is there an easy way to import a list of names, addresses, cell, etc that is NOT in tab delimited format into Outlook
I got a list of people and their details (address, phones, email, etc) that I want to import into outlook. they are in the format:
name
add1
city, state, zip
home#
cell #
bus #
email
>>then 2 line feeds and it repeats
I typically search and repalce the line feeds and wind up getting
name, add1, city, state, zip,......
that is tedious.
is there an easier way to get it into outlook?
name
add1
city, state, zip
home#
cell #
bus #
>>then 2 line feeds and it repeats
I typically search and repalce the line feeds and wind up getting
name, add1, city, state, zip,......
that is tedious.
is there an easier way to get it into outlook?
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thigger_uk
Forgot to say: remember to use the 'Map Custom Fields' option in Outlook when you're importing your new CSV file to make sure the addresses map correctly.
Forgot to say: remember to use the 'Map Custom Fields' option in Outlook when you're importing your new CSV file to make sure the addresses map correctly.
ASKER
that's basically exactly what I have been doing - search and replace to make the single column of data into a table - 1 record per person... and yeah, some 'paragraphs' (vertical record) might not have a cell number, or email or ... so you have to manually pad it then or when you conver to a table / comma delimited...
but no feature in excel that converts to a table (I AM familar with text to columns but that parses a line into columns, not a column into a table:
name1
add1
phone 1
name2
add2
phone2
convert to
name1,add1,phone1
name2,add2,phone2
but no feature in excel that converts to a table (I AM familar with text to columns but that parses a line into columns, not a column into a table:
name1
add1
phone 1
name2
add2
phone2
convert to
name1,add1,phone1
name2,add2,phone2
For the example you've given just above, convert the linefeeds to commas and then convert double commas (ie ',,') back to linefeeds - which will create a CSV file you can load into Excel.
For the records where data is missing, is there a blank line in its place? Or does it just skip straight to the next field? If it's the latter this will be very difficult.
For the records where data is missing, is there a blank line in its place? Or does it just skip straight to the next field? If it's the latter this will be very difficult.
ASKER
guys! I know that approach! : )
Is there an automated way / just like outlook imports from csv, can it import from a single column, using the double line space as a break of records.
seems like a common issue to get a list into a table in excel, access, etc.
Is there an automated way / just like outlook imports from csv, can it import from a single column, using the double line space as a break of records.
seems like a common issue to get a list into a table in excel, access, etc.
Sorry - we thought your problem related to the commas in 'city, state, zip'
The only way you'll easily import data into outlook is to convert it to CSV first. Assuming your data is laid out correctly it shouldn't be hard to convert it to CSV using a search/replace or automatically using a script (in whichever language you choose). It needs to be converted as there is no standard file format which Outlook understands which uses a linefeed to separate fields and two linefeeds to separate records.
So - you can't do it directly, but it's not hard to do it via a script or even loading it yourself and search/replace.
The only way you'll easily import data into outlook is to convert it to CSV first. Assuming your data is laid out correctly it shouldn't be hard to convert it to CSV using a search/replace or automatically using a script (in whichever language you choose). It needs to be converted as there is no standard file format which Outlook understands which uses a linefeed to separate fields and two linefeeds to separate records.
So - you can't do it directly, but it's not hard to do it via a script or even loading it yourself and search/replace.
I agree with thigger on this..
ASKER
thanks guys... yeah, I've been doing this myself this way for years as the situation arrises. keep thinking there has to be a better way!
oh well. something for the next version of office?
oh well. something for the next version of office?