Outlook strips + character when importing contacts from CSV

[ma0sm]

I'm finding that whenever I import contacts with phone numbers with leading +
signs, the + is stripped in Outlook.

So with phone numbers in the form +44, importing will just store them as 44.
The problem with this is I sync my Nokia N95 phone with Outlook and when in
this form, all of my numbers are invalidated and undiallable.

This doesn't happen with Outlook 2000, that imports the numbers correctly,
retaining the +.

The exact reproduction steps I undertake are as follows:

1. In GMail, export contacts in Outlook format, creating contacts.csv.
2. Open Import & Export wizard in Outlook 2003.
3. Import from another program or file.
4. Comma Separated Values (Windows).
5. Select correct file to import.
6. Select contacts folder.
7. Finish.

After this, all contacts in the contacts folder are stripped of the leading +.

Has anyone else had this problem or know of a workaround?

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Most people complain that outlook adds the + and it screws up dialing from
smart phones.

Can you import them to outlook 2000 and copy the contacts to 2003?
Otherwise, if you don't have many, you can open the contact in outlook and
it should add the + (click on the buttons beside the # to open the check
number dialog).

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

 

[ma0sm]

Thanks for your reply.

I use GMail as my primary contacts location and update my Outlook on
occasion overwriting all existing entries. As this is not a one off, a
workaround like the 2000 import & 2003 copy wouldn't be a feasible solution.

Also, I have nearly 600 contacts, individual update wouldn't be an option.

I take it from your initial comment that I'm in the minority here and this
is unlikely to change?

Most people complain that outlook adds the + and it screws up dialing from
smart phones.

Can you import them to outlook 2000 and copy the contacts to 2003?
Otherwise, if you don't have many, you can open the contact in outlook and
it should add the + (click on the buttons beside the # to open the check
number dialog).

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

I'm finding that whenever I import contacts with phone numbers with
leading +
signs, the + is stripped in Outlook.

So with phone numbers in the form +44, importing will just store them as
44.
The problem with this is I sync my Nokia N95 phone with Outlook and when
in
this form, all of my numbers are invalidated and undiallable.

This doesn't happen with Outlook 2000, that imports the numbers correctly,
retaining the +.

The exact reproduction steps I undertake are as follows:

1. In GMail, export contacts in Outlook format, creating contacts.csv.
2. Open Import & Export wizard in Outlook 2003.
3. Import from another program or file.
4. Comma Separated Values (Windows).
5. Select correct file to import.
6. Select contacts folder.
7. Finish.

After this, all contacts in the contacts folder are stripped of the
leading +.

Has anyone else had this problem or know of a workaround?

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

I haven't looked into it yet, so I don't know if something will change on
the import process (or if there is a way to make it work) - but it does seem
like you are in the minority. However, because the majority is mostly
working in outlook, not importing from CSV files, it doesn't reflect on your
problem.

I assume you'll looked at the CSV and verified the + exists in the record?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

Thanks for your reply.

I use GMail as my primary contacts location and update my Outlook on
occasion overwriting all existing entries. As this is not a one off, a
workaround like the 2000 import & 2003 copy wouldn't be a feasible
solution.

Also, I have nearly 600 contacts, individual update wouldn't be an option.

I take it from your initial comment that I'm in the minority here and this
is unlikely to change?

Most people complain that outlook adds the + and it screws up dialing
from
smart phones.

Can you import them to outlook 2000 and copy the contacts to 2003?
Otherwise, if you don't have many, you can open the contact in outlook
and
it should add the + (click on the buttons beside the # to open the check
number dialog).

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point
your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

I'm finding that whenever I import contacts with phone numbers with
leading +
signs, the + is stripped in Outlook.

So with phone numbers in the form +44, importing will just store them
as
44.
The problem with this is I sync my Nokia N95 phone with Outlook and
when
in
this form, all of my numbers are invalidated and undiallable.

This doesn't happen with Outlook 2000, that imports the numbers
correctly,
retaining the +.

The exact reproduction steps I undertake are as follows:

1. In GMail, export contacts in Outlook format, creating contacts.csv.
2. Open Import & Export wizard in Outlook 2003.
3. Import from another program or file.
4. Comma Separated Values (Windows).
5. Select correct file to import.
6. Select contacts folder.
7. Finish.

After this, all contacts in the contacts folder are stripped of the
leading +.

Has anyone else had this problem or know of a workaround?

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

BTW - have you tried the sync tool instead of using CSV files?

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

Thanks for your reply.

I use GMail as my primary contacts location and update my Outlook on
occasion overwriting all existing entries. As this is not a one off, a
workaround like the 2000 import & 2003 copy wouldn't be a feasible
solution.

Also, I have nearly 600 contacts, individual update wouldn't be an option.

I take it from your initial comment that I'm in the minority here and this
is unlikely to change?

Most people complain that outlook adds the + and it screws up dialing
from
smart phones.

Can you import them to outlook 2000 and copy the contacts to 2003?
Otherwise, if you don't have many, you can open the contact in outlook
and
it should add the + (click on the buttons beside the # to open the check
number dialog).

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point
your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

I'm finding that whenever I import contacts with phone numbers with
leading +
signs, the + is stripped in Outlook.

So with phone numbers in the form +44, importing will just store them
as
44.
The problem with this is I sync my Nokia N95 phone with Outlook and
when
in
this form, all of my numbers are invalidated and undiallable.

This doesn't happen with Outlook 2000, that imports the numbers
correctly,
retaining the +.

The exact reproduction steps I undertake are as follows:

1. In GMail, export contacts in Outlook format, creating contacts.csv.
2. Open Import & Export wizard in Outlook 2003.
3. Import from another program or file.
4. Comma Separated Values (Windows).
5. Select correct file to import.
6. Select contacts folder.
7. Finish.

After this, all contacts in the contacts folder are stripped of the
leading +.

Has anyone else had this problem or know of a workaround?

 

[misxif]

Diane Poremsky [MVP] wrote on 06/03/2009 10:17 ET

BTW - have you tried the sync tool instead of using CSV files

Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook
Outlook Tips: http://www.outlook-tips.net
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.co

Outlook Tips by email
mailto

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange
mailto

You can access this newsgroup by visitin
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point you
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com


"ma0sm" wrote in messag
news

Thanks for your reply

I use GMail as my primary contacts location and update my Outlook o
occasion overwriting all existing entries. As this is not a one off,
workaround like the 2000 import & 2003 copy wouldn't be a feasibl
solution

Also, I have nearly 600 contacts, individual update wouldn't be an option

I take it from your initial comment that I'm in the minority here and thi
is unlikely to change

Most people complain that outlook adds the + and it screws up dialin
fro
smart phones

Can you import them to outlook 2000 and copy the contacts to 2003
Otherwise, if you don't have many, you can open the contact in outloo
an
it should add the + (click on the buttons beside the # to open the chec
number dialog)

Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook
Outlook Tips: http://www.outlook-tips.net
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.co

Outlook Tips by email
mailto

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange
mailto

You can access this newsgroup by visitin
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or poin
you
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com


"ma0sm" wrote in messag
news
I'm finding that whenever I import contacts with phone numbers wit
leading
signs, the + is stripped in Outlook

So with phone numbers in the form +44, importing will just store the
a
44
The problem with this is I sync my Nokia N95 phone with Outlook an
whe
i
this form, all of my numbers are invalidated and undiallable

This doesn't happen with Outlook 2000, that imports the number
correctly
retaining the +

The exact reproduction steps I undertake are as follows

1. In GMail, export contacts in Outlook format, creating contacts.csv
2. Open Import & Export wizard in Outlook 2003
3. Import from another program or file
4. Comma Separated Values (Windows)
5. Select correct file to import
6. Select contacts folder
7. Finish

After this, all contacts in the contacts folder are stripped of th
leading +

Has anyone else had this problem or know of a workaround

I have just encountered this issue (using Outlook 2007), with th
internationa
prefix indicator '+' symbol being stripped off by Outlook when importing
.cs
file containing exported Google contacts

Google's sync tool for Outlook is only available to paying Google App
customers, so this is not an option

I found what appears to be the solution (after trying many workarounds an
.cs
edits etc) by comments in other forums that the problem was related to dialin
preferences. Going to Control Panel (in my Windows XP), phone and mode
options, and by entering a current location, this seems to have triggered th
acceptance by Outlook of the '+' symbol. (I did seem to have United Kingdo
se
up as my location, but without an area dialing code - I changed this to th
Netherlands and invented an area dialing code.

Now I seem to have been able to import the contacts with the plus symbol stil
intact. Phew!