Outlook 2007 - import/export vCard problems

[Mike]

Outlook 2007 (like previous versions of Outlook) still fails to properly
implement the vCard standard. In a VCF file with mulitple records, Outlook
only imports the first one; even Outlook Express will import this kind of
VCF file correctly. On the flip side Outlook cannot properly create VCF
files from mulitple contacts; yes, there is the kludge to foward an an email
with multiple contacts, but this does not create a single VCF file, and
requires numerous extra steps (and takes a LONG time for a large list). I
know there are tools to 'fix' this, but is there a reason Outlook still
fails to implement this standard correctly?

Mike

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Such "why?" questions are largely rhetorical unless you can corner a Microsoft developer in an unusually talkative mood. This being a peer-to-peer forum, you won't find them here. It's not hard to guess, though, that multiple-contact vCard support simply wasn't high enough on the to-do list to get the resources this time around, given all the other design priorities.

Once people see how well multi-event iCalendar support works in OL2007, I imagine they'll be asking loudly for the same capability for contacts.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Mike]

I hadn't realized how well multi-item vCal importing worked until
yesterday - very nice! I guess I was also wondering if there was any
workaround for the limitations of vCard support - perhaps through code?
Thanks,

Mike

Such "why?" questions are largely rhetorical unless you can corner a
Microsoft developer in an unusually talkative mood. This being a
peer-to-peer forum, you won't find them here. It's not hard to guess,
though, that multiple-contact vCard support simply wasn't high enough on the
to-do list to get the resources this time around, given all the other design
priorities.

Once people see how well multi-event iCalendar support works in OL2007, I
imagine they'll be asking loudly for the same capability for contacts.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

It would certainly be possible to parse a multi-item vCard file into multiple vCard files using FileSystemObject or the usual cast of text parsing functions. Then you can import them with Outlook 2007's nifty new Namespace.OpenSharedItem method.

Perhaps a little weekend VBA project?

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Mike]

Not this weekend but probably next weekend! Well - at least I'll get
started next weekend....

Mike

It would certainly be possible to parse a multi-item vCard file into
multiple vCard files using FileSystemObject or the usual cast of text
parsing functions. Then you can import them with Outlook 2007's nifty new
Namespace.OpenSharedItem method.

Perhaps a little weekend VBA project?

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers