Importing Internet Explorer Favorites to Safari 5

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Importing Internet Explorer Favorites to Safari 5

New Mac user, did a search and thought this would be a popular topic but got no hits. I also searched web but the instructions I got don't do it.

I copied my explorer favorites on disk then copied that to the Finder File. Clicked Safari "File" then import, favorites folder shows up and list of favorite folders plus files show up but the "import" button is grey'd out. I believe the actual url is not showing up as MS Explorer can open it just from the favorites folder, but Safari (Mac OS) doesn't seem to recognize it. Can anyone help on this one.
Thanks

macbook pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Aug 13, 2010 9:52 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 13, 2010 11:04 AM in response to 1stiPod

HI and welcome to Apple Discussions...

Try here: http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/movingmicrosoft_internet_explorer_favorites_to_apple_safaribookmarks/

Not having imported IE Favs to Safari Bookmarks, not certain it will work but worth a try.

There's an app called Safari Enhancer to imports IE Favs to Safari but it's no longer updated to run with the current version of Safari, unfortunately.

I copied my explorer favorites on disk then copied that to the Finder File.

Instead of copying the favs, you need to Export as HTML. Try the instructions at the link above.

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 2

1stiPod Author

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Aug 13, 2010 11:28 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thanks Carolyn, but that's the link I found and followed instructions from - which did not work. It appears I need a list of the actual urls rather than a file name, which doesn't seem possible to get (at least batched) from IE. I'll look a little closer at the link to see if it tells me how to get the urls.

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Answer 3

Aug 13, 2010 11:32 AM in response to 1stiPod

I'm going to try and get more help for you.

🙂

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Answer 4

1stiPod Author

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Aug 13, 2010 11:48 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thanks. I went into IE favorites and found that they are listed with shortcut names. I can get the url by hovering the shortcut or by clicking properties, but there seems no way to list the url. I'm guessing that MAC sees the file and the shortcut names but can't decipher the underlying url as IE does.

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Answer 5

Aug 13, 2010 11:50 AM in response to 1stiPod

I think it's an HTML thing. If you were go the other way and export Safari Bookmarks, it exports as an HTML file which can then be Imported into browsers like Firefox.

Perhaps Microsoft isn't as user friendly.

🙂

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Answer 6

TildeBee

Level 7

31,917 points

Aug 13, 2010 12:06 PM in response to 1stiPod

whyamac --

In IE, can you choose to EXPORT bookmarks?
Instead of copying them?

If you can , choose a disk to export them to,
and then import over to your Safari.

Hope this helps.

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Answer 7

1stiPod Author

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Aug 13, 2010 6:17 PM in response to TildeBee

Yes Bee, that was the solution. I exported to disc then imported from disc into Safari. File names came out a little different that way. Example: xxxxxx.url The url name and the url address copied to Safari bookmarks no problem. Thanks all for the great help

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Answer 8

TildeBee

Level 7

31,917 points

Aug 13, 2010 6:34 PM in response to 1stiPod

Way cool, why!
SO glad you're all sorted now.
Made my day, you did!
🙂

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