How can I import categories into Outlook 365 from Outlook 10 when user only used Outlook for calendars (not email)

Question

I am upgrading a user from Outlook 2010 to Outlook Microsoft 365. She only uses Outlook for calendars. She does not use it as an email client. Her calendars heavily use categories. Categories don't transfer with exporting and importing the .pst file so I looked at other options, specifically these:

https://www.msoutlook.info/question/611

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=how+to+transfer+categories+in+outlook&ia=web

Both procedures require that you right-click on the email account, choose Properties, and click the button "Upgrade to Color Categories". Since she doesn't have email, this will not work.

I'm at a loss. Is there some other procedure for importing calendar categories on Microsoft 365 that's different from prior versions?

Answer 1

Hi @Deborah Leschinsky

Glad to hear this issue has been resolved!

Thanks for the sharing.

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However, due to a recent update in forum policy, the question author now is not able to accept their own answers. So, I have written a brief summary of the solution this issue. Please feel free to accept it as the answer, which would benefit others who also has similar issues in forum.

Summary: [How can I import categories into Outlook 365 from Outlook 10 when user only used Outlook for calendars (not email)]

Issue: How can I import categories into Outlook 365 from Outlook 10 when user only used Outlook for calendars (not email).

Solution: In the meantime, I found a 3rd party application that lets users share calendar categories on a network. I shared the user's calendar categories on her old computer with her new computer and the categories and colors transferred with no problems. The link to the free app is https://www.codetwo.com/freeware/catman/. It was a very easy process.

Note: Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. The sites are not controlled by Microsoft.

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Answer 2

Hi @Deborah Leschinsky

How do you set up to use only Outlook calendar without email?

According to our research, an email client is required to export calendar items. You can try exporting color categories using Power Shell. To use them, open PowerShell ISE, paste the script (and edit), and then run.

For more details, you could refer to: Use PowerShell to Export and Import Categories (slipstick.com).

Note: Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. The sites are not controlled by Microsoft.

Is there some other procedure for importing calendar categories on Microsoft 365 that's different from prior versions?

To learn more about importing and exporting categories, please see: Import email, contacts, and calendar from an Outlook .pst file - Microsoft Support.

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