How do I transfer Palm contacts to Address Book?

Dave,

I have tried doing this a million times, and every time, Palm Desktop crashes when I try to export my address book in vcf format. I would really prefer to import them into Address Book as vcfs, b/c of some nice importing features and accuracy of labels that gets lost with the tab-return format. How can I get these addresses exported without PD crashing over and over? Sometimes I can drag a single (or even a few) address(es) directly to the desktop to make a vcf of them (each one is created individually this way), but again, half the time, it crashes and Finder gets lost in a long period of thinking unless I relaunch.

Can you help me?

This has happened with more than one install of Palm Desktop, on more than one machine, running everything from 10.2 or so to Tiger.

Thanks,
bob

I just wanted to respond to Bob's comment from August 10. I too was having problems exporting my contacts from Palm Desktop to Address Book; everytime I tried to export the contacts, Palm Desktop would crash.

The solution? Make sure you're running the most recent version of Palm Desktop (4.2.1). Launch it and Address Book at the same time. Then, select all of the addresses in Palm Desktop, and drag and drop them into Address Book. They should import perfectly!

Hope this helps you (and anyone else who encounters this issue).

JT

I was trying to figure out how to export palm contacts from mac 10.3 and I came across this page. Just saying hi! btw you can also transfer as a text file into address book.

Awesome job. I had actually tried doing that before but it must have been incompatible with older versions of both applications.

What I'd like to know though, is there a way of "synching" them? I know I can drag them from Palm to Mac Address and it will give me the option of what to do on the duplicates, but, can I go the other way? Maybe an AppleScript or even and Automator process?

More advanced Palm-Import-To-Addressbook question:

I have made up several custom fields in Palm Desktop, which, when using the normal vCard export/import method, all get written to the Notes field in Addressbook.

Is there any way I can tell the Import which Custom Field in the Palm database to link to which Custom Field in Addressbook?

I have old contacts (from a Palm V PDA) that I can open running Mac classic/9 on my new Mac. When I tried to export them I am not given the vCard option. I'm give 2 "delimiters" to choose from when I export: tab & return OR Palm Desktop. I've tried both, and then attempted to import those files to the OSX address book. To no avail. Can't just drag and drop them either. Any advice??

Hi, I know Palm Desktop 4.1 SP3, 4.1.4 dat file formats. I've developed VC++, c# classes for working with Palm Desktop *.dat files: address book , memo, todo, datebook.
Regards.

How do you transfer palm date book info to iphone... ical?

Thanks for the help, spot on!

Dave: Just want to thank you. I couldn't figure how to transfer my palm desktop address to my Apple. I found your site and NO PROBLEM!!! Transfer accomplished. THANK YOU!

Thanks so much for this site--it was a huge help in moving my contacts from palm to contacts.

Dave,

I tried your method of exporting my palm contacts to the address book, but when I hit 'export' all I get is a screen wanting to export through 'addresses' with absolutely nothing listed? My accounts are there. Strange. There is even an option called 'export vcard' That has the same result.

Thanks - it worked great.

The transfer was the easiest. Thank you! I guess now I just sinc my Iphone to it? Can you do the same with the Calendar? Thanks again!

Thank you so very much! Nothing on either MAC or Palm could have put it in such simple terms as you did. Loved the screen shots it helped tremendously as I didnt want to give up my palm unless I could transfer contacts to my i-touch! You are the best!

Thanks for this, moving my addresses across to Address Book on the Mac worked perfectly first time round!

I am slowly moving everything across from my trusty Palm Desktop environment and old Sony Clie to an iPod Touch and this has helped enormously. My final hurdle is to move calendar appointments across and everything has failed in this department so far. It might have to be a manual process... oh joy!

your site was SOOOOOO helpful!!!! thank you very, very much from paris, france,

lillian & peter

is there a simple way to export Palm memos to use on an iPod / Mac Address Book?

Hi, Dave-
I am having the same experience as Randy on July 5, 2007. I am getting:
1-Which modules- contacts
2-Which contacts- all 10
3-Column setup- All
4- Delimiters- Tab & Return or Palm Desktop
5- When I select either, I then hit Okay and get a window asking where to save and a name. I do not get module or format. I then have a folder on my desktop and cannot import it. I also cannot find a way to drag and drop.
Please tell me what I am doing wrong. I am about to purchase a Touch.
Thank you so much.
Amy

I have my Palm contacts in address book. How do I move the addresses to the iphone? Thanks.

Palm Datebook to Iphone/ICal -- Got a new Iphone and want to transfer my Datebook to iCal with no success. Everytime I go to export using vCal the application crashes halfway through the export. (BTW successfully exported my Addresses). In browsing the web I notice others have the same experience. Anyone have a successful formula?

Thanks

I was able to move Date Book to Ical this way- no problem, but I too crash when trying to move my (12,000) contacts. Could it be that I have too many? Will try to drag and drop.
Thanks !

(Dave- your site is the best!)

I am having the problem of crashing with Palm Desktop 4.2.2 which I believe is the highest number of new software for Palm Desktop. What is my solution if it stops some where between 3204 and 3326 contacts and then Palm Desktop quits. It exports a zero kb file that is worthless and empty with no contacts in it.

You are a miracle worker! Thank you for saving me hours of tedious work.

Thank you for helping me sync my Palm contacts with my new iPhone. I saw so many other websites with convoluted and ineffective methods. Worked perfectly. Thanks.

hi dave! first, thanks for this site:) i'm trying to export my palm contacts into my new imac.

i have palm version 4.2.1 - do i need to update the software to get the "export" option?

my software only has the "import" option under File.

i look forward to your reply.
thanks!!!!

Thanks for the info! Worked perfectly 1st time. After syncing my Palm the app crashed as others mentioned. Deleted some weird addresses from the Palm & it worked perfectly again.

I have all my Palm V contacts on my PC, which is synched with the Palm via a serial port connected Palm V Cradle. I just bought a MacBook. How do I transfer the data in my Palm V (and also in my PC) to my MacBook, which only has a USB port?

Same problem as others. Palm Desktop 4.2.1 D (Mac) crashes just as it is about to finish vDate export.

I have a Palm tungsten E2 and have been using my calendar & contacts for several years. I am afraid my Palm may be on its last leg and PDAs are becoming obsolete. I wonder which type of phone or new PDA device can the calendar and contacts be transferred to. I sync daily to my PC so hopefully I won't lose years of contacts and data. Thanks so much!

Do you have a method to transfer Memo data from Palm on Mac to ipod touch? Thank you