How to Convert MSG to CSV for Excel Spreadsheets?

Are you often faced with the handling challenge of an influx of email messages saved in MSG format? Managing, analyzing, or sharing the data is challenging/burdensome. If so, it’s time to explore a seamless solution – converting MSG to CSV. This blog will convert MSG to CSV and how this conversion process will work. Users can also perform the exporting procedure through the Cigati MSG Converter.

Microsoft Outlook’s MSG format is a common way to store individual email messages, but it isn’t the most user-friendly format for data manipulation. On the other hand, Comma-Separated Values (CSV) files offer a tabular structure that’s easy to understand and work with. In fact, it makes them a preferred choice for data analysis and sharing.

Also Read: Convert MSG to TXT

Difference Between MSG and CSV Files

Basis	MSG File	CSV Format
Format	MSG stands for “Message” and primarily uses by Microsoft Outlook to store individual email messages, including metadata, formatting, attachments, and other related information.	CSV stands for “Comma-Separated Values” and represents tabular data, with each line representing a row and columns separated by commas.
Content	MSG files store emails as self-contained units, encompassing the sender’s and recipient’s details, subject, date, message body, attachments, and other email attributes.	CSV files contain plain text data in a simple and structured format, making them suitable for storing spreadsheet-like data with rows and columns.
Usage	They mainly opt for archiving and preserving email messages within Microsoft Outlook. Moreover, it allows for retrieval of the complete email with all its components intact.	CSV files are widely opting for data exchange, storage, and analysis. They’re compatible with various spreadsheet software, database management systems, and data manipulation tools.
Compatibility	While MSG files are directly openable in Microsoft Outlook and a few other email clients, they aren’t as universally compatible as CSV files when it comes to various software applications.	CSV files are highly compatible and can open, edited, and processed using a wide range of software applications, from spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel to programming languages like Python.
Complexity	Due to their comprehensive nature, MSG files can be more complex and harder to manipulate and analyze using generic data processing tools.	CSV files are easier in structure and content compared to MSG files. They contain data without complex formatting or email-specific attributes, making them easy to work with.

Now, we’ll move further towards the procedures section.

How to Convert MSG to CSV Using Top 2 Easy Methods?

The following section comprises the manual and a shortcut technique. First, we’ll elaborate on the manual procedure and then the professional solution.

Method 1: Import MSG Files into Excel Manually

If you want to move your Microsoft Outlook emails to a CSV format for easier handling, follow these steps.

• First, open up Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
• After that, we’ll make a new folder inside Outlook to organize the stuff.
• Just drag the MSG files and drop them into that new folder you made earlier.
• Moving ahead, restart your Outlook application.
• See the very tippy-top of Outlook where it says “File“? Click on that.
• Now, look for “Open & Export.”
• Choose “Import/Export” from the drop-down list.
• Choose “Export to a file” because we’re moving stuff out.
• Click the “Next” button.
• Now, it’s time to pick the format you want. Choose “Comma Separated Values (CSV).”
• Remember that folder you made earlier? Pick it! It is where your MSG email files are hanging out.
• Here’s where you decide where to put your new CSV files.
• You might see some options that let you match things up.
• Arrange things the way you want.
• Hit the “Finish” button.

Here is the manual solution to convert MSG files to CSV. Moreover, you can open them in all sorts of places like Excel or Google Sheets. Now, the prime point is that the above solution has some limitations that every user must know about them.

Disadvantages of Implementing Manually

• Exporting MSG files in Outlook can be time-consuming, especially with a number of emails.
• Manual procedures are prone to human errors.
• Mistakes can happen while dragging and dropping files, selecting options, or mapping fields, leading to inaccurate or incomplete data conversion.
• If you need to convert MSG files without Outlook’s interface or different email clients, this procedure won’t be applicable.
• You have to repeat the same steps for each batch of MSG files, which can become tedious and repetitive.
• Custom field mapping might be confusing for non-technical users.
• The manual method lacks advanced options for handling some cases, such as dealing with encrypted or password-protected MSG files.
• During the manual process, there’s a risk of accidentally deleting or overwriting vital emails or attachments.

IT Experts and professionals suggest an efficient solution to overcome all the circumstances.

Method 2: MSG to CSV Converter – Export Bulk MSG File to Excel in Few Steps

Cigati MSG Converter is the most comprehensive and top-notch utility. It helps users to convert MSG to CSV files efficiently. Moreover, it also supports you to convert MSG Files to EML without data loss. In fact, this software is competent enough to maintain data integrity and preserve hierarchical folders. In addition, this program assists users in accomplishing bulk conversion without interrupting a single piece of data. Now, it’s time to discuss the workings of the software.

Steps to Perform the MSG to CSV Conversion

• Download and install MSG Converter on your local screen.
• After that, browse the MSG files to proceed further.
• Here, preview the desired files and mark the folders to convert MSG to CSV files.
• Now, choose the CSV file from the drop-down list.
• Users can also opt for additional features accordingly.
• In the end, click the Convert button.

The End Verdict!

MSG files are specialized formats utilized for storing complete email messages within Microsoft Outlook. Meanwhile, CSV files are versatile formats opted for storing tabular data that can be easily processed and shared across different platforms and applications. By embracing the power of CSV’s structured file, you’ll unlock the potential to organize, analyze, and share your email data seamlessly. To sum up, you can use any of the above procedures to convert MSG to CSV accordingly.

You May Also Read: Extract Attachments from MSG Files

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