Re: import csv into Kontact (custom fields?)(templates?) Further comments

AlanCocks wrote:

> I am hoping to begin using Kontact soon and need to import a csv file 
> into Kontact.
>
> So far so good, it works well. However, the csv file (from symantec 
> Act) has far too many fields, and although I can do some pruning, I 
> will end up with a need to add some general fields first, then import.
>
> 1) How can I add some extra fields to Kontact? (am using Kontact vers 
> 1.0 in suse 9.2)
> 2) Templates would seem possibly useful - is this correct?
> 3) how would I get or create a template?
> 4) is this the best forum for these questions? (Which others please?)
>
> tia

further comments:
(Kontact 1.0, Suse 9.2)

Import csv files works quite well, and Kontact is still the best of the 
available bunch as far as I can see.

It took me a very long time in trial/error to work out, as a total 
previous non user of Kontact, that some fields were best left to be 
derived *within* Kontact, and not initially imported (!) examples are 
Home Address Label and Formatted Name. Not sure about others yet.

A template for import of csv was extremely useful in the repeated import 
and export testing and investigation I had to do to get to understand 
what was necessary. Open Office works well to produce - save as CSV.

Am not sure yet what the display sequence of Card View is based on.

I am likely to be mostly using Table View, with quite a few fields 
showing. The search works brilliantly well (am using about 600 records), 
and it all seems pretty good. The right hand side panel works well too. 
Not sure what it is called. The display field width adjusts down well, 
but the field column names get truncated from the trailing end, losing 
the useful part. For example all of the Home Address xxxxx fields 
(street, city, state, country, ZIP) all end up showing only the 'Home 
Add' part.

The original data (from symantec Act, popular for sme use) had too many 
address columns. I had a tough time trying to merge a couple of csv 
fields first....  I did find a cells merge facility in Open Office, and 
modest use of a custom macro did help. But 600 records did take much 
time and care. It be great if Kontact had at least an extra address/s 
field :-)

From the view of a novice user needing to initially import csv data 
from an alien app, it has been really hard work, but I am beginning to 
see some nicely intuitive features, and if I can get things worked out, 
I am going to really like Kontact.

(thanks Tobias)

--
alanc