Exporting contacts to a csv file using the Outlook export wizard is a very simple process provided some one very simple step is followed along with understanding some of the limitations.
The most important step is to manually map the actual fields you want to export. If you do not go through the manual mapping process, Outlook will use whatever export settings were used the last time the export process was used, however long ago that may have been. In short, it may not export what you want or need.
Also, the lazy approach is to use the default mapping which will result in every field on the Outlook field list getting exported which typically is completely unnecessary for the vast majority of people.
The limitations are
- can’t export user-defined fields
- can’t export individual street address lines when a multi-part street address exists even though the export list shows 3 street address fields
- can’t export the FileAs field
- can’t add any Outlook fields that are not listed by the import/export wizard