NSF File Format – What are NSF Files and How to Access Lotus Notes?

Summary: Lotus Notes was one of the earliest office solutions for email, messaging, and calendars. In 1990, Lotus Development launched Lotus Notes (famed for their groundbreaking Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet). The company was later acquired by IBM. Lotus Notes is now known as HCL Notes.

Can an IT admin seamlessly change the technology from Lotus to Microsoft Outlook without losing data? Without a doubt, MS Outlook has emerged as the largest email client. It will be natural for an enterprise with a legacy system to migrate to a more popular product. It was not possible till recently. NSF File Extension or NSF was not easily convertible. Stellar Data Recovery has developed the Stellar Converter for NSF for this very reason. Let’s look at what makes the Stellar Converter for NSF suitable and how to convert NSF files to PST.

What is NSF File?

NSF file extension or Notes Storage Facility is the file format used by Lotus Notes.  The NSF file is usually hosted by Lotus Domino Server. When needed the client can download and use Lotus Notes to view these database files in a completely offline mode. NSF is also available via a web application with an URL that contains .nsf.

Where to find the IBM Lotus Notes NSF file location? 

For Windows users NSF files are located in AppData > Local > Lotus > Notes > Data. 

Types of NSF files

There are many types of NSF files

• Mailbox NSF files are for email, calendar, and tasks. 
• Names NSF files save the name of the contact and other information.
• There are also NSF files for Bookmarks, the Internet, etc to save information. 

How to Access NSF files?

NSF is a proprietary file format. It is a database file.  You have to use IBM Lotus Notes or IBM Lotus Domino. 

All that you have to do is go to File > Database > Open 

The file might be saved locally or on the Lotus Domino server. Select the location in the dialog box and click Open. 

Opening an NSF file (in other applications) 

NSF to PST conversion is no easy task without third-party software. There is no direct way but it is possible to convert Lotus Notes to CSV. CSV or Comma Separated Value file looks like a spreadsheet but is actually a plain text file containing data separated by commas. 

1. Start HCL Notes (the current name of Lotus Notes).
2. Click on File and select Export. 
3. Select a destination folder. 
4. In the navigation box, you would also be able to choose the file type. Select CSV or Comma Separated Value
5. Name the file and complete Export 

Now the second phase 

• Launch Outlook on your PC 
• Click File > Open & Export
  
  
• Click Import & Export 
• Select Import from another program or file from the list 

• Click Next and Comma Separated Values
  
• Browse to where you have stored the CSV file
• Outlook will create a PST file. Choose Inbox to save it.
  
  
• Click Finish
  
  

Stellar Converter for NSF

There is no easy way to convert NSF to PST. Workarounds exist such as changing NSF to CSV and converting CSV back to PST but it is not error-free. Stellar Converter for NSF is an ideal solution. It has a five-star rating on Trustpilot due to its ease of use and perfect conversion record.  It is compatible with both the latest versions of Lotus Notes 12 and Office 2021. You need to have both installed on your PC for the conversion to happen smoothly. 

Features of Stellar Converter for NSF

• Direct Conversion

Stellar Converter for NSF offers direct conversion. This is the best way compared to methods that first change it to CSV and reconvert.

• Change specific files to PST

Every mailbox is full of useless items – vintage market research, budget estimates from five years back, and so on. Select and convert what you want. There is a handy “Find” option to help you.

• Batch conversion

Join multiple NSF files into one PST using the batch conversion option. If you were using multiple NSF types (as above) this helps you have all data in a single file and location making it easy to access and backup.

• Preview before you convert NSF to PST

Preview the files you want to convert from inside the Stellar Converter for NSF. Read it and find out without going through Lotus Notes.

Also, read more Stellar Lotus Notes to Outlook Converter Software

Last Words 

If you are looking for an NSF to PST converter, there is no better option than a Stellar Converter for NSF. It comes to you from the developers of Stellar Data Recovery Software, the #1 recovery software for failed HDD and SSD. Call us now and we shall assist you in every way possible.