PST-Parser

This is a parser for Outlook PST files written from scratch in pure JavaScript.

Usage

CLI

Mess around with test.js to get a basic sanity check of the lib/PST file.

> git clone https://github.com/IJMacD/pst-parser.git
> cd pst-parser
> node ./test.js ../path/to/file.pst

Module

> yarn add pst-parser

Use as a module in whatever JS module system you like (assuming it's somewhat modern).

The PSTFile constructor takes an ArrayBuffer.

import * as PST from "pst-parser";

if (file instanceof File) {
    const buffer = await file.arrayBuffer();

    const pst = new PST.PSTFile(buffer);

    const messageStore = pst.getMessageStore();
    console.log(messageStore.getAllProperties());

    const rootFolder = messageStore.getRootFolder();
    console.log(rootFolder.getAllProperties());

    if (rootFolder.hasSubfolders) {
        // Get listing of subfolders
        const entries = rootFolder.getSubFolderEntries();

        // Get folder object for the first subfolder
        const subFolder = rootFolder.getSubFolder(entries[0].nid);

        console.log(subFolder.displayName);

        // Get first 5 message entries
        const messageEntries = subFolder.getContents(0, 5);

        // Get actual message object
        const message = subFolder.getMessage(messageEntries[0].nid);

        console.log(message.getAllProperties());
    }
}

FAQ

What can it do?

It can read some (most?) parts of a PST file.

Can it write to a PST file?

No, read only.

Will this break?

Yes, I promise it will at some point. There's lots in the spec that's not implemented yet, merely because I haven't run into it with the limited set of test PST files I have to hand. You might not be so lucky.

There are also tons of edge cases and particular behaviours that only come into play in very specific situations. (e.g. The subject field has specific processing distinct from every other type of value stored in the pst file) Most of these are not implemented.

Will this destroy my data?

Fortunately it shouldn't. The library is read only, so unless something goes catastrophically wrong your data should be safe.

Do you have a demo site/project using this library?

Yes, I do. See this demo web app https://ijmacd.github.io/pst-browser/ with its source at https://github.com/IJMacD/pst-browser.

Can you give me a brief, very high level view of the layout, contents, structure and organisation of a PST file?

Sure, here you go.