wanted - a vcard import app for ipad

grumpycrab

Hi - have a rather large vcard file (in dropbox on ipad - its too big to email!) but no (existing) ipad app is associated with it (.vcf).

Anybody know how I can import this into Contacts? I guess I need an app... Thanks.

WilliamO

Can't you split the vcard file into smaller groups (files) of contacts and then e-mail them via iCloud? Also, why not export them as .csv files?

WilliamO

WilliamO

You could convert the .vcf file into an ms excel file (.xls or .xlsx) but this will only allow you to open it from dropbox. You cannot import into Contacts via the iPad because there is no Import function.....You need to use a Mac version of Contacts which will then store those imported contacts in the cloud......then when you open the iPad version of Contacts it will see all of those cloud contacts.

WilliamO

grumpycrab

Thanks guys. No Mac here (or iCloud). The .vcf file is 25Meg (2000+contacts; actually must check that; its a binary concatenation...I'm sure when I first tried it via email it was only 8Meg). For whatever reason Outlook 2003 fell over trying to send the compounded .vcf

Its really annoying that .vcf files can be selected in an email attachment (on iPad) and imported natively but from dropbox we get "no app assocoated with this file". So, without an app to do, we'll have to split up the .vcf until we can email it...

The other way I'm thinking of trying is to install iTunes on PC, import Outlook Contacts into that (is this possible!?!?) and then let that sync with the iPad Contacts (again, assuming that's what itunes can do).

QUESTION.
If I load a .csv into the iPad (via dropbox) will selecting that import into Contacts? (surely not.) PS. iPad not here to test.

WilliamO

The iPad version of Contacts does NOT have an Import option/button - Contacts are naturally brought into iPad Contacts via iCloud. The apple mac version does have an Import feature (FILE >> IMPORT) that allows you to import .vcf files for example. So the bottom line is you need an apple mac!!!

If you export your contacts from Outlook 2003 as a .PST file they can also be converted on an apple mac using http://www.arrowbit.com/info/pstbridgepro and then converted into .mbox files that mac mail can read, including contacts; so you could bring your contacts into mac mail and then use iCloud to sync contacts between apps such as Contacts.

WilliamO

WilliamO

grumpycrab wrote: »

QUESTION.
If I load a .csv into the iPad (via dropbox) will selecting that import into Contacts? (surely not.) PS. iPad not here to test.

NO - It will default to opening as an excel file with Numbers app.

grumpycrab

Aha! iCloud. You can import a .vcf into icloud from Windows... will try tomorrow...

WilliamO

You can login to https://www.icloud.com, open Contacts, click on the cog-wheel icon in the bottom left corner and then select the Import menu item. Forgot about the cog-wheel

WilliamO

grumpycrab

Thanks William. icloud gave errors trying to import contacts. We found the easy way to do it in the end. iTunes -> select iPad -> Info -> sync contacts. And if I'd realised sooner this would have also created the mail account.

Thje only problem we had was when I (accidentally) synced the mail account it lost the SMTP auth settings on the ipad. We just had to enter user/password again. Very impressed. For some reason I didn't try iTunes first - I think older version didn't sync with Outlook 2003.

WilliamO

Just guessing but iCloud.com may of tripped on the large .vcf file you were trying to import. It can actually trip when manually entering data in icloud Contacts too (i.e. error: Unable to save the current contact.....even though you go back and find the contact saved!!!). Anyway, glad you found a solution in the end.

WilliamO