Step 1: Initial program configuration

1. Run the "Software Manager" application in your Linux distribution to access the "application store". Do a search for "evolution"...several different packages should appear.

2. Install the following packages:

evolution
evolution-ews
evolution-plugins

3. Run Evolution...an initial welcome window should appear. Click "Next".

4. Click "Next" to skip past the "Restore from Backup" window.

5. In the "Identity" window enter all relevant personal information. Uncheck the box to have the program query the server based on the entered information. Click "Next" when done.

6. In the "Receiving Email" window enter the following information:

Server Type: Exchange Web Services

Username: <your e-mail address>@ur.rochester.edu

Host URL:

(Leave all other fields/options alone)

Click the "Fetch URL" button so Evolution can query the mail service. You should be asked for your e-mail password...please enter it. Once that finishes, the "OAB URL" field should autofill. If it does, click "Next".

7. In the "Receiving Options" window, set the "Check for new messages" option to 2 minutes, then click "Next".

8. In the "Account Summary" window, set the name of your account to something useful, then click "Next". Then click "Apply" at the final window.

9. The main Evolution mail window should now appear, along with a password prompt for your account. Once you've entered your password your mail folders should appear in the column on the left.

Step 2: Importing address book(s)

We can migrate your address book(s) from Thunderbird to Evolution (which utilizes the "Contacts" function in the program for this).

1. Within Thunderbird, at the top click on "Window -> Address book".

2. In the resulting window you'll see a few address books listed in the column on the left. Highlight the "All Address Books" header, then at the top click on "Tools -> Export". An Export window for each address book should now appear. Select where the file should be saved (your Desktop is fine), set the format to "vCard", then click the "Save" button to save the file. Do this for each address book.

3. Within Evolution, click on the "Contacts" button in the bottom left corner of the main window.

4. Within the Contacts section at the top click on "File -> Import". This will open the "Evolution Import Assistant". Click "Next" to get started.

5. In the "Importer Type" window, select "Import a single file" and click "Next".

6. In the "Select a File" window, click on the "Filename" field to open a file selector. Select one of your exported address books. The window should automatically identify the file as being a vCard file. Click "Next".

7. In the "Import Location" window select the "Personal" field under the "On This Computer" header, then click "Next". Click "Apply" in the final window to import the address book.

8. Repeat steps 1-7 for any other address books you wish to import.

Step 3: Importing your calendar/tasks from Lightning

We can migrate your calendar entries/tasks from Thunderbird's Lightning calendar to Evolution (which utilizes the "Calendar" function in the program for this).

1. Within Thunderbird, open up the calendar. Under "Events and Tasks" at the top of the window, select Export. A file selector will appear...save the file to your Desktop folder and select "iCalendar (.ics)" format.

2. Within Evolution, click on the "Calendar" button in the bottom left corner of the main window.

3. Within the Calendar section at the top click on "File -> Import". This will open the "Evolution Import Assistant". Click "Next" to get started.

4. In the "Importer Type" window, select "Import a single file" and click "Next".

5. In the "Select a File" window, click on the "Filename" field to open a file selector. Select your exported calendar file. The window should automatically identify the file as being an iCalendar ICS file. Click "Next".

6. In the "Import Location" window select the "Appointments and Meetings" button, then select the "Personal" field under the "On This Computer" header, then click "Next". Click "Apply" in the final window to import your calendar entries.

7. Repeat this process a second time, except in Step 7 select the "Tasks" option instead of "Appointments and Meetings". This will import your task entries.