, computer and save to log file

2. Run Tool in Block Mode

DataCollectorMaster.exe -DataSource Pst -Mode Block -JobName <Name of job from Step 1> -ConfigurationLocation <Location of configuration files from Step 1> -BlockChangesToFiles –BlockNewFiles

This will find the PST but in block mode preventing users to create new PST or making any changes to it.

3. Save PST At central location

Go to the folder where PST Collection tool is downloaded

Type the command

DataCollectorMaster.exe -DataSource Pst -Mode Collect -JobName PstSearch1 -Locations "CN=FILESERVER01,CN=Computers,DC=contoso,DC=com";"CN=FILESERVER02,CN=Computers,DC=contoso,DC=com" -ConfigurationLocation "c:\users\admin\desktop\PSTCollection\Configuration" -CopyLocation "\\FILESERVER03\PSTs" -LogLocation "c:\users\admin\desktop\PSTCollection"

This will save all the multiple PST files at one location. Here select any one of the location where you want to save PST’s, like for Server, type server name only after ‘CopyLocation’ or local computer folder.

4. Import PST to Office 365

Now Import the PST files to Office 365 mailboxes. Try manual methods using Network Upload or drive shipping method. Another way is to use ‘Import PST to Office 365’ software for error-free migration without interruptions. This software moves multiple PST to multiple mailboxes by mapping the account details on CSV. The tool promises full migration of data, emails, messages, notes, tasks and calendar entries in perfect order.

5. Delete PST Files From the Network

Now all the PST files are available at one location, it is good to delete the scattered PST files over network. This would create more space on the server and helps in better PST file organization.

Run the command DataCollectorMaster.exe -DataSource Pst -Mode Delete -JobName PstSearch1 -ConfigurationLocation "c:\users\admin\desktop\PSTCollection\Configuration" -LogLocation "c:\users\admin\desktop\PSTCollection"

Each command saves the log file to check the status of activity that it gets fully completed or not. The PST collection Tool disables users to make any changes to existing PST too. In this way, a corrupt PST can be locked and others can be prevented from corruption. So, try the PST collection tool to manage multiple PST file and import PST to Office 365 and save them in a single place.