Contact management

[Jakimo]

Hello!

I’m looking for a more advanced database management system that can clean up many thousands of contacts. For example, I’d like to change addresses so they are written the same: St instead of Street. Or remove the 1 in front of many phone numbers.

Something that can handle cleaning everything up as a batch task.

Anything on macOS?

 

[HDFan]

I’m looking for a more advanced database management system that can clean up many thousands of contacts. For example,

Where are the contacts now?

 

[Jakimo]

I'm using iCloud, the Mac / iOS / padOS Contacts default

 

[Jakimo]

I did find this: https://www.goldbugsoft.com/site/addressbookaid/addressbookaid_mac_en.html

Has anyone tried to use this software? I haven't had time to check out the trial yet..

 

[MisterSavage]

The current contacts app is so painful. I wish it would get an overhaul.

 

[Jakimo]

The current contacts app is so painful. I wish it would get an overhaul.

I actually wrote Apple 'feedback', hopefully one of many requests. It hangs all the time, doesn't sync well, etc.. but it does work.

By the way, I've since picked up that for a modern Mac this one is the app to try: https://www.goldbugsoft.com/site/addressbookaid2/addressbookaid2_mac_en.html

Not sure why the fellow has two versions, and further why the newer one that's faster and more capable is less expensive than the old one. Kinda strange! But yah, it looks like what's good for batch editing

 

[MisterSavage]

I actually wrote Apple 'feedback', hopefully one of many requests. It hangs all the time, doesn't sync well, etc.. but it does work.

I submitted feedback also. Even something that should be simple, such as copying someone's phone number is painful. I've had syncing issues also.

 

[Jakimo]

it looks like what's good for batch editing

I'm having TONS of trouble with this app. I do not recommend it at this time.. just for the record (I have about 5500 contacts, my issues are likely related to how large my database is)

 

[Jakimo]

Anyone have experience batch editing a large amount of contacts?

 

[6749974]

Not sure why the fellow has two versions, and further why the newer one that's faster and more capable is less expensive than the old one. Kinda strange! But yah, it looks like what's good for batch editing

The developer has a note that may answer this for you:
What is the difference between AddressBook Aid2 and AddressBook Aid

It seems the value of this app is on a ticking timer due to Apple deprecating the current API for contacts.

 

[organicCPU]

If you had all the contacts in a plain text format (vcf), you could either convert and edit them in a table, then export them back (vcf -> csv -> vcf) with vcfconvert. Or you could write your own Terminal scripts (sed, awk, perl, find, grep, etc.) to process the original vcf files. Always make a backup before.

 

[hoo-man-b-ing]

You might consider exporting all your contacts to a CSV, importing them to Excel/Numbers, standardizing/conflating them, saving to a new file (so as to not corrupt the original export), deleting the ones you have in your cloud, importing your standardized set and — voila — you’re done.

I wouldn’t use any other app, especially free ones, for handling this type of info since it’s ripe for abuse.

 

[organicCPU]

You might consider exporting all your contacts to a CSV

How do you export to CSV?

I wouldn’t use any other app, especially free ones, for handling this type of info since it’s ripe for abuse.

Even if it's FOSS?