No way to import contacts from Thunderbird

[deepblue]

Originally Posted by Samp

I tried this python script but with the same result, as well with Zindus sync installed in Thunderbird, perhaps it's a problem with the import module in Zimbra ?

I think the import module in Zimbra just works as "designed". But the format of the CSV can not be arbitrary - especially the first line in the CSV (that describes the columns) must be in english language (as stated in the wiki). If you (or your users) use a localized version of Thunderbird, the correspondig CSV export are probably not in english....

As I said I can't tell to my users to hack their CSV file before importing in Zimbra.

In that case you have to do it for your users :-)

Regards
Thomas

[Samp]

I send you a piece of a converted Thunderbird csv file with the python script, try to import it in Zimbra and tell me what's wrong.

Sam.

[ljm]

Originally Posted by Samp

Ok, I found Zindus but it only copy the user name but no email addresses !?

The zindus addon syncs:
Zimbra: email address #1 with Thunderbird: PrimaryEmail and
Zimbra: email address #2 with Thunderbird: SecondEmail

Here is the complete description of fields that are mapped - if you are experiencing something different, then it is a bug - please report it.

[Samp]

Originally Posted by deepblue

I think the import module in Zimbra just works as "designed". But the format of the CSV can not be arbitrary - especially the first line in the CSV (that describes the columns) must be in english language (as stated in the wiki). If you (or your users) use a localized version of Thunderbird, the correspondig CSV export are probably not in english....

In fact Zimbra can only import english people Contacts, user from others countries NOT ! - I tried native CSV export from Thunderbird, then the same file batched with a dedicated script, and with Zindus module in Thunderbird, each time the import failed, and you said report bug to Zindus and Thunderbird...

You don't think that the Zimbra import function is not perfect ?

All Zimbra apps and function support up to 22 languages, but the import function only one. look this copied from the Zimbra website:

Official Languages

The following languages are officially localized and ship with ZCS: Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English (UK, AU, US), French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish.

The Zimbra Web Clients, server messages as well as the Outlook Connector and Import Wizard have been translated. In the future we will be adding more languages and plan to get up to 40.

When the future did come ?

Sam.

[ljm]

Sam, did you try the Zindus addon? If there was a problem can you explain what the problem was?

[Samp]

Originally Posted by ljm

Sam, did you try the Zindus addon? If there was a problem can you explain what the problem was?

1) We can't directly import the CSV created by Thunderbird if not in english

2) After convert the CSV created with the dedicated Python script the contacts are created but without the email address, and we have the same problem with Zindus.

So at this time and with all the nice helps from this forum there is no way to import contacts from Thunderbird here in France.

Thanks to help us to solve this problem.

Sam.

[friedmar]

If it possible in Germany why should it not be possible in France?

Zindus is a Tunderbird add on to sync Zimbra and/or Google with your thunderbird.

There are also add-ones to find duplicates an merge different adressbooks. You have only to look for it.

In fact you do not need to export/import your data.

[Samp]

In fact Zindus work fine to import addressbooks from Zimbra in Thunderbird but not from Thunderbird to Zimbra. After an automatic sync I lost ALL my contacts in the Thunderbird main addressbook. Fortunately I had a backup in .ldif format.

I'm sorry for my remarks but I know when our users migrates to Zimbra they try to import their contacts in Zimbra from (french) Thunderbird or Outlook. But the import wizard in Zimbra don't work for CSV in french language (sorry again) and I know it's the first thing they will do, and then... call me to say Zimbra it's not a stable product.

Try to import in your Zimbra the .csv created with the dedicated python script and tell me where is the problem.

Thanks again for your help.

Sam.

[ljm]

Originally Posted by Samp

In fact Zindus work fine to import addressbooks from Zimbra in Thunderbird but not from Thunderbird to Zimbra. After an automatic sync I lost ALL my contacts in the Thunderbird main addressbook. Fortunately I had a backup in .ldif format.

Sam, the only way you would lose all your contacts in your main Thunderbird addressbook (I guess you mean Adresses personnelles) is if:
a) you were in sync
b) you deleted all your contacts in the corresponding Zimbra addressbook
c) you initiate another sync

The addon has hundreds of French users (free.fr) and there are no outstanding bug reports specific to french.

If you feel the addon is working incorrectly, please file a bug report.

[Samp]

Originally Posted by ljm

Sam, the only way you would lose all your contacts in your main Thunderbird addressbook (I guess you mean Adresses personnelles) is if:
a) you were in sync
b) you deleted all your contacts in the corresponding Zimbra addressbook
c) you initiate another sync

In fact after a first sync I sow that only the contacts name are copied on Zimbra and not the email address, I deleted ALL the wrong contacts in Zimbra addressbook then try again a new sync, and at this time all my Thunderbird contact goes away !

Now before a sync I make a LDIF backup of my contacts.

The addon has hundreds of French users (free.fr) and there are no outstanding bug reports specific to french.

If you feel the addon is working incorrectly, please file a bug report.

I checked all my contacts in Thunderbird and deleted some with "'" and "," characters and all with no first and last name (only with email address), then the sync work at 90% some af addresses are always copied without first and last name and emal address just the title of contact, as you can see in the screen capture attached at this post. I noticed this bug with duplicates contact with the same name but with a different email address.

I think if I got these problems perhaps other users will do...

I will contact the Zindus team to explain the problem.

Thanks for your help.

Sam.