get PDA address book into Outlook contacts

[nantucketbob]

How do you get the address book into Outlook's contact list? I have tried the export vcard file but Outlook only reads the FIRST record, not the rest.

[DrMud]

If you are asking how to sync your Palm with Outlook rather than Palm Desktop the answer is Pocket Mirror. You should have the Pocket Mirror software on your Palm Install Disk. I f the disk is missing go to Chapura.com to the download area and download "Standard Pocket Mirror Upgrade." You need not have an earlier version on your PC. It is free. You can also sync to the Desktop when you what to by going into the Pocket Mirror settings and setting a one time sync to the Palm Desktop.
Doc

[nantucketbob]

I am trying to sync from the desktop software (v4.0.1) to Outlook. That is, export from Palm desktop software and import into Outlook contacts.

[DrMud]

Bob,
This answer is almost useless but here it is:

There is a piece of software designed to export the Address data from the Desktop to Outlook's contacts. BUT I cannot seem to remember the name. BIG HELP!

THe old tried and true method is to "export" from Palm Desktop as a CSV file then "IMPORT" to Outlook. YOU may want to use a middle step such as Excel to allow for a quick review of the data before dropping it into Outlook.
DrMud

[DrMud]

Bob,
This is the software I referenced above but had lost the name.
Doc

DIMEX (http://linkesoft.com/dimex/)

[nantucketbob]

Thank you sooo much. I thought I was crazy because it should have worked. But the hotsync system seemed to be set up to link other PDA files to your personal file, so that a business could share contacts.

I was about to use the PDA file----> excel ---> outlook method but it such a pain. I will do it just to see if it works and get back to you sometime in the not so near future.

I will also check into that program.

You were such a great help! Thanks. Bob Hall

[DrMud]

Glad to assist. Keeps the Blvd. informed of your experiences. It is one thing to recommend another to know that it worked OK.
Doc

[elmogonzo]

I ran into the same problem -- at first I was using the copy of Intellisync Lite that installed itself along with the other CLIE desktop software. It would sync everything to Outlook and I didn't use the Palm Desktop for anything. It worked well except for one annoying feature -- it would not run unattended due to a MessageBox that would ask me what I wanted to do about conflicts. I tried modifying settings to no avail before I finally contacted Puma Software and learned that only the full version has that capability. So I uninstalled it, put Puma on the list of companies to avoid, and sync to the Palm Desktop.

I'm currently doing dual maintenance on addresses. When I need something in Outlook that isn't there I look it up on the palmtop and re-type the info. I'm dabbling with a conduit project that will double-sync to both but that's a long way off.

[nantucketbob]

I decided not to use AIMEX (the address book companion of DIMEX which transfers appointments). This is what AIMEX said about their program:

Hi Robert,
thanks for contacting us prior to the purchase. As stated, AIMEX will allow you to import/export the full Palm address data (including phone labels and what phone is displayed in the list). However, there is no direct support of Outlook 2000, so if you're looking for a quick and easy solution to transfer your data to Outlook, you may need to look for a different tool.

Best regards,
Andreas
www.linkesoft.com

[nantucketbob]

I got some names imported into Outlook. I made a common delimited file, named it "xyz.cdf" (the .cdf extension may not be what I used, I used what Palm 4.0.1 told me to use), and the imported it into Outlook. It worked, at least partially. When outlook recognized the file the rest of the process went fairly easily. I have no idea why these files were not recognized last time. I used tab delimited, however, not comma delimited.

Outlook makes you type in a full name, first/last, but Palm separates the two into 2 field. You must type the names into a spare palm filed if you want them to go into Outlook the way outlook wants.

The only problem I noticed was that in the address book the "display name" did not appear which makes it difficult to put names into emails. I was doing a distribution list and not many names were included, i think. I will know when my recients respond to my test email.

I think it would be easier to retype them.

[DrMud]

Bob,
Thanks for the update on the PC software. I t doesn't work with Outlook 2000? Very handy!
Thanks also for the excellent details on your solution. This board needs a library of such useful solutions. A real FAQ section would be nice.
Any moderators around that could help this happen??

Anybody seen a moderator?

DrMud