Database Users

alternative way to backup contacts?

Hi
Just got this thing the other day (O2 XDA Mini S) and am pulling my hair out with ActiveSync. A google and a look round these forums convinces me I'm not alone.
I'm now at the point where notes will sync, but Contacts and Calendar will not. This appears to be most likely because I'm not using an Exchange Server.
I give in. Can anyone advise whether this some alternative to ActiveSync that I can use to back up my contacts list? I'd hate to have to do it all over again.
I have a memory card, so adding software from that is no problem if necessary.
Thanks

You can try the backup tool Sunnysoft
in advanced mode is an option Backup PIM databases

lansalot said:
I'm now at the point where notes will sync, but Contacts and Calendar will not. This appears to be most likely because I'm not using an Exchange Server.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you just trying to sync with your pc over the usb link? You don't need Exchange Server for that - it sync's with Outlook directly. Have you set up what information you want to sync in ActiveSync's Tools->options?
Another possibility for not syncing is any firewall you are running - although, if it was that, you wouldn't even get Notes to sync.
John

yup
Thanks for that John, yep I've done all I can see that I need to do. Missing Exchange was about the only thing left I could think of. I think I might uninstall Outlook and reinstall it to see if that helps. Though I *hate* having to install that POS just so I can backup some settings !
Perhaps there's somewhere within the phone that will export the various settings somewhere. Or perhaps I should dig out VS2005 and attempt to write one myself. Backing up to storage card would be the best option I think, and from a look around the .net mobile CF, it would appear to be pretty well supported.
And I had to disable Zonealarm despite having all the appropriate configurations set up to allow it. I even put 169.254.x.x in the trusted zone, to no avail.
ActiveSync is a shocking piece of software - and I know from owning other phones that there's things like MobiExplorer and MobiManager that tends to work much better than the usual manufacturer-supplied stuff.
Chak, thanks for the lead with SunnySoft.

Copy the pim.vol file from the root directory of the device. This contains all your pim info (contacts, call history, tasks, calendar). You can't really make anything out of it if you try to view it, but when you hard reset, you can just overwrite the new one and soft reset to restore everything. I copy mine to my storage card every time i add something new that has to do with pim stuff.

guttrhead said:
Copy the pim.vol file from the root directory of the device. This contains all your pim info (contacts, call history, tasks, calendar). You can't really make anything out of it if you try to view it, but when you hard reset, you can just overwrite the new one and soft reset to restore everything. I copy mine to my storage card every time i add something new that has to do with pim stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in my case, pim.vol file is protected, so copying & replacing it after hard reset does not work. i have other workaround for backuping contacts (as my activesync with outlook simply does not work) - each contact via irda to computer. it saves contact as .vcf file that you can send to wizard back again after hard reset.

Try using total commander to get to the file.

I yust transfered the file via email inside my home WLan to the PC.....

Hey, is this a common problem for HTC devices or Windows mobile in general?
I just started searching because my calendar won't sync. (3 palm devices and 3 pda's later, I have 1,400+ contacts.)
Are there any workarounds that anyone knows?
I tried setting up the sync settings whilst the device was disconnected, but the calendar entry just disappears when I re-connect.
-Worried of Sheffield.

thanks
Thanks eva_d, I had already hit on the idea of bluetoothing all my contacts over (thankfully, there's not that many) from my nokia 6600. Luckily, the XDA didn't require my SIM to be in it during the transfer. It even took over the mini pictures I had for some of the contacts, quite smart.
But it would be some chore with more than the couple dozen I had.
I'm reading up on the windowsmobile classes in dotnet, I reckon the answer would lie in there somewhere. Writing an app in VS to back things up to some funky open format would be the ideal, even if it does just drop a directory full of VCF files for example.
Once I'm sure VS2005 is installed and working correctly (http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=41155), I'll throw some serious effort at it.

Re: thanks
lansalot said:
Thanks eva_d, I had already hit on the idea of bluetoothing all my contacts over (thankfully, there's not that many) from my nokia 6600. Luckily, the XDA didn't require my SIM to be in it during the transfer. It even took over the mini pictures I had for some of the contacts, quite smart.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
copying contacts to other handset is bit risky, because various producers are using various interpretation of .vcf file format. for instance, when i copy contact from siemens s65 to wizard, email field is always ripped off the contact and polish national characters are also absent. copying contacts to computer via irda is quite safe, however personal ringtones assigned to contact and voice dials are sacrified. all other data within a contact are still present, including contact picture.

A bit more info on the missing calendar link:-
I have one laptop using activesync V.4.1 this was where i first discovered the problem.
Just tried laptop #2 running a/sync v.3.7.1 which has an older copy of my appointments in outlook. Calendar doesn't sync to this either, so it must be something inside the MDA.
Tried to search microsoft support to find a solution, but no entries found. This seems to indicate that it is a HTC issue. I had a MDA Pro briefly sync-ed up which worked Ok. The problems are with my MDA compact running WM2003.

pim.vol not only saves the contact but also the assigned ringtone and pic. only way to do it is copy to storage card.
then after hard reset it won't let you overwrite the new one but if you rename it to pim.vol.old it lets you do that. then you can overwrite it.

laich71 said:
pim.vol not only saves the contact but also the assigned ringtone and pic. only way to do it is copy to storage card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
contact pictures are NOT saved in pim.vol. when i restore contacts via irda from .vcf files on my laptop, pictures are already there.

I know this thread has moved on a bit, but I've just got my calendar to sync. again and I'm soooo relieved!
Take a look at this forum to find out how:-
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.pocketpc.activesync
Look at 'Cannot get calendar to sycnhronise' and the second reply.

Backing up the Contacts with Mail2Web Live Mail Service
I basically use the mail2web live mail service, and use its exchange server as the server source in Activesync. I only choose synching Contacts with this server (but you can choose others).
This way, all my contacts are always up to date in mail2web servers, and even if I need to hard reset, I can reget all of my contacts back very quickly.
Highly recommended...
Fast

please use the search PLEASE! ....search for PPCBckpContacts.exe
damn it!

Importing Contacts K750i>VPA

Hi,
I have a Sony K750i and I want to import my contacts into my new phone, VPA 1605/Compact III.
The problem I face is that when I transfer from my contacts on my sim (using the VPA's built in sim manger) it creates the contacts as single entries into my contact list, for all the different classes of contacts. IE Mobile/Home/Office etc etc.
It lists my contacts as:
Mr XYZ/m
Mr XYZ/h
Mr XYZ/o
This is a pain and not much use to me.
I can however beam my contacts one by one using Infrared. It transfers the contact as a .vcf and retains the format. But that's real slow when you have lots of contacts.
I also tried bluetooth and could not transfer contacts from K750i>VPA, but could transfer contacts from VPA>K750i. hmmm? Weird! Is there a problem with bluetooth when transfering contacts?
Surely there must be a way of transfering my contacts into the VPA and keep the correct format?
Does anyone else have this problem?
What about a third party phone manager that sits on a PC and can transfer contacts?
I'm at a loss on this one.
TIA

Try Mobile Master Professional, www.mobile-master.com. It can sync the K750i with Outlook and then you can sync Outlook with your Pocket PC.

i copied all my contacts from k750i as vcf files (using fma phone manager software) then added all contacts into a zip file, sent zip file to tytn, unzipped file on tytn and saved to contacts.
that way you can get all of your contacts across in one go! simple!
hope it helps!

Thank You
Thank you for your help.
I can't find the Contacts folder on the VPA Phone.
Using the inbuilt file manager.
TIA

not sure about your phone, but on the tytn it asks if you want to save to contacts when you unzip...

Database
Hmm I get the picture..now! lol
But how do I get rid of the contacts I don't want that was created by the importing of the sim.
Apart from deleting them one at time.
I have found a couple of database editors, but can't find one for WM5
Grrrrrrrrr
EDIT - SOLUTION! :idea:
delete the pim.vol at the root and soft reset your phone. This creates a blank contacts database file. Pim.vol also stores your Appointments, so if you delete it you will loose those as well.
Hope this helps someone.
Thanks to all that helped. :lol:

bigshape said:
i copied all my contacts from k750i as vcf files (using fma phone manager software) then added all contacts into a zip file, sent zip file to tytn, unzipped file on tytn and saved to contacts.
that way you can get all of your contacts across in one go! simple!
hope it helps!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it need to click on every VCF file - in a case of hundrets of contacts this would be inconvenient.
but I have found solution to synchronize W800i / K750i / D750i into Windows Mobile on Pocket PC without using Outlook, little tricky but working:
1. export Phone Book with free software MyPhoneExplorer to one CSV file
2. change header (first line) of CSV from:
Code:
"Title","First name","Last name","Mobile","Home","Work","Fax","Other","Street","Postcode","City","State","Country","Info","E-mail","Web","Company","Birthday"
to
Code:
"Title","First name","Last name","Mobile Phone","Home Phone","Business Phone","Business Fax","Home Phone 2","Home Street","Home Postal Code","Home City","Home State","Home Country","Notes","E-mail Address","Web Page","Company","Birthday"
3. rename changed CSV file to: contacts_20081003.csc (date is unimportant, but you must retain format: contacts_RRRRMMDD.csc)
4. pack it with zero compression to ZIP format
5. change ZIP's extension to *.PIB
6. download free PIM Backup 2.8 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=299705
7. run this PIM Backup from PDA, select "Restore" and select created *.pib file
8. in CSV import settings set "," as delimiter and additionaly map "Last name" to "Name"
should work

Doesn't work for me!
Hi,
I tried tester2's method on my HTC Touch diamond 2, it seems very logical but the HTC doen't seem to comply with it; I get a lot of posts with no names! So when I open any of the posts it has a phone number etc, but I cant get the name part to work. It seems the mapping doesnt work correctly althought i did map "Name" to "Last Name".
Any ideas?
Thanx, N/

Possible to import messages from old phone?

Hey,
is it possible to import sms/text-messages from my old nokia phone to the Touch HD? I've managed to import the contacts from the old phone to outlook, but can't find a way to do the same with the text messages.
I would be greatful for any help!
Regards,
Bacardi Man

I used a program called EASY HELPER on my xda2i to transfer text and contacts between two similar handsets. Worked ok, ALTHOUGH text only backs up INBOX. sent, drafts etc... are populated but by empty files you have to just delete anyway.
If easy helper is supported in 6.1 then it might work for you, don't forget to search for other 3rd party sms backup and restore programs which could be equally helpful.
....IB a n e

Well on the Nokia side you could give the new NCC 2.0 beta http://www.nokia.com/A41013626 a try, but I think even 1.0 in the latest current Phone Suite could export SMS. My N95 is currently with Nokia, so I cannot test it for you (Export function w/o phone is greyed out). Re-Importing a common export file format back into WinMobile should not be a great deal.

I have exporter all Contacts and messages from my Nokia phone using Nokia PC suite. All this data now is stored in one single *.nbu file.
So you mean there is a program, which can extract the messages from this file and transfer them to an WM6.1 based PDA?

Can PC Suite only export nbu file format? Doubt any other program can read that. No option there to choose csv or text format at least?

Bacardi Man said:
Hey,
is it possible to import sms/text-messages from my old nokia phone to the Touch HD? I've managed to import the contacts from the old phone to outlook, but can't find a way to do the same with the text messages.
I would be greatful for any help!
Regards,
Bacardi Man
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, let me think about it:
you may be able to send your text messages from the nokia phone vie bluetooth to your HD (if your Nokia supports sending more messages than one at a time, that would be the easyest way )
every phone and it software stores text messages in a different format and way. so normaly, its not possible to load those on another phone. some programs can store and save those messages as text files. but on the other hand, you would not be able to get those text files on your HD stored as real sms again. so the best thing would be bluetooth. just send those messages over and ypur HD will get them and know that its an sms (did the same with my contacts, just sended them via bluetooth )

My colleague says NCC can in fact export to csv format. From that format it should be possible to import into WinMobile. If only I would remember if this WM5 software HTC SMSBackup in this old post of mine http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1053322&postcount=2 can import csv? If you wanna give it a try, install for WinMobile 6.x as a cab is different now:
1. Change the ".zip" extension to ".rar"
2. extract 00CAB300.001
3. rename to "00CAB300.001.exe"
4. copy to phone and use

simple answer: use pimbackup - i moved everything from my trinity. you can find it by searching on XDA, it is simply perfect.

pzucchel said:
simple answer: use pimbackup - i moved everything from my trinity. you can find it by searching on XDA, it is simply perfect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it also work for SE devices such as the W800i?

Monsieur zucchel, the topic here is syncing Nokia to WinMobile No simple answer yet

Lucas0511 said:
Monsieur zucchel, the topic here is syncing Nokia to WinMobile No simple answer yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Lucas, my apologies. i thought it was a windows mobile device....

Bienvenue, PIMBackup is indeed a fine WinMobile solution.

But is there also a solution to port contacts from sony Ericcson devices to the HD?
Asking that cos I own a W800i.

Well, one nice feature of SE phones is the capability to copy all phone contacts to SIM card. Then you put the SIM in your other phone, and voila. Just a quick fix, a better way would be to export contacts to a export data file like .csv, and then import that one into WinMobile with the free PIMBackup http://www.dotfred.net/ Give the free http://www.fjsoft.at/en/ MyPhoneExplorer a try, it was always my favourite SE contacts and SMS sync software.

Really good news as I am already using MyPhoneExplorer.
Will give it a try on monday when the HD should arrive.
The problem with the SIM Card is that there is only a storage capacitiy for 150 numbers (not even contacts) so this option wont work for me.

The option of using bluetooth sounds really interesting. But how can I send a sms via Bluetooth. In the options menue of the messages menue there is no possibility to do that, altough both phones support bluetooth.

Since I still can't find an option to send my sms via bluetooth from one phone to the other, I tried exporting them into .csv format, which worked fine.
Now I have the problem that both, your program Lucas, and PPCPIMBackup don't recognize this format.
Any suggestions?

Studied the PIMBackup since I dont use it. Its backups are stored in a .pib file, which actually is just a .zip file which you can decompress. It will reveal a number of .csv files, for the different types of data in your Touch HD. I would then assume that you can copy the contacts from your Nokia .csv file into the PIMBackup .csv with contacts, using Excel which can read and write .csv. Do the same for SMS. Unfortunately not a one-click solution, but transfering PIM data over operating systems is still a pain - when it comes to SMS. Contacts of course can be transfered via Outlook, or a online account which both of your devices can access.
If you like to explore further, I think Jeyo Mobile Extender was a software that allowed you to put all your SMS into Outlook as messages, from where you could copy them. But I never got it to run fully under Outlook 2007, and development has stopped.
Good luck!

@lucas:
Your solution would be great, but in fact the pib-file does not contain many csv-files, instead it contains one single pbm-file, which can't be decompressed.

Well then, I am close to giving up . Did you use a .pib file that you filled with some life, i.e. at least one item (contact, sms) for each PIM menu item on your WinMobile device? An empty .pib file out of the box would certainly contain no csv's. If there is still only a pbm file after decompress then the PIMBackup programmer has not updated his manual.
Other than that, maybe someone else would like to step in... Time for a Bacardi I'd say...

[Q] Old, dumbphone's contacts to Vibrant?

I had a Sony Ericsson TM506 on which the screen doesnt work anymore. About two weeks before it died, i had backed up my contacts using the PC software. It saved my contacts onto a .dbk file. I was wondering if there was a way to get this onto my Vibrant i can get my contacts back.
PS I know is shoulda put them all on my SIM, but oh well.

This is not the fastest method but, in my opinion, the cleanest way to do it.
1) Convert the file to an Excel format so you can save it as a CSV file - there are lots of free dbf to XXX converters available online.
2) Format the new CSV file to match fields that Gmail will recognize. (http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=12119) It's possible your original file already has appropriate headers.
3) Import the contacts into Gmail
4) Sync the Gmail with your phone
Now you don't have to worry about losing your contacts when switching phones to the next best Android device in a few years!

sweet, thanks, i'll get to this asap

Weird Contact Notes issue.. Please help.

Hi guys,
I noticed that many of my Contacts have the "Notes" section filled with crap while others are nice and clean as you can see in the attached screenshots.
Can you please identify the problem?
Is it possible to mass-clean Contact notes leaving the field empty?
What could be causing this issue?
NOTE: Back in the days of using WM I backed up my contacts with PIMBackup and then used the instructions found in the forum about transferring the backup to Android by unziping the *.pim file generated by PIMBackup.
Thank you in advance,
F

The <htcdata> ones tell sense which are your favs and Facebook links.
The ones with the hex type code I'm not sure, could be the contact image that has been imported / exported into the wrong field somewhere down the line?

i see.. so is this fixable? ..is there a way I can mass-edit the notes field and delete all the crap?

i dont have an automated way, but what id do is use excel.. export the contact list to csv or xls (from outlook, or gmail, most will do it) and open it in <insert generic spreadsheet app here>, again sort by the notes field and you can drag and multi select the affected cells and delete them.

samsamuel said:
i dont have an automated way, but what id do is use excel.. export the contact list to csv or xls (from outlook, or gmail, most will do it) and open it in <insert generic spreadsheet app here>, again sort by the notes field and you can drag and multi select the affected cells and delete them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good idea I will try it!.. do you also have the same problem or you just do this to manage your notes contents?
EDIT: I cannot upload the edited .csv to Gmail... it sais error for some reason..
What I did was to Find and Replace "Notes Ink:*" with "Notes Ink: " since I could not sort the file by the Notes column... then Save csv then Import to Gmail => error...
EDIT2: editing seems to work properly with Google Documents ..lets see if syncing will now solve the problem!
EDIT3: Mr. samsamuel ...YOU ROCK

hehe, third times the charm.

can you tell me step by step how you did that ??

Jarrett76 said:
can you tell me step by step how you did that ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Login to your Gmail account.
2) Go to Contacts and find the Export action
3) Choose Google.csv type and download to you laptop
4) Use Google Documents found in your Gmail panel somewhere and open the google.csv you just downloaded
5) Go to the "Notes" column and select the whole column just below the "Notes" header
6) Delete the column data
7) Save
8) Re-download to your PC
9) Go to Gmail contacts and this time Import. Browse to the edited csv file
Done
EDIT: credits to samsamuel