Can FM contacts pull/push from another CardDav server?

camner · 6 Jan 2022, 08:29 AM

I know it is possible for a client to subscribe to the FM CardDav server and keep contacts in sync with FM.

But, can FM Contacts subscribe to another CardDav server so that FM contacts isn't the authoritative keeper of contacts?

I want FM to know my contacts so contacts autosuggest works when composing email.

BritTim · 6 Jan 2022, 09:17 AM

I believe a server side CardDAV sync would be a great feature, and suggested it at the time when Fastmail originally developed their CardDAV support. Unfortunately, no, such support does not exist.

pjroutledge · 7 Jan 2022, 11:40 AM

I've explored this problem several times. It's not just Fastmail, many services that offer Address Book or Contacts services don't provide them as 'client' services to other CardDAV servers. It seems they all want to be your authoritative contacts service.

I've managed to achieve inter-service contacts syncing by syncing a CardDAV 'client' (such as a mobile phone) to multiple CardDAV servers, but the best solution I've found is to use Memotoo (memotoo.com) as an intermediary.
Memotoo is an old service that is not being kept up to date and the interface is not pretty or modern, but the service is incredibly comprehensive (it will sync CardDAV and CalDAV with Activesync/Exchange, for example) and it works in the background, syncing contacts (and calendars, bookmarks, files, etc); there is no need to use the website once it's set up.

My only hesitation in recommending it is that it seems to be neglected and I worry that it might close down or fail one day. Unfortunately I haven't found an alternative that is as comprehensive and reliable.

sinan · 30 Jan 2022, 07:16 AM

I've been wishing for the same. I have my contacts and calendar elsewhere for 15-20 years and don't trust to move them (data will be lost, this kind of thing is always lossy). Subscribing to a calendar works but contacts unfortunately doesn't. So I have to keep contacts in the other service and export/import to FastMail time to time. Or sometimes add to both.

hydrostarr · 30 Jan 2022, 01:48 PM

If it were me, I'd be leery of employing Fastmail to be a Contacts/CardDAV "client" to another service/service/database (assuming that's what this discussion is about) because of the data-mangling of vCards (or whatever each element of a Contacts database is called) that I experienced after a recent iCloud-to-Fastmail import.

Details: http://www.emaildiscussions.com/showthread.php?t=79031

ps. GREAT tip on Memotoo (memotoo.com), I will definitely be checking them out. I've been wanting such a service for some time. Thanks @pjroutledge!

sinan · 12 Feb 2022, 02:31 AM

I mean only read-only access, so there should be no risk of data mangling. Better than maintaining separate copies of contacts in multiple places.

6 Jan 2022, 08:29 AM	#1
camner Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 642	Can FM contacts pull/push from another CardDav server? I know it is possible for a client to subscribe to the FM CardDav server and keep contacts in sync with FM. But, can FM Contacts subscribe to another CardDav server so that FM contacts isn't the authoritative keeper of contacts? I want FM to know my contacts so contacts autosuggest works when composing email.

30 Jan 2022, 01:48 PM	#5
hydrostarr Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 55	If it were me, I'd be leery of employing Fastmail to be a Contacts/CardDAV "client" to another service/service/database (assuming that's what this discussion is about) because of the data-mangling of vCards (or whatever each element of a Contacts database is called) that I experienced after a recent iCloud-to-Fastmail import. Details: http://www.emaildiscussions.com/showthread.php?t=79031 ps. GREAT tip on Memotoo (memotoo.com), I will definitely be checking them out. I've been wanting such a service for some time. Thanks @pjroutledge! Last edited by hydrostarr : 30 Jan 2022 at 01:58 PM.

6 Jan 2022, 09:17 AM	#2
BritTim The "e" in e-mail Join Date: May 2003 Location: mostly in Thailand Posts: 3,090	I believe a server side CardDAV sync would be a great feature, and suggested it at the time when Fastmail originally developed their CardDAV support. Unfortunately, no, such support does not exist.

7 Jan 2022, 11:40 AM	#3
pjroutledge Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Melbourne, Oz Posts: 130	I've explored this problem several times. It's not just Fastmail, many services that offer Address Book or Contacts services don't provide them as 'client' services to other CardDAV servers. It seems they all want to be your authoritative contacts service. I've managed to achieve inter-service contacts syncing by syncing a CardDAV 'client' (such as a mobile phone) to multiple CardDAV servers, but the best solution I've found is to use Memotoo (memotoo.com) as an intermediary. Memotoo is an old service that is not being kept up to date and the interface is not pretty or modern, but the service is incredibly comprehensive (it will sync CardDAV and CalDAV with Activesync/Exchange, for example) and it works in the background, syncing contacts (and calendars, bookmarks, files, etc); there is no need to use the website once it's set up. My only hesitation in recommending it is that it seems to be neglected and I worry that it might close down or fail one day. Unfortunately I haven't found an alternative that is as comprehensive and reliable.

30 Jan 2022, 07:16 AM	#4
sinan Essential Contributor Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Turkey Posts: 230	I've been wishing for the same. I have my contacts and calendar elsewhere for 15-20 years and don't trust to move them (data will be lost, this kind of thing is always lossy). Subscribing to a calendar works but contacts unfortunately doesn't. So I have to keep contacts in the other service and export/import to FastMail time to time. Or sometimes add to both.

12 Feb 2022, 02:31 AM	#6
sinan Essential Contributor Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Turkey Posts: 230	I mean only read-only access, so there should be no risk of data mangling. Better than maintaining separate copies of contacts in multiple places.