FOFC's IT knowledge bank (again) - email transition

QuikSand · 08-03-2010, 03:44 PM

Once again asking for some guidance from this site. Tedious situation.

Short version is:

-Former employee at my office, worked here forever, tied up tons of personal and business stuff in our email system (we use Novell GroupWise)

-He has left the office, and on a temporary basis I have allowed him to retain and use the email account

-I am trying to tie up this loose end, and get him "transitioned" out of our email address, and into something else of his choosing (I have pledged that we'd help out with the transition)

-It appears that he is preparing to "go Apple" at home and get a Mac and iPhone as his main email setup for his own use

Is my best bet here to go to my local Apple store and get their guidance on what I need to have done to get this taken care of?

Coffee Warlord · 08-03-2010, 03:50 PM

You can't just alias his email account to forward onto a new addy of his choosing?

Fidatelo · 08-03-2010, 03:51 PM

Could you just setup an auto-forward rule on his current account to whatever he wants to use for his new account and then tell him he has X days (60, 90, whatever) before the auto-forward is cut off?

QuikSand · 08-03-2010, 03:55 PM

Yes, I am planning to do an auto-forward and then eventually shut down the current address. That's pretty much a given.

Guess I am not articulating well. He wants to retain access to all his old emails and contacts and whatnot from our email server, into which he seems to have embedded his entire life over a long time at the office.

jeff061 · 08-03-2010, 03:58 PM

So yeah, you need to export from Groupwise into a file then import that file into his Apple client.

Unfortunately I don't know anything about Apple and Groupwise to give you exact steps

. Is "Apple" a mail client on a Mac system or is it something web based?

cartman · 08-03-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

You can't just alias his email account to forward onto a new addy of his choosing?

This.

Generate an email archive out of GroupWise, and then change their account settings to auto-forward to their new email address.

There are various tools to import the GroupWise archive into the mail client of choice.

jeff061 · 08-03-2010, 04:02 PM

Quote:

There are various tools to import the GroupWise archive into the mail client of choice.

Looks to be what he's keying in on.

I guess we need to know what Groupwise client is installed on your work system(maybe redundant, I don't know Groupwise) and what exactly he means by "go Apple", that can mean web based and there are several non-web Apple clients he could use.

Fidatelo · 08-03-2010, 04:05 PM

Nice of you to help a guy out, but I'm a little surprised. I would never use a work account for personal emails, and even if I did, I would never think to ask "hey can you export that stuff for me?". Seems pretty odd. Does he store his utility bills and tax receipt information in your filing cabinets as well?

Daimyo · 08-03-2010, 04:06 PM

I'm not familiar with Novel Groupwise, but we use Exchange and have this issue with students when they graduate.

Once he gets his new Mac he should be able to have it connect to your email system and download all mail, contacts, and calendar events locally (likely via the IMAP protocol, if you support that). He could then use something like MobileMe (from Apple) to get everything sync'ed between his computer and his phone or connect Mac Mail to something like Gmail and copy everything up.

QuikSand · 08-03-2010, 04:06 PM

Sorry, I'm just out of my depth here, and am not sure that I have answers to the range of questions.

We are using GroupWise 7.0, and from his notes he intends to migrate to MobileMe so he can use his Mac/iPhone as his main email devices.

jeff061 · 08-03-2010, 04:08 PM

I find it very common, especially with the long timers. Even more so if they are well respected(and thus not paranoid).

QuikSand · 08-03-2010, 04:10 PM

And from what I'm reading here, my guy (the source of what I claim to know about this situation) doesn't even have his own facts straight, which makes this pursuit even more hopeless. Seriously, sorry for the wild goose chase.

jeff061 · 08-03-2010, 04:13 PM

Yeah, with Exchange(or about any POP/IMAP capable system) I could help you out. I just don't know enough about Groupwise, how it exports and what format it can export to.

jeff061 · 08-03-2010, 04:17 PM

Who manages your Groupwise system, can they give you a hand?

cartman · 08-03-2010, 04:18 PM

This might help. It is a walk-through from a college on how to pull your GroupWise mail into Thunderbird for folks who are leaving school. The process should be similar for other mail clients besides Thunderbird.

How-to: Export Your GroupWise When You Leave UNT

JonInMiddleGA · 08-03-2010, 04:19 PM

I'd offer to help but haven't touched Groupwise in close to 15 years, I suspect my recollection & knowledge is a tad out of date

QuikSand · 08-03-2010, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff061

Who manages your Groupwise system, can they give you a hand?

Thus far, he has offered just a fifth of a hand in this effort. There's a personnel component to this adventure as well, it seems.

jeff061 · 08-03-2010, 04:22 PM

Cartman's post should work for just about any mail client, including Apple ones(I think), as long as IMAP is enabled on Groupwise(which for all I know it may always be).

JonInMiddleGA · 08-03-2010, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Thus far, he has offered just a fifth of a hand in this effort.

Nice. Subtle.

jeff061 · 08-03-2010, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Nice. Subtle.

Heh, yeah. What you need to do is support your local consultants

(especially you MA folk). If you're already doing that, kick him to the curb and get another.

cartman · 08-03-2010, 04:50 PM

Mail migration used to be one of my specialties, so if you hit a wall (or a 2nd 1/5th) QS, lemme know and I'll see what I can do to help out.

QuikSand · 08-03-2010, 05:10 PM

Many thanks for your thoughts, that gives me some direction at least.

lordscarlet · 08-03-2010, 05:15 PM

Here's what no one seems to be mentioning and perhaps taking it for granted.

Does Mr. Former Employee have a new email account somewhere else? You can export all of the mail files you want, and he can "go Apple" with MobileMe, but he needs an email address and server to receive his future emails. There are basically four things that need to happen here.

1) Setup guy to "go Apple" by getting his Apple mail client to connect to his new email server
2) Setup email forwarding to new email address
3) Export old emails/contacts
4) Import old emails/contacts into Apple mail client

steps 1 and 2 are dependent on him having an email account somewhere else.

jeff061 · 08-03-2010, 06:33 PM

Well that's what everyone is mentioning. Specifically the question is how to do #3 from Groupwise into a format that #4 can recognize.

johnnyshaka · 08-03-2010, 06:40 PM

Not sure what company standards are set at but anywhere I've worked corporate/business email accounts and any email residing in that account belong to the corporation/business...therefore this should be a moot point. Tell him, too bad, so sad but it isn't his email.

Not sure what kind of company you are working for but setting a precedence like this could come back to bite you in the butt. And if you don't have policies regarding this kind of stuff, I'd get on that ASAP.

hoopsguy · 08-04-2010, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff061

Cartman's post should work for just about any mail client, including Apple ones(I think), as long as IMAP is enabled on Groupwise(which for all I know it may always be).

Missed this post when it originally went up, but this quoted part mentioned by jeff061 may be where you have to work with the IT guy ... I don't believe this option is selected by default with GroupWise 7.0.

If that option is in play then cartman's solution should do the trick.

08-03-2010, 03:58 PM	#5
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	So yeah, you need to export from Groupwise into a file then import that file into his Apple client. Unfortunately I don't know anything about Apple and Groupwise to give you exact steps . Is "Apple" a mail client on a Mac system or is it something web based? __________________

08-03-2010, 04:05 PM	#8
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	Nice of you to help a guy out, but I'm a little surprised. I would never use a work account for personal emails, and even if I did, I would never think to ask "hey can you export that stuff for me?". Seems pretty odd. Does he store his utility bills and tax receipt information in your filing cabinets as well? __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

08-03-2010, 04:08 PM	#11
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	I find it very common, especially with the long timers. Even more so if they are well respected(and thus not paranoid). __________________

08-03-2010, 04:13 PM	#13
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	Yeah, with Exchange(or about any POP/IMAP capable system) I could help you out. I just don't know enough about Groupwise, how it exports and what format it can export to. __________________

08-03-2010, 04:17 PM	#14
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	Who manages your Groupwise system, can they give you a hand? __________________ Last edited by jeff061 : 08-03-2010 at 04:17 PM.

08-03-2010, 03:50 PM	#2
Coffee Warlord Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Colorado Springs	You can't just alias his email account to forward onto a new addy of his choosing?

08-03-2010, 03:51 PM	#3
Fidatelo Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winnipeg, MB	Could you just setup an auto-forward rule on his current account to whatever he wants to use for his new account and then tell him he has X days (60, 90, whatever) before the auto-forward is cut off? __________________ "Breakfast? Breakfast schmekfast, look at the score for God's sake. It's only the second period and I'm winning 12-2. Breakfasts come and go, Rene, but Hartford, the Whale, they only beat Vancouver maybe once or twice in a lifetime."

08-03-2010, 03:55 PM	#4
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	Yes, I am planning to do an auto-forward and then eventually shut down the current address. That's pretty much a given. Guess I am not articulating well. He wants to retain access to all his old emails and contacts and whatnot from our email server, into which he seems to have embedded his entire life over a long time at the office.

08-03-2010, 04:06 PM	#9
Daimyo College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Berkeley	I'm not familiar with Novel Groupwise, but we use Exchange and have this issue with students when they graduate. Once he gets his new Mac he should be able to have it connect to your email system and download all mail, contacts, and calendar events locally (likely via the IMAP protocol, if you support that). He could then use something like MobileMe (from Apple) to get everything sync'ed between his computer and his phone or connect Mac Mail to something like Gmail and copy everything up.

08-03-2010, 04:10 PM	#12
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	And from what I'm reading here, my guy (the source of what I claim to know about this situation) doesn't even have his own facts straight, which makes this pursuit even more hopeless. Seriously, sorry for the wild goose chase.

08-03-2010, 04:18 PM	#15
cartman Death Herald Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas	This might help. It is a walk-through from a college on how to pull your GroupWise mail into Thunderbird for folks who are leaving school. The process should be similar for other mail clients besides Thunderbird. How-to: Export Your GroupWise When You Leave UNT __________________ Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint

08-03-2010, 04:19 PM	#16
JonInMiddleGA Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA	I'd offer to help but haven't touched Groupwise in close to 15 years, I suspect my recollection & knowledge is a tad out of date __________________ "I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis

08-03-2010, 04:22 PM	#18
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	Cartman's post should work for just about any mail client, including Apple ones(I think), as long as IMAP is enabled on Groupwise(which for all I know it may always be). __________________ Last edited by jeff061 : 08-03-2010 at 04:22 PM.

08-03-2010, 04:50 PM	#21
cartman Death Herald Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas	Mail migration used to be one of my specialties, so if you hit a wall (or a 2nd 1/5th) QS, lemme know and I'll see what I can do to help out. __________________ Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint

08-03-2010, 05:10 PM	#22
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	Many thanks for your thoughts, that gives me some direction at least.

08-03-2010, 05:15 PM	#23
lordscarlet Pro Starter Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Washington, DC	Here's what no one seems to be mentioning and perhaps taking it for granted. Does Mr. Former Employee have a new email account somewhere else? You can export all of the mail files you want, and he can "go Apple" with MobileMe, but he needs an email address and server to receive his future emails. There are basically four things that need to happen here. 1) Setup guy to "go Apple" by getting his Apple mail client to connect to his new email server 2) Setup email forwarding to new email address 3) Export old emails/contacts 4) Import old emails/contacts into Apple mail client steps 1 and 2 are dependent on him having an email account somewhere else. __________________ Sixteen Colors ANSI/ASCII Art Archive "...the better half of the Moores..." -cthomer5000

08-03-2010, 06:33 PM	#24
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	Well that's what everyone is mentioning. Specifically the question is how to do #3 from Groupwise into a format that #4 can recognize. __________________ Last edited by jeff061 : 08-03-2010 at 06:34 PM.

08-03-2010, 06:40 PM	#25
johnnyshaka College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton, AB	Not sure what company standards are set at but anywhere I've worked corporate/business email accounts and any email residing in that account belong to the corporation/business...therefore this should be a moot point. Tell him, too bad, so sad but it isn't his email. Not sure what kind of company you are working for but setting a precedence like this could come back to bite you in the butt. And if you don't have policies regarding this kind of stuff, I'd get on that ASAP.

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