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So, I've tried csv and tab delimited txt formats. I've tried to import vcf files, and no luck. Whatever I do, non latin1 characters are misinterpreted in Outlook.
I'm writing a PHP script that can generate anything, but Outlook keeps choking on utf-8 characters.
Did anyone manage to import utf-8 characters to outlook contacts?
tishma
Posted 2012-08-25T16:57:53.143
Reputation: 213
0
So, as of Office 2010, the short answer is - yes and no.
It is possible to import utf8 VCF files with the expected results, with the limitation that (only the first) one contact per VCF file is imported. To import multiple VCF files at once, one has to select them all in windows explorer and drag/drop into desired Outlook contacts folder. The items will be imported only when you click 'close and save' button on each of the imported contacts.
CSV file with any encoding appears to fail on non-latin1 characters, replacing each with 2 ugly single-byte characters.
tishma
Posted 2012-08-25T16:57:53.143
Reputation: 213
1In the vCard, properties need to have CHARSET=utf-8 as a parameter for this to work. This works for Outlook 2007 and probably 2010, but Outlook 2003 won't work with utf8 at all from my experimentation. – Dan W – 2013-06-03T12:24:59.470
1It is 2016, and this problem still exists. Shame. – mcy – 2016-02-29T09:17:40.617
Ouch. VCF files actually work. – tishma – 2012-08-25T16:59:39.490
But do I really have to import 700 files (one for each contact) instead of a big one? – tishma – 2012-08-25T17:00:23.343
More fun. Drag and drop works from windows explorer to outlook contacts (outlook 2010), but files are just 'opened'. In order to keep them in contacts you need to click save&close. Just closing will do nothing at all. – tishma – 2012-08-25T17:09:12.593
1Have you tried UTF-16LE yet? – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams – 2012-08-25T17:17:48.170
nope. Are you serious? – tishma – 2012-08-25T17:19:11.923
That's what Microsoft calls "Unicode", so it's worth at least a shot. – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams – 2012-08-25T17:34:12.743
Hmm. Tried all UTF-16 available in VS2010 - Outlook cannot read them. However LE was not an option. – tishma – 2012-08-25T17:50:55.913
Also tried plain "Unicode" from plain "Notepad". No luck. – tishma – 2012-08-27T07:59:27.133