Pre-paring: Importing Contacts Outlook-to-Google

greenawayj · 05/27/2009, 02:37 AM

Hi all - I've been tooling around tonight to prep for my migration to the Pre and I discovered something that might be important for those like me who currently use outlook as the primary contacts database... but who would like to move to Google.

I found that importing the Outlook CSV file of my 850-entry Contacts database (available under outlook's Import / Export function) though GMail Contacts did not yield the same results as importing it through http://www.google.com/contacts (which is the standalone - non-Gmail - contacts app recently discussed here:

http://www.precentral.net/google-con...-without-gmail)

Anyway, a few of the key differences I noted at this late hour are somewhat important for me (or at least would save me significant time later on). Using the standalone app allowed me to

Import my Outlook Contact Categories as Google Contact Groups

Import Outlook's Birthday and Anniversary Fields into those specific fields in Google Contacts

Anyway, I know neither of those things are earth shattering, but I figured it's better to have more fields map properly through the export / import process than lose information during the transfer. Plus, I imagine there will soon be automated reminders in GCal for those B-day and Anniversary dates in your contacts.

Another note is that, once the import has been completed, the categories (group lists in Google Contacts) is also shown when you use the Contacts feature within GMail, however, the special fields (BDay and Anniv is my limited current understanding) do NOT show up when reviewing / editing your contacts from within GMail. However the data is not lost, you just have to use http://www.google.com/contacts if you want to see / edit this info. I'm sure this is just due to the "Beta" nature of the Google Contacts feature and incomplete synchronization between the contacts code withing GMail and the standalone app.

rhoman · 05/27/2009, 08:25 AM

Worked like a champ. Thanks for posting this. One less thing on my to do list.

BMIC50 · 05/27/2009, 11:01 AM

Good to know! This is how I am going to handle my transition from Palm to Google!

dwhitman · 05/27/2009, 01:26 PM

I've been thinking about the data transfer, and there's a wrinkle I haven't seen discussed.

Suppose you export your contacts and calendar to Google before launch (I have already, and it seems a lot of other folks either have or are about to). On launch day, you bring your Pre home, set up your profile and gmail account. Things Happen(tm) and your contacts and appointments all appear on your Pre via the magic of Synergy.

Now, you want to get your memos and tasks off your Treo onto the Pre. So you run the 1-time data transfer utility. Which transfers your memos...and your contacts and calendar appointments. So now you have duplicates of all your contact data and calendar entries. Seems messy, even if Synergy links the duplicates together. And if Google is your primary contacts source, the duplicates will try to sync back up there.

So anyway, given that my canonical contact and calendar data is already in the cloud, I'm thinking of removing my contacts.pdb and calendar.pdb from my Palm directory before doing the data transfer. Does that make sense to anyone else, or am I being overly cautious?

greenawayj · 05/27/2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwhitman

...Now, you want to get your memos and tasks off your Treo onto the Pre. So you run the 1-time data transfer utility. Which transfers your memos...and your contacts and calendar appointments. So now you have duplicates of all your contact data and calendar entries. Seems messy, even if Synergy links the duplicates together. And if Google is your primary contacts source, the duplicates will try to sync back up there.

My answer to this (unless the 1-time transfer utility allows you to selectively specifiy which apps to migrate) would be

I have Calendar and Contacts .csv files ready to go for day 1. I have even imported them to Google so that I was sure they will migrate properly -- this is how I learned that importing contacts is not the same from GMail as from Google Contacts Beta.
However at this time, I'm not using GCal or GContacts as my Live Calendar or Contacts. I'm continuing to use Outlook and syncing with my Treo 700p until I have a Pre
Run the 1-time transfer util FIRST (migrating tasks and notes in addition to calendar and contacts)
Log into Google to DELETE the test Calendar and 1-time-util-migrated calendar items and ALL test contacts and 1-time-util migrated contacts
Finally, re-import the final live CSV file from Outlook (or PD)

Does that make sense?

dwhitman · 05/27/2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenawayj

My answer to this (unless the 1-time transfer utility allows you to selectively specifiy which apps to migrate) would be

I have Calendar and Contacts .csv files ready to go for day 1. I have even imported them to Google so that I was sure they will migrate properly -- this is how I learned that importing contacts is not the same from GMail as from Google Contacts Beta.
However at this time, I'm not using GCal or GContacts as my Live Calendar or Contacts. I'm continuing to use Outlook and syncing with my Treo 700p until I have a Pre
Run the 1-time transfer util FIRST (migrating tasks and notes in addition to calendar and contacts)
Log into Google to DELETE the test Calendar and 1-time-util-migrated calendar items and ALL test contacts and 1-time-util migrated contacts
Finally, re-import the final live CSV file from Outlook (or PD)

Does that make sense?

Sort of the inverse of what I'm planning to do, but yes, makes just as much sense to me. Just depends on which copy (Palm Desktop/Google) you currently consider canonical.

greenawayj · 05/27/2009, 06:21 PM

I agree. I would actually rather start using the Google-stuff now, but since I'm still using my Treo and syncing manually, I can't truly migrate until after I get the pre. That doesn't preclude me from making sure that the migration won't go belly-up and cause me to lose all my data (or have lots of dups to clean up) So, I'm playing around with GCal, GTasks, and GConacts while checking the export / import process... hence where I am now.

IGoDwnTwn34 · 05/27/2009, 06:26 PM

I've done the Outlook to GMail also in preparing for Pre. But also reading the leaked manual, I can import though the computer directly using Companion (or whatever the name is)as a one time only function. I'm gonna try that first and see how it comes out.

IGo

jhoff80 · 05/27/2009, 06:53 PM

I've got my Google Contacts mostly set up. I cleared it out and then used the WM Google Sync functionality to import stuff from my q9c. I'm just a little concerned about AIM screennames. I might have to make a few new contacts for people to setup for the Pre.

Edit: Especially because does anyone know if multiple AIM names for a contact are supported? I have a few friends with more than one.

michaelone · 05/27/2009, 08:40 PM

I've got my 1291 contacts imported to Google contacts. I've taken the opportunity to re catagorize everything. A bit of a chore but only has to be done once. Oh, and I cleaned up all the data in Excel before importing. Thing like capitalizations were goofy. The Calendar has been set up (weird to have to sync Google Calendar with Outlook so I can get it to my Treo. That step will be obsoleted at least. Tasks is set up. I'm hoping that Evernote will be ported to the Pre for notes.

Gekko · 05/27/2009, 08:41 PM

how are all of the fields matching up? name and website etc?

Grim · 05/27/2009, 08:46 PM

I thought about doing the same with my Outlook contacts, but then thought "why put the cart before the horse?"
I'll wait and see what solution(s) Palm/Sprint provide once I have my hands on my new Pre. After making backups of course!

sonnyvsp · 05/27/2009, 10:21 PM

Now I'm confused... now I'm thinking I made a huge mistake! damnit!!!!! I hope you smart guys resolve this asap! I'm even thinking of removing my "thanks"!

sevenjim · 06/05/2009, 01:15 PM

I have imported my Outlook contacts to G Contacts, but there are multiple errors. Things like businesses or notes for entries (Daughters name is Sue, etc.). So rather than go in and edit them all, I'm going to try the Palm sync from Palm Desktop option I keep hearing about. Otherwise I will have a mess on my hands if trying to merge the gmail contacts. I have everything neat and tidy in Palm Dtop and Outlook, so hopefully I can merge those into my Pre tonight (Yup, I'm one of the lucky ones

)

Gekko · 06/05/2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevenjim

I have imported my Outlook contacts to G Contacts, but there are multiple errors. Things like businesses or notes for entries (Daughters name is Sue, etc.). So rather than go in and edit them all, I'm going to try the Palm sync from Palm Desktop option I keep hearing about. Otherwise I will have a mess on my hands if trying to merge the gmail contacts. I have everything neat and tidy in Palm Dtop and Outlook, so hopefully I can merge those into my Pre tonight (Yup, I'm one of the lucky ones

)

Sync Palm Desktop, Microsoft Outlook, ACT!, Lotus Notes, GroupWise, and GoldMine with Google and your phone | CompanionLink

Nismode · 06/27/2009, 06:17 PM

This may be simpler...instead of going to Google

Palm.com : Data Transfer Assistant (Windows)

05/27/2009, 02:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
greenawayj Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 361 Thanks: 39 Thanked 26 Times in 20 Posts	Pre-paring: Importing Contacts Outlook-to-Google Hi all - I've been tooling around tonight to prep for my migration to the Pre and I discovered something that might be important for those like me who currently use outlook as the primary contacts database... but who would like to move to Google. I found that importing the Outlook CSV file of my 850-entry Contacts database (available under outlook's Import / Export function) though GMail Contacts did not yield the same results as importing it through http://www.google.com/contacts (which is the standalone - non-Gmail - contacts app recently discussed here: http://www.precentral.net/google-con...-without-gmail) Anyway, a few of the key differences I noted at this late hour are somewhat important for me (or at least would save me significant time later on). Using the standalone app allowed me to Import my Outlook Contact Categories as Google Contact Groups Import Outlook's Birthday and Anniversary Fields into those specific fields in Google Contacts Anyway, I know neither of those things are earth shattering, but I figured it's better to have more fields map properly through the export / import process than lose information during the transfer. Plus, I imagine there will soon be automated reminders in GCal for those B-day and Anniversary dates in your contacts. Another note is that, once the import has been completed, the categories (group lists in Google Contacts) is also shown when you use the Contacts feature within GMail, however, the special fields (BDay and Anniv is my limited current understanding) do NOT show up when reviewing / editing your contacts from within GMail. However the data is not lost, you just have to use http://www.google.com/contacts if you want to see / edit this info. I'm sure this is just due to the "Beta" nature of the Google Contacts feature and incomplete synchronization between the contacts code withing GMail and the standalone app.

05/27/2009, 01:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
dwhitman Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, USA (GMT-5) Posts: 375 Thanks: 35 Thanked 45 Times in 30 Posts	Worrying about duplicate data transfer I've been thinking about the data transfer, and there's a wrinkle I haven't seen discussed. Suppose you export your contacts and calendar to Google before launch (I have already, and it seems a lot of other folks either have or are about to). On launch day, you bring your Pre home, set up your profile and gmail account. Things Happen(tm) and your contacts and appointments all appear on your Pre via the magic of Synergy. Now, you want to get your memos and tasks off your Treo onto the Pre. So you run the 1-time data transfer utility. Which transfers your memos...and your contacts and calendar appointments. So now you have duplicates of all your contact data and calendar entries. Seems messy, even if Synergy links the duplicates together. And if Google is your primary contacts source, the duplicates will try to sync back up there. So anyway, given that my canonical contact and calendar data is already in the cloud, I'm thinking of removing my contacts.pdb and calendar.pdb from my Palm directory before doing the data transfer. Does that make sense to anyone else, or am I being overly cautious?

05/27/2009, 06:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
IGoDwnTwn34 Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 947 Thanks: 14 Thanked 31 Times in 19 Posts	I've done the Outlook to GMail also in preparing for Pre. But also reading the leaked manual, I can import though the computer directly using Companion (or whatever the name is)as a one time only function. I'm gonna try that first and see how it comes out. IGo __________________ GIVE DEBBIE THE CHIMP.....GIVE DEBBIE THE CHIMP!!!

05/27/2009, 06:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
jhoff80 Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Boston-area Posts: 4,903 Thanks: 268 Thanked 756 Times in 406 Posts	I've got my Google Contacts mostly set up. I cleared it out and then used the WM Google Sync functionality to import stuff from my q9c. I'm just a little concerned about AIM screennames. I might have to make a few new contacts for people to setup for the Pre. Edit: Especially because does anyone know if multiple AIM names for a contact are supported? I have a few friends with more than one. Last edited by jhoff80; 05/27/2009 at 07:10 PM.

05/27/2009, 08:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
Grim Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Somewhere along the 45th parallel. Posts: 368 Thanks: 23 Thanked 23 Times in 20 Posts	I thought about doing the same with my Outlook contacts, but then thought "why put the cart before the horse?" I'll wait and see what solution(s) Palm/Sprint provide once I have my hands on my new Pre. After making backups of course! __________________ “Wolves are the top of the food chain, and when the wolf population is healthy, all other animal and plant populations are healthy.” -- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05/27/2009, 08:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
rhoman Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 6 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Worked like a champ. Thanks for posting this. One less thing on my to do list.

05/27/2009, 11:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
BMIC50 Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Boo-val,FL Posts: 1,942 Thanks: 71 Thanked 76 Times in 62 Posts	Good to know! This is how I am going to handle my transition from Palm to Google!

05/27/2009, 06:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
greenawayj Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 361 Thanks: 39 Thanked 26 Times in 20 Posts	I agree. I would actually rather start using the Google-stuff now, but since I'm still using my Treo and syncing manually, I can't truly migrate until after I get the pre. That doesn't preclude me from making sure that the migration won't go belly-up and cause me to lose all my data (or have lots of dups to clean up) So, I'm playing around with GCal, GTasks, and GConacts while checking the export / import process... hence where I am now.

05/27/2009, 08:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
michaelone Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 42 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	I've got my 1291 contacts imported to Google contacts. I've taken the opportunity to re catagorize everything. A bit of a chore but only has to be done once. Oh, and I cleaned up all the data in Excel before importing. Thing like capitalizations were goofy. The Calendar has been set up (weird to have to sync Google Calendar with Outlook so I can get it to my Treo. That step will be obsoleted at least. Tasks is set up. I'm hoping that Evernote will be ported to the Pre for notes.

05/27/2009, 08:41 PM	#11 (permalink)
Gekko Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 2,006 Thanks: 0 Thanked 305 Times in 165 Posts	how are all of the fields matching up? name and website etc?

05/27/2009, 10:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
sonnyvsp Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 152 Thanks: 21 Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts	Now I'm confused... now I'm thinking I made a huge mistake! damnit!!!!! I hope you smart guys resolve this asap! I'm even thinking of removing my "thanks"!

06/05/2009, 01:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
sevenjim Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: California Posts: 30 Thanks: 11 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	I have imported my Outlook contacts to G Contacts, but there are multiple errors. Things like businesses or notes for entries (Daughters name is Sue, etc.). So rather than go in and edit them all, I'm going to try the Palm sync from Palm Desktop option I keep hearing about. Otherwise I will have a mess on my hands if trying to merge the gmail contacts. I have everything neat and tidy in Palm Dtop and Outlook, so hopefully I can merge those into my Pre tonight (Yup, I'm one of the lucky ones)

06/27/2009, 06:17 PM	#16 (permalink)
Nismode Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 151 Thanks: 37 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	This may be simpler...instead of going to Google Palm.com : Data Transfer Assistant (Windows) __________________ Palm m100>Palm m130>Sony Clie>HP Jornada 525>Dell Axim X3i>Nokia 3395>Nokia 6630>Motorola i530>PPC 6700>Mogul (PPC-6800) Palm Pre!

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