Address book upload

robmueller · 27th February 2003, 11:55 AM

I'm currently working on the address book upload/download code to go with the new address book overhaul.

I'm rationalising the upload formats to just:
* Outlook Express CSV export
* Outlook CSV export
* Eudora CSV export
* LDIF (Mozilla/NS7,6,4 export)
* vCard (Pine export)
* Yahoo! CSV

What I'd like, is some examples of each, to make sure I handle all the cases in my code. If people have one of the above to share, please send it to: addrupload AT robm DOT fastmail DOT fm. Please use the subject like:

Sample addressbook - [format]

Where you replace [format] with the actual format the addressbook you're sending is in (eg Outlook Express, Netscape 4 LDIF, etc)

Any data you send will be treated as confidential.

And by the way, I'm not going to start a debate right now on supporting other formats. These will be the supported ones for the initial release, *possibly* others later. What I need now are examples for testing the above, not a debate about what to support. Thanks

Rob

sjk · 27th February 2003, 12:01 PM

Which version(s) of vCard?

**Gankaku** · 27th February 2003, 12:11 PM

Should we do a dump and send all fields? I have Outlook and have info in Notes, birthdays etc. I guess you'd need an entire dump?

robmueller · 27th February 2003, 12:23 PM

vCard version 3 is the current I believe.

I'd prefer everything, it makes testing more reliable

Rob

robmueller · 3rd March 2003, 10:38 AM

Still looking for some more examples...

I've only received 3 so far

Rob

sjk · 3rd March 2003, 10:49 AM

Do you need a vCard (v3) example?

robmueller · 3rd March 2003, 02:05 PM

All examples are appreciated. I'm sure different programs produce slightly different export files as well, so the more examples I can get hold of, the better...

Rob

obwan · 4th March 2003, 07:57 PM

Hey guys, I want to export my address book from fastmail into outlook 2002. I've searched the faq's but can't find a way to do this. Any ideas?

Thanks

norbs · 4th March 2003, 08:25 PM

In fastmail, you can copy and paste your address book into a spreadsheet package like excel. From this you can save as a CSV, which i think you can import into Outlook 2002....

You have to then choose which fields from the fastmail address book are going to populate which from the outlook address book:
http://www.york.ac.uk/services/cserv...2/addybook.htm

Duplicates could well be created, and things could well screw up, so it might be worth taking an export of your outlook addy book now "just in case"

Andy

inik · 7th March 2003, 06:25 AM

Just sent a copy from Apple's Address Book.app program (same one their mail client uses). Should be standard .vcf file, but I guess we'll see. Would be great if it were supported.

randombox · 16th March 2003, 02:33 AM

Hey,
Please don't get me wrong! I brag about FastMail to all my cohorts and a few have taken me up on the suggestion!

Regarding your request for inputs: Whatever you do please donot make the address book too complicated! For crying out loud >> we all have a bunch of other email addresses and address books!

Maybe the best suggestion would be to make two types available! A simple one (for me) and a complex one that will be the mother of ALL address books!

Having been raised on a FranklinPlanner, I still use the AscendProgram for all my addresses but not limited to email addresses!

What ever you do, do not mess up this project by attempting to be all things for all needs! Look at what happened to the OutlookXP address book. Only allows three email addies per name! Argh, unless you want to use "forms" for modifications!

fredanator · 27th March 2003, 04:09 AM

I'm neither a regular reader nor a regular poster to the discussion form, but I was poking around in the weblog and saw this thread linked -- and it piqued my interest.

I remember at one point someone had posted a list of possible future enhancements for Fastmail.fm, and on there was an LDAP-style support for Fastmail.fm (which, in my understanding, means that you could use an LDAP client, like the one that was a part of Netscape Mail back in the day, to connect to your address book remotely...). I think that that might be something you can do for compatibility's sake (a standardized access protocol) -- Was that idea ever pursued or considered?

If this is way off-topic, or if there's another thread that's covering it, let me know -- nicely :-).

--Fred--

eggman · 27th March 2003, 05:20 AM

Hi Fred,

I think the reason given is that it is hard to setup security around LDAP on a per user basis.

sjk · 27th March 2003, 05:26 AM

A forum search for LDAP will reveal several past discussions of the topic.

Onno · 27th March 2003, 06:09 AM

LDAP is being looked at, but it's basically still in the theoretical "how shall we handle this"-stage at the moment. It'll be little while before we get a test setup, and it's impossible to tell how long it all will take as it's fairly complicated and we don't know what problems we might run into just yet...

27th February 2003, 11:55 AM	#1
robmueller Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 6,098 Representative of: Fastmail.FM	Address book upload I'm currently working on the address book upload/download code to go with the new address book overhaul. I'm rationalising the upload formats to just: * Outlook Express CSV export * Outlook CSV export * Eudora CSV export * LDIF (Mozilla/NS7,6,4 export) * vCard (Pine export) * Yahoo! CSV What I'd like, is some examples of each, to make sure I handle all the cases in my code. If people have one of the above to share, please send it to: addrupload AT robm DOT fastmail DOT fm. Please use the subject like: Sample addressbook - [format] Where you replace [format] with the actual format the addressbook you're sending is in (eg Outlook Express, Netscape 4 LDIF, etc) Any data you send will be treated as confidential. And by the way, I'm not going to start a debate right now on supporting other formats. These will be the supported ones for the initial release, possibly others later. What I need now are examples for testing the above, not a debate about what to support. Thanks Rob Last edited by robmueller : 3rd March 2003 at 10:39 AM.

7th March 2003, 06:25 AM	#10
inik Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 7	Apple's address book Just sent a copy from Apple's Address Book.app program (same one their mail client uses). Should be standard .vcf file, but I guess we'll see. Would be great if it were supported.

16th March 2003, 02:33 AM	#11
randombox Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 47	Address Book Ideas/Suggestions Hey, Please don't get me wrong! I brag about FastMail to all my cohorts and a few have taken me up on the suggestion! Regarding your request for inputs: Whatever you do please donot make the address book too complicated! For crying out loud >> we all have a bunch of other email addresses and address books! Maybe the best suggestion would be to make two types available! A simple one (for me) and a complex one that will be the mother of ALL address books! Having been raised on a FranklinPlanner, I still use the AscendProgram for all my addresses but not limited to email addresses! What ever you do, do not mess up this project by attempting to be all things for all needs! Look at what happened to the OutlookXP address book. Only allows three email addies per name! Argh, unless you want to use "forms" for modifications!

27th March 2003, 04:09 AM	#12
fredanator Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Amherst, MA (Umass) Posts: 4	LDAP support I'm neither a regular reader nor a regular poster to the discussion form, but I was poking around in the weblog and saw this thread linked -- and it piqued my interest. I remember at one point someone had posted a list of possible future enhancements for Fastmail.fm, and on there was an LDAP-style support for Fastmail.fm (which, in my understanding, means that you could use an LDAP client, like the one that was a part of Netscape Mail back in the day, to connect to your address book remotely...). I think that that might be something you can do for compatibility's sake (a standardized access protocol) -- Was that idea ever pursued or considered? If this is way off-topic, or if there's another thread that's covering it, let me know -- nicely :-). --Fred--

27th February 2003, 12:01 PM	#2
sjk Master of the @ Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hawaii Posts: 1,975	Which version(s) of vCard?

27th February 2003, 12:11 PM	#3
Gankaku Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 3,195	Should we do a dump and send all fields? I have Outlook and have info in Notes, birthdays etc. I guess you'd need an entire dump?

27th February 2003, 12:23 PM	#4
robmueller Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 6,098 Representative of: Fastmail.FM	vCard version 3 is the current I believe. I'd prefer everything, it makes testing more reliable Rob

3rd March 2003, 10:38 AM	#5
robmueller Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 6,098 Representative of: Fastmail.FM	Still looking for some more examples... I've only received 3 so far Rob

3rd March 2003, 10:49 AM	#6
sjk Master of the @ Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hawaii Posts: 1,975	Do you need a vCard (v3) example?

3rd March 2003, 02:05 PM	#7
robmueller Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 6,098 Representative of: Fastmail.FM	All examples are appreciated. I'm sure different programs produce slightly different export files as well, so the more examples I can get hold of, the better... Rob

4th March 2003, 07:57 PM	#8
obwan Essential Contributor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: tatoon Posts: 226	Hey guys, I want to export my address book from fastmail into outlook 2002. I've searched the faq's but can't find a way to do this. Any ideas? Thanks

4th March 2003, 08:25 PM	#9
norbs Essential Contributor Join Date: May 2002 Location: UK Posts: 435	In fastmail, you can copy and paste your address book into a spreadsheet package like excel. From this you can save as a CSV, which i think you can import into Outlook 2002.... You have to then choose which fields from the fastmail address book are going to populate which from the outlook address book: http://www.york.ac.uk/services/cserv...2/addybook.htm Duplicates could well be created, and things could well screw up, so it might be worth taking an export of your outlook addy book now "just in case" Andy

27th March 2003, 05:20 AM	#13
eggman Essential Contributor Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: AU Posts: 468	Hi Fred, I think the reason given is that it is hard to setup security around LDAP on a per user basis.

27th March 2003, 05:26 AM	#14
sjk Master of the @ Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hawaii Posts: 1,975	A forum search for LDAP will reveal several past discussions of the topic.

27th March 2003, 06:09 AM	#15
Onno Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 753	LDAP is being looked at, but it's basically still in the theoretical "how shall we handle this"-stage at the moment. It'll be little while before we get a test setup, and it's impossible to tell how long it all will take as it's fairly complicated and we don't know what problems we might run into just yet...