Database Info

[Q] How to clean up my contacts?

Hiya,
I have Google, Exchange and POP3 emails each with a version of contacts, calendar and associated data and also Facebook... Last time I tried to consolidate them I ended up wiping my everything and had to go back to a 2-month old version of contacts from my POP3/Outlook account. Active sync wiped my computer instead of updating my phone (twice)!
I am now back to having messy contacts with people with 2+ different birthday dates in my calendar...
Would anyone suggest the best way to clean up my mess... I'd be prepared to go through my 200 contacts one-by-one again to tidy them up... I just want to know that the result will be all my accounts having the cleaned set and not wiping all my hard work and needing to resort to my backup again.
Thanks for any constructive answers and Happy New Year!

I had found this cab here a long time ago. All credit goes to the developer, I just can't find the thread to post a link.

amc1274 said:
I had found this cab here a long time ago. All credit goes to the developer, I just can't find the thread to post a link.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now you gave me the cab I found the thread here!
Will give it a whirl to see if it does what I want... part of my issue was having google contacts too and then having my phone wipe the PC and not my PC reloading the phone!

Do you have a preference as to which service is the Master list for you? Some people utilize their Exchange for everything including personal while others only merge personal and business inside of Google or their personal PC with Outlook.
I began using Google as the master account holder for all things related to my services. This makes it easy to export, maintain and sync contacts. I stopped using Outlook/Exchange but that doesn't sound like an option for you.
When I was using Outlook I would simply clear out all contacts in my phone, outlook and make sure that Google had the correct info/dates. I would then go use an app called GoSync ( i think) to sync Google to Outlook/Exchange.
I guess it depends on how you are interfacing with Google on your phone and what phone it is...on my WM6.5 phone I was simply using Gmail Exchange to do all this.
Wow, I typed all that and don't know if I added one answer...did any of that make sense?

Edit contacts from computer

I have Rooted my phone but now every time i sync contacts through google it adds more and more to it. I have one contact that is on my phone like 40 times now others are 20. I just want to be able to se the list my phone is gettting my contacts from and edit it all. I went to gmail but the only thing that was there were emails no phone numbers....

Ok my contacts just jumped by 250 and i havent added anyone. Where do i go to manually fix this because i dont have 1400 contacts....

Try this link, the page doesn't seem to be mobile friendly so you might want to try it from a PC.
https://www.google.com/accounts/Ser...d/&followup=https://www.google.com/dashboard/
Sent from my B.A.M.F. Thunderbolt

im having the same problem. When i log into the computer it only show 322 contacts but the phone shows 782.

a little off topic
im having a problem with my contacts as well. its a little different though. if i add contacts to my phone, it will not back them up to google contacts. i lost every contact i made in the past 4 weeks when i rooted and installed a BAMF. i did the manual sync before i started, but didnt get any thing to my google account

a-n-d-r-e-y said:
im having a problem with my contacts as well. its a little different though. if i add contacts to my phone, it will not back them up to google contacts. i lost every contact i made in the past 4 weeks when i rooted and installed a BAMF. i did the manual sync before i started, but didnt get any thing to my google account
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When adding contacts to your phone you need to make sure you change the first option to sync with your Google account. For some reason it defaults to phone and if you don't switch it, it won't sync. It would be sweet if any of the devs could make a mod so it defaults to your Google account.

dirtyfingers said:
When adding contacts to your phone you need to make sure you change the first option to sync with your Google account. For some reason it defaults to phone and if you don't switch it, it won't sync. It would be sweet if any of the devs could make a mod so it defaults to your Google account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks. ill make sure i do when if i ever go back to stock. the new bamf asks me whenever i select to create a new contact. cool stuff.

sub5runner07 said:
im having the same problem. When i log into the computer it only show 322 contacts but the phone shows 782.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm guessing you have 460 phone contacts and 322 Google contacts on your phone.
Are you also syncing with your PC?
I would export your contacts to your sdcard (just in case) then delete all of your contacts and re-sync with Google.
I personally don't sync my contacts with Google.
Sent from my B.A.M.F. Thunderbolt

Its syncing anyone who has sent you an email basically, there is a setting in gmail to change it but have to be logged in to full site via pc or mac or the phone's browser
Sent from my ThunderBolt using XDA App

duplicate contacts
i had duplicates upon duplicates for every number in my phone. for anyone else with this problem, and a google account, just sync all your contacts to your google account. go on your gmail from a computer. on the top left of the screen under "gmail by google" click on contacts. from there, click on "more actions" (right above the phone numbers) then click on "find and merge duplicates". then sync your contacts again and there you go, one phone number per contact! i hope this info is useful to someone else. i just wish i knew about this back in the good 'ol G1 days lol. but i guess thats what happens when cell phones replace computers ha!

Inspire and microsoft exchange 2007 contacts/sync?

Here is my issue, also want to mention I had the same issue with a completely stock inspire before ever flashing my ROM this week. Ever since I got my inspire months ago I had this issue....
My default account for work is set up on my phone..
Emails and calender sync without any issues (both ways)
Contacts will not sync from my phone.
If I enter a new contact on my work computer it will push to my phone but not the other way around.
I need my contacts off my phone sync to my work computer!
Settings on my phone for my default account is:
auto-sync
sync contacts (checked)
sync calendar (checked)
Automatic (push) selected
default account selected
When I do a manual sync, nothing. Tried rebooting and nothing, like I said had the same issue with stock ROM.
Everyone at work has the iphone (is what I had before and it sync without any issues) so I do not have anyone over here to compare or check with.
Any suggestions out there?
So everything else works except I can not sync contact from my phone to my computer...

Need to change up my question a little. I discovered that if I enter a new contact it does sync to my computer. But how do I sync my existing (580) contacts to my computer off my phone? If I go to my work computer under contacts it only shows the one or two I just tested, not the other 580 contacts......
Calendar and email work great both ways as always.....

swatcop1 said:
Need to change up my question a little. I discovered that if I enter a new contact it does sync to my computer. But how do I sync my existing (580) contacts to my computer off my phone? If I go to my work computer under contacts it only shows the one or two I just tested, not the other 580 contacts......
Calendar and email work great both ways as always.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You save bet would be to remove the contacts on your phone and then reload them, when you import them choose google and not phone.

Can you explain a little more please, not following you...
thanks

swatcop1 said:
Can you explain a little more please, not following you...
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok your issue is with the contacts that are stored on your phone not syncing up to your account. how did the contacts on your phone get there? Did you import your contacts from sd card?

I did a backup before I flashed I guess. When I restored my back-up it installed all my contacts back.
I used TB for all my app back-ups before I flashed. If I recall before I even set up my work email on the new ROM I already had all my contact back. I assumed they came from the TB.

swatcop1 said:
I did a backup before I flashed I guess. When I restored my back-up it installed all my contacts back.
I used TB for all my app back-ups before I flashed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you use to back things up? Was it titanium back up or another app?

Yes sir TB, the paid version.

swatcop1 said:
Yes sir TB, the paid version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok here is what I would do as I never use TIBU to back up contacts. Go into people and hit menu, select export to SD card. Then try to re import them. It should ask you where you want to import them. Choose Google or you exchange account.

Well I guess what happens is that TB also backs up your data within you apps. I am using GO contacts. Thats how it backed up my contact I assume.
Will try what you just mentioned right now.

swatcop1 said:
Well I guess what happens is that TB also backs up your data within you apps. I am using GO contacts. Thats how it backed up my contact I assume.
Will try what you just mentioned right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it does and that why I dont use it for anything contact related as I believe (mind you this is just my 2 cents) that contacts are wrapped up in the system data as well. I normally just export all contacts to sd and then import them. I dont even use google to back them up lol

swatcop1 said:
Here is my issue, also want to mention I had the same issue with a completely stock inspire before ever flashing my ROM this week. Ever since I got my inspire months ago I had this issue....
My default account for work is set up on my phone..
Emails and calender sync without any issues (both ways)
Contacts will not sync from my phone.
If I enter a new contact on my work computer it will push to my phone but not the other way around.
I need my contacts off my phone sync to my work computer!
Settings on my phone for my default account is:
auto-sync
sync contacts (checked)
sync calendar (checked)
Automatic (push) selected
default account selected
When I do a manual sync, nothing. Tried rebooting and nothing, like I said had the same issue with stock ROM.
Everyone at work has the iphone (is what I had before and it sync without any issues) so I do not have anyone over here to compare or check with.
Any suggestions out there?
So everything else works except I can not sync contact from my phone to my computer...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a little computer application that will sync your google contacts with outlook easily too but it's a little screwy sometimes.

I exported them to the SD card then I imported them back but It did not asked where to import them back to.
After it was finished they did not sync. Just to check it out I enter a NEW contact on my phone and sure enough it went to my computer. There is gotta be a way to put my existing contacts on my computer...
Also what to mention that when I exported them to my SD card, all my contacts were still on my phone (i checked after I exported) even though I did not import them yet. Is this right? Or should I export my contacts to my SD card then delete all contacts in my app then go back and import from my SD card?

Correction should I delete all contacts in my native contact list, not the app...then import from SD card

Hold on, my correction, it did ask what account to import them into and I did select the wrong account. Doing it now and importing them into my google email account as you mentioned.

chicobrown726 said:
There is a little computer application that will sync your google contacts with outlook easily too but it's a little screwy sometimes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank but my contacts are sync.ing Just trying to get the pre existing one to off my phone.

swatcop1 said:
Thank but my contacts are sync.ing Just trying to get the pre existing one to off my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did importing them to your google account work? It should. just might have to force a refresh.

Yes I checked my google account and they are there, but I do not use my google account for anything other than the market. I am trying to get them on my exchange account at work.

Now I have three of everything in my contact list lol

swatcop1 said:
Yes I checked my google account and they are there, but I do not use my google account for anything other than the market. I am trying to get them on my exchange account at work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok your exchange account should pick up your google contacts. I am not sure as to why they are not. When you set up your exchange account does it normally sync your google contacts to it? I am playing this by ear as I dont use exchange at all. (Pisses my IT guy right off)

Exporting AND SYNCING contacts stored on phone to google

I've contacts that are stored on the 'Phone'. Is there some way to copy AND SYNC them in future with Google And Microsoft Exchange Activesync(Hotmail) ? Is there any app which does this ?

Any help guys ? Of late , xda doesn't seem to be providing me with some useful solutions :-(

And here we are , bumping once more.

Hi looks like you need help.
Well, I'd say there's not much in terms of apps that I know of that can do this all in one go (if anyone finds one, post it? If i find one, ill post it too), but I do know of a pretty simple way to do it:
1.) Using the built-in Contacts app or whatever other app that you want, export the CVS/vCard file of your current address book for your phone into your SD card.
2.) From here, upload it to your Gmail by either throwing the file into your computer and loading the file from your harddrive to their servers, or just do it through the mobile browser (if you have problems with the mobile website since I haven't tried this myself, try using Dolphin Browser HD definitely a great app)
3.) Viola! Everything should be synced and in order
It's true that this is not a one-click solution to your problem. There is one for HTC phones built into their ROM, but it has a bug which prevents syncing if you have the birthday field filled out or something like that. If you could tell me what phone it is, maybe I can help a bit more. In the meanwhile, I'll look for some apps. If you could make do with this for now, you should be good to go (though 3 clicks isn't really all that bad )
-EDIT- Forgot to mention, you can also use that CVS/vCard file and easily just dump it into Outlook. Another 2 clicks, but it ain't so bad now, is it?
-EDIT2- Well, after a few more searches, it seems that Google is supposed to auto sync contacts 2-way on all phones with their gmail accounts associated with the device. I don't know if they apply to contacts you've gotten through Facebook, but it does seem to work for the most part. As for the ActiveExchange thingy, I think this app might suffice if you're willing to shell out a small bit of money: http://www.androidtapp.com/exchange-by-touchdown/ Didn't test the app myself, so ask around first and read up on it (Google ).
If you're willing to shell out a good amount of money (hefty 25 buckaroos), here's a supposedly good app: http://www.tgdaily.com/mobility-fea...-of-corporate-exchange-contacts-and-calendars
IMHO, if i were you, I would just stick to the whole 5 step process. Not sure if the ActiveExchange can accept vCards/CVS (never had to use it), but you save yourself 25 or so bucks. But, that's just my two cents on it. Your choice
~jojojohnson7410

Hey thanks for your help first off
I've a HTC Legend.
Ok , I get your point. If I sync it with GMail , will ALL the alternate contact numbers , group info , Facebook Profile pics , their birth dates be synced ?

abhishek_turbo911 said:
Hey thanks for your help first off
I've a HTC Legend.
Ok , I get your point. If I sync it with GMail , will ALL the alternate contact numbers , group info , Facebook Profile pics , their birth dates be synced ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have an HTC phone, so the contacts and stuff SHOULD be synced with your HTC account/google account too. Just in case, I'd double-check right now.
As for if it will back up ALL that stuff, the answer is yes. This is because vCards and CVS are able to handle various amount of data, so it should also be recognize by Google, at the very least (but its standard so it should also work with Outlook/whatever other program). The only thing that won't be synced is the facebook pictures only because they can change, but if you were to add your facebook account to your phone, it will automatically take care of this, so you shouldn't have to worry about it.
As usual, if you're willing to shell out a bit of cash, here's a solution to your FB photo problem. Hope everything works out for you
~jojojohnson7410

jojojohnson7410 said:
You have an HTC phone, so the contacts and stuff SHOULD be synced with your HTC account/google account too. Just in case, I'd double-check right now.
As for if it will back up ALL that stuff, the answer is yes. This is because vCards and CVS are able to handle various amount of data, so it should also be recognize by Google, at the very least (but its standard so it should also work with Outlook/whatever other program). The only thing that won't be synced is the facebook pictures only because they can change, but if you were to add your facebook account to your phone, it will automatically take care of this, so you shouldn't have to worry about it.
As usual, if you're willing to shell out a bit of cash, here's a solution to your FB photo problem. Hope everything works out for you
~jojojohnson7410
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will not be using Outlook , firstly. No , the contacts are not synced with the GMail (Google Account). I am under the presumption that only contacts SAVED on Google Account can be synced. Since they are saved on the phone memory ... I don;t know. But please enlighten me.

abhishek_turbo911 said:
I will not be using Outlook , firstly. No , the contacts are not synced with the GMail (Google Account). I am under the presumption that only contacts SAVED on Google Account can be synced. Since they are saved on the phone memory ... I don;t know. But please enlighten me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, well, if you check it out here, you'll find the thing you might need for the corporate sync since you're not using Outlook (my bad. like i said, don't use it too much) and if this link doesn't work, you might need an update then.
As for the Google sync problem, I did a bit of researching. Apparently, its 2-way syncing, but like you probably noticed, it's not doing so hot. After fooling around for a bit, I finally got it to work pretty well. Apparently, you need a couple of conditions set in place in order for it to work nicely:
1.) Have the GMail app and set it to use your default email
2.) Make sure that under Accounts > [email protected] settings, you check sync next to Contacts (and if it still doesn't work, then try also syncing GMail.)
3.) If your phone has a Battery Manager (mine does) make sure that the setting you choose does not put restrictions on sync! (if it does, then you'll see a lag between syncs. For me, it was 15 minutes)
Thanks to Darth_Penguin for the first two tips.
Last but not least, the strangest thing I've encountered yet: Export your phone contact's list and import it into Gmail at LEAST once. Here's the reason why:
It seems that Google is syncing your contacts that you make. It works very well and doesn't seem to have a hitch pulling stuff that you have on your contacts book. However, there's a flaw: it doesn't play so nicely with Facebook. Most of us have Facebook synced onto our devices and we forget about that. It's true most of our contacts aren't in our gmail, but that's because we never had all of those FB friends names in our gmail either. That's why it seems it's not syncing right. if you want it to, I would suggest this: Import your entire contacts into your SD card through the menu button in your Contacts program, then export it out. Sync that file with Gmail, and you should be good to go. Sometimes, we sync it to Facebook, but it doesn't mean it'll sync to Gmail. Haven't tested out whether or not you'll end up with doubles, but i'll update if i get a chance (planning out beach day!) =D let me know how it goes for you (but that should work. In the odd chance it doesn't, at least we've tried something)
Good luck!
~jojojohnson7410

jojojohnson7410 said:
Okay, well, if you check it out here, you'll find the thing you might need for the corporate sync since you're not using Outlook (my bad. like i said, don't use it too much) and if this link doesn't work, you might need an update then.
As for the Google sync problem, I did a bit of researching. Apparently, its 2-way syncing, but like you probably noticed, it's not doing so hot. After fooling around for a bit, I finally got it to work pretty well. Apparently, you need a couple of conditions set in place in order for it to work nicely:
1.) Have the GMail app and set it to use your default email
2.) Make sure that under Accounts > [email protected] settings, you check sync next to Contacts (and if it still doesn't work, then try also syncing GMail.)
3.) If your phone has a Battery Manager (mine does) make sure that the setting you choose does not put restrictions on sync! (if it does, then you'll see a lag between syncs. For me, it was 15 minutes)
Thanks to Darth_Penguin for the first two tips.
Last but not least, the strangest thing I've encountered yet: Export your phone contact's list and import it into Gmail at LEAST once. Here's the reason why:
It seems that Google is syncing your contacts that you make. It works very well and doesn't seem to have a hitch pulling stuff that you have on your contacts book. However, there's a flaw: it doesn't play so nicely with Facebook. Most of us have Facebook synced onto our devices and we forget about that. It's true most of our contacts aren't in our gmail, but that's because we never had all of those FB friends names in our gmail either. That's why it seems it's not syncing right. if you want it to, I would suggest this: Import your entire contacts into your SD card through the menu button in your Contacts program, then export it out. Sync that file with Gmail, and you should be good to go. Sometimes, we sync it to Facebook, but it doesn't mean it'll sync to Gmail. Haven't tested out whether or not you'll end up with doubles, but i'll update if i get a chance (planning out beach day!) =D let me know how it goes for you (but that should work. In the odd chance it doesn't, at least we've tried something)
Good luck!
~jojojohnson7410
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, the top most segment does not work. I have tried the last para. Here's what I did,
1. I imported the contacts to my gmail account by the vcf file.
2. All my contacts have come up but not their profile pic
3. Now what ? I did'nt understand this segment.
" Sync that file with Gmail, and you should be good to go. Sometimes, we sync it to Facebook, but it doesn't mean it'll sync to Gmail. Haven't tested out whether or not you'll end up with doubles, but i'll update if i get a chance (planning out beach day!) =D let me know how it goes for you (but that should work. In the odd chance it doesn't, at least we've tried something)"
ALSO, now if I want to 'sync' do I always have to do this way of exporting the vcf file ?

Okay the reason why you don't have the profile pics are because those don't get saved into the vcf files. Only textual data. The pictures came from facebook and unless you use an app or program or service, you can only get the pictures synced to your contacts by syncing with facebook. And as for the loading the vcf, you only need to do this once to sync all contacts from across all your services (facebook, gmail, etc.). So long as you only add contacts through your contacts app, you should have no problems with your gmail.
however, do note that if another third party app/service syncs in a new contact for you (e.g. Facebook), it will NOT sync with gmail as they don't support third party companies. If it's a problem, either sync your device with your third party company (e.g. Facebook) our just do the vcf trick I taught you every once in a while to synchronize all your services/contacts
~ jojojohnson7410
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App

Best way to backup contacts?

First, I did use the search feature, but couldn't find anything specific to the Inspire. If this already exists, please feel free to link to it/close this thread. Thanks!
So, I can't seem to effectively back up my contacts. Titanium Backup doesn't do it, and I thought they were synced via Google. Not to mention I've had the same SIM card for YEARS and all my contacts have always been on there. Now, since I rooted my phone and started flashing custom ROMS, they have disappeared. Now I am without my 400+ contacts database, which I need.. So my question is, what is the best way to back up contacts, and is there any way to recover the ones I had?
Thanks in advance!

As long as you didn't choose not to sync with Google before you flashed, they are backed up. Most likely the problem you are having is getting them to import. Try going to Settings>Accounts and Sync> and manually sync your Google account.

stonewallmike said:
As long as you didn't choose not to sync with Google before you flashed, they are backed up. Most likely the problem you are having is getting them to import. Try going to Settings>Accounts and Sync> and manually sync your Google account.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I rip my employer a little I guess and store ALL my contacts to MS Exchange for several years now with nary a hiccup...that said since I've been on Android, Google does a fine job too. ... I think my free Sugar Sync account probably has them too...with this phone I have given up storing any contacts at all on the SIM card...because I have gone through what you are when simply switching phones or have phones stolen/lost in the past...but yeah make sure at least Google is backing them up...

It all depends on where you have chosen to save your contacts. If to phone then they may be lost forever. If to sim then simply import them back to your phone. If to Google account then as said above just re-sync.
When thinking about flashing rom's the first thing that you should do is make sure all contacts are backed up. Best choice is with Google. That way everytime you wipe data you can boot up your phone sync with Google and BOOM! They are there. Works a treat. Cheers.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Thanks guys. I've had them backed up to Google before, and even restored them before, but it doesn't seem to be working. I just flashed the VU ROM after having been using the RCMix3D ROM for my Inspire, so I'll post the question on their page and see if it's a known issue with the ROM or anything.

Good luck.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

elijahpr said:
Thanks guys. I've had them backed up to Google before, and even restored them before, but it doesn't seem to be working. I just flashed the VU ROM after having been using the RCMix3D ROM for my Inspire, so I'll post the question on their page and see if it's a known issue with the ROM or anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been on a captivate and now the inspire. Flashed upteen different roms and never had an issue with google restoring my contacts. Everytime I put the gmail addy in it pulls it all over.
Doesn't the htc sync account do that as well? Try doing that. If all else fails and you have them in say outlook or still on google then you can export them as a comma separated value (CSV) file and then put that on your sd card then import them via the people app. You can then save to sim via the people app.
I am on VU now and it restored flawlessly from gmail.
This is one app on the market that you can look at.
https://market.android.com/details?id=no.uia.android.backupcontacts&feature=search_result

I would recommend using my backup pro from the android market