[Q] Google sync erasing computer contacts? - myTouch 3G Slide Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Can someone please explain this to me? I've placed all my contacts on gmail's contacts. I also have the contacts list which is on my phone that I'd like to update/replace with the one on google. How do I sync so that the phone knows to take my google contacts on gmail and replace the ones on the phone? How do I make sure my phone ones don't delete the gmail ones I just edited on my computer??
Pleeeease help, thanks. I just don't get this.

tinpanalley said:
Can someone please explain this to me? I've placed all my contacts on gmail's contacts. I also have the contacts list which is on my phone that I'd like to update/replace with the one on google. How do I sync so that the phone knows to take my google contacts on gmail and replace the ones on the phone? How do I make sure my phone ones don't delete the gmail ones I just edited on my computer??
Pleeeease help, thanks. I just don't get this.
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Gmail contacts should sync based off of the last modification time. Say you edited a contact on both your computer and your phone, but at different times. The one that you edited last, the later modification time, would override the earlier one. If you change something on your computer, it should sync to your phone.

Ok, so what you're saying is that, theoretically, if I have 100 contacts and I edit 40 of them on gmail on my computer, those 40 will have a later timestamp than the same 40 on my phone, therefore the phone will update with the computer versions, right?
And then, the other 60 that weren't touched at all, nothing will happen to them because the timestamp hasn't changed? Is that right as well?
Essentially, what I'm getting is that it's less important exactly what elements were edited in each contact and more what the last timestamp is on each one. If it sees a newer date on either the phone or the computer it updates EVERYthing to the newest one. So each contact then has a timestamp?

tinpanalley said:
Ok, so what you're saying is that, theoretically, if I have 100 contacts and I edit 40 of them on gmail on my computer, those 40 will have a later timestamp than the same 40 on my phone, therefore the phone will update with the computer versions, right?
And then, the other 60 that weren't touched at all, nothing will happen to them because the timestamp hasn't changed? Is that right as well?
Essentially, what I'm getting is that it's less important exactly what elements were edited in each contact and more what the last timestamp is on each one. If it sees a newer date on either the phone or the computer it updates EVERYthing to the newest one. So each contact then has a timestamp?
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Kind of. If you edit something on your phone, it will sync to your computer, and vice versa, but if you edit a contact on both your phone AND your computer before it has a chance to sync, it will choose the one that was last modified.

So, in my case, I don't keep Google Sync on cause I don't like syncing anything with the Google servers except for the contacts and even then I like controlling when cause I don't like things happening in the background. Like that insane T-Mobile sync that always starts on its own. So, in my case, I do some edits on my phone and then a bunch on the computer and I then run a contact sync. It'll just take the newest from both?

tinpanalley said:
So, in my case, I don't keep Google Sync on cause I don't like syncing anything with the Google servers except for the contacts and even then I like controlling when cause I don't like things happening in the background. Like that insane T-Mobile sync that always starts on its own. So, in my case, I do some edits on my phone and then a bunch on the computer and I then run a contact sync. It'll just take the newest from both?
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I believe so, yes.

All that seems to have worked perfectly. Went to gmail, updated everything I needed to, (backed up contacts on the phone first ) and then proceeded to turn on auto-sync and do a Google Contacts sync on the phone. Updated perfectly.
I used to have problems with this back with WinMo because I used to want to keep my Outlook and phone contacts separate and different. But if you're ok with them being the same, this works.

Related

3 Simple Questions - Please Help!

1. I know I can import Contact information from SIM card to device, but is there any way I can do the reverse since over time contacts changes?
(I have a back-up phone which is nothing more then just a plain ole' Samsung - so if ever I need to switch from my BA device to the phone I have an updated phone book on my SIM card)
2. Recently the battery came off my phone for a few short seconds while in a purse. Upon putting it back on I realized the phone did a hard reset! (I don't know why either!) The purse was practically empty (two wallets and receipts) and had nothing in it that could have started the reset. When I got home and tried to sync, ActiveSync coudln't recognize the phone and wanted to start a new partnership. Anything I can do in the future to prevent this from occuring again - Activesync not recognizing the phone?? I had to delete the partership the computer and start over.
3. In Outlook I have two Contacts list (1 personal and 1 business). I would like to keep them seperate but it seems like Activesync will only sync one contact list at a time. I know I can assign categories and sort them but life is easier keeping them seperate. Any way to do this or a program that wil do this?
THANKS!!!
BUMP!!!
Sorry to do this but some one out there can answer at least one of these questions right???
THANKS!
ms_guy99 said:
1. I know I can import Contact information from SIM card to device, but is there any way I can do the reverse since over time contacts changes?
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I have an MDA compact (Magician), and there I can simply mark the contacts I want to copy to the SIM in my list of contacts, then tap-n-hold and select "Save to SIM".
Anything I can do in the future to prevent this from occuring again - Activesync not recognizing the phone?? I had to delete the partership the computer and start over.
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Click to collapse
Yes. Make sure that you regularily do backups using Active Sync. Then, next time a hard reset happens, connect your PocketPC to the PC and choose Guest Partnership. Now, just go to Extras - Save/Restore in Active Sync, and restore a backup. After the restore completed, disconnect the PocketPC, soft-reset it, then re-connect. It will now simply use your old partnership.
In Outlook I have two Contacts list (1 personal and 1 business). I would like to keep them seperate but it seems like Activesync will only sync one contact list at a time. I know I can assign categories and sort them but life is easier keeping them seperate. Any way to do this or a program that wil do this?
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Click to collapse
I do not know of any way to do that. Maybe someone else does - if yes, I would also be very interested!
Cheers
Daniel
First, yes, you can have 2 separate contact lists in Outlook. Just create new folder "that will contain contacts" or something to that effect.
Next, download the MS add-on that will let you sync 2 lists. Maybe part of the powertoys or something like that. Definitely out there. Seen it.
Outlook Add In
Thanks....Tadzio!!! Your info was a real big help!!
Has any one heard or found this Outlook add in? I searched all over Microsoft's website and couldn't find it???
What is a power toy??
Thanks!

Keep losing one Contact!!!

Hey everyone,
Can anyone tell me if they've experienced this problem too please. I keep losing one particular contact on my HTC Desire. Once I've saved the contact to the phone, it could be there for a day or for 5 days before the cantact is deleted on its own accord!
Any ideas???
Many thanks.
does the record contain special characters? google sync doesn't seem to be able to handle these
(eg: ë é è ä á )
willumpie82 said:
does the record contain special characters? google sync doesn't seem to be able to handle these
(eg: ë é è ä á )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, nothing mate, just a plain old name and a phone number.
When you save it, try saving it as a google contact, then sync it. I had that problem till I did this.
socktug said:
When you save it, try saving it as a google contact, then sync it. I had that problem till I did this.
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Click to collapse
I was set in Google Contact and my Contact still deleted from my Contact
How to fix it?
Try adding it on your PC (in Gmail, via browser). I know it's not really a fix, nor it helps you understand what's going on, or prevent it happen with another contact but ... it's worth trying.
Its actually losing any new contact now. I saved a new one last Saturday, and now its "lost" it already! :-(
I had this problem on stock orange Rom.
Have had no problems since I rooted.
Guys, it seems to happen to any new contact. Any idea why this is happening? I'm not even close to the maximum number of contacts.
Anyone else have this issue too?
I had this issue with my Hero, that it would delete the second phone number I added to a contact, everytime I synced.
I got around this by changing the sync options to "replace item on PC" in the conflicts section, and it worked.
It seems for some reason the sync kept thinking the new data in the phone somehow is the older one or someting.
Give it a go and tell us what happened.
But this isn't even happening when I sync mate! :-( It just doing it randomly, any new contact I add.
Guys, was just checking System Updates on my phone, and Software 1.21.405.2 was available. I've just downloaded and installed it, was looking through me phone including my messages and noticed its added one of my missing contacts!!! :-D Hopefully was bug has been fixed!!!
I had a similar issue a few days ago - I added a couple of contacts to one of the default 'Groups' (Family, Friends etc).
Once added they disappeared from my contacts list on the handset. I moved over to the 'Call History' panel and found them, and switched the group option back off. But they were still not showing in my contacts. I thought they'd been deleted.
I jumped into G-Mail Contacts on the PC and found that they were still in the 'All Contacts' list, but had been taken out of the 'My Contacts' list.
By selecting each contact, and clicking the large 'Move To My Contacts' button on the top bar, they instantly reappeared back on the phone again.
Hope this makes sense and stops anyone wasting time trying putting the contact info back in again.
All this happened before the latest 1.21.405.2 - maybe this has been fixed though.
ThePriceIsLight said:
I had a similar issue a few days ago - I added a couple of contacts to one of the default 'Groups' (Family, Friends etc).
Once added they disappeared from my contacts list on the handset. I moved over to the 'Call History' panel and found them, and switched the group option back off. But they were still not showing in my contacts. I thought they'd been deleted.
I jumped into G-Mail Contacts on the PC and found that they were still in the 'All Contacts' list, but had been taken out of the 'My Contacts' list.
By selecting each contact, and clicking the large 'Move To My Contacts' button on the top bar, they instantly reappeared back on the phone again.
Hope this makes sense and stops anyone wasting time trying putting the contact info back in again.
All this happened before the latest 1.21.405.2 - maybe this has been fixed though.
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This is why I suggested adding a contact in Gmail. If you have problems with Google apps (gmail, contacts, calendar) it's allways good to check with the mothership (Google) to see what's going on.
pascanu said:
This is why I suggested adding a contact in Gmail. If you have problems with Google apps (gmail, contacts, calendar) it's allways good to check with the mothership (Google) to see what's going on.
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I understand what your saying mate, but I'm a bit of a tart, I'd want all my contacts the same and be on the phone, not as SIM, Google, etc... I know what your saying is an easy fix, but it shouldn't be like that, the phone should bloody manage something simple as remembering a phone number! lol.
Anyways, fixed now, job done.
Yes I have the same problem. I hardly ever sync my phone because I have a Mac. Today my contact of my husband just disappeared, this contact I use the most, has the most details within it.
I know that the new download may fix this, but I use Skype on 3 and I do not know if skype will work after the upgrage. I use Skype to contact my family in South Africa.

Small facebook & contact issues

I'm sort of stabbing in the dark here, but my issue is this: When I open my received text messages, the peoples contacts that I have sync'ed with facebook should show their photo. This is how it worked when I first got my phone.
I have done a few factory resets since then, and yesterday loaded a new rom. I loaded my contacts that I had backed up to SD card.
For some strange reason ALL of my contacts have hiphens ( - ) in their phone numbers. I think this is causing some texts to not be delivered.
Also, when in the messages window, all of my contacts photos wont be displayed. But if I go to the people directory they are displayed fine.
Now, is there a way I can delete the cache or similar without factory resetting the rom?
I have rom manager, and I used this to reboot into recovery before loading a new rom. In there was options for deleting cache and things (to be honest I didn't know which was the correct one so I did them all before loading a new rom). Now when I go into rom manager it just loads a sign like this a!
so I cannot try that again.
Thanks for any help given!!
Why did you back up to memory card if they're going to be saved to the cloud via your Google account?
Otherwise I have no answer for your question.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
I had all sorts of problems with the facebook integration.
The magor one I had was that the phone would automatically use the facebook phone number and not the one in the phone which was very annoying when people put fake numbers in their facebook profile or don't update for their new number and also all the numbers had a +44 on them which meant my phone wouldn't dial them at all!
My advice is remove your facebook account and see what happens. The try adding it again. If the problems persist then keep it removed. Life will be easier without your phone and facebook contacts being merged and updated all the time... trust me!
Phil
Thanks for your replies.
Regarding the backing up of contacts, does anyone recommend a GOOD FREE app for backing them up? I simply do not wish to use Google to back up my contacts. They are personal, and I would prefer to keep them on the phone. Google contacts is pointless to me.
If you would like Google contacts I have no say but I would rather not have my contacts spread out all over the place, with different versions etc...
It's going to take me forever to edit everyones phone number, and each time I flash a ROM I'll need to do it again..
Worst still, since flashing PaYs ROM the Google sync actually worked for the very first time since receiving the phone - So, now Google contacts has all of my contacts but the phone numbers have dashes is ( - ) which is wrong. Like the person above me, us in the UK have issues when dialing strange numbers!
Google contacts is fine, means you never have to worry about them being backed up as it's automatic...otherwise you've gotta sync them with yur email client on your PC which is hassle...I was a stickler for backing up to Outlook but now use Google...
The dashes come up after restoring contacts from the SD card...don't know why it does it but it can't be removed (another reason not to back up to sd card)
while in the htc people app, just press menu button then you can export your contacts to your sd card, which you can then later on import again.
Flaggie said:
while in the htc people app, just press menu button then you can export your contacts to your sd card, which you can then later on import again.
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Can you please explain the point of this post? Is that a French flag?
dieselboy said:
Regarding the backing up of contacts, does anyone recommend a GOOD FREE app for backing them up? I simply do not wish to use Google to back up my contacts. They are personal, and I would prefer to keep them on the phone. Google contacts is pointless to me.
If you would like Google contacts I have no say but I would rather not have my contacts spread out all over the place, with different versions etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You asked for a way to back up your contacts without syncing them with google contacts, I provided you with a way to save them without having to use any app.
(it's the dutch flag, just made the World cup soccer finale)
Flaggie said:
You asked for a way to back up your contacts without syncing them with google contacts, I provided you with a way to save them without having to use any app.
(it's the dutch flag, just made the World cup soccer finale)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair play, but it is this way of backing up contacts that is giving us the problems as per post #1 and this discussion
I have done a few factory resets since then, and yesterday loaded a new rom. I loaded my contacts that I had backed up to SD card.
For some strange reason ALL of my contacts have hiphens ( - ) in their phone numbers. I think this is causing some texts to not be delivered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Congrats on the world cup. I have stopped paying attention since we lost.
sorry my bad, i'll let you guys get back at it
Try contact2sim
Limitation of course is the small sim memory for numbers only.
Astro file manager has some backup capabilities. HTC sync....
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Contact pictures in messaging app

Has anyone experienced your contact pictures not showing up in the stock nessaging app? Im currently running cr-ota rom but it also happened on the original froyo rom from eugene. I cant really tie it happening to any specific incident... they just went away one day?
SySfS
The issue is that the phone isn't reading the mumber off of the SIM card, and since it doens't know its own number, so it doens't know which contact to use.
I've had this issue on every Froyo rom, so I don't know if the number truly isn't on the SIM like people want you to believe, or the ROM is just not properly reading it.
Still waiting for a fix.
here's an easy way to fix that...
if you have a facebook account, and your'e friends with the people in your address book
download the facebook app, and sync it with your contacts, and your numbers will now have their facebook photos
Ok, so I went to check and make sure I was syncing Facebook with my contacts. Auto sync was turned off. I have it turned on now and my pics still aren't showing up in messaging. I'm going to wait a few hours to make sure it's not just lagging but if this doesn't work is there a way to fix the sim number thing?
SySfS
So, the weird thing is there are now 2 people whose pics show up, but not everyone else. I guess I understand things more when I can find a common denominator. But I can't find anything with this one
SySfS

Contacts always crashing the phone

Hello, I have a stock z1 compact and in the last 2 months every time I try to access the contacts or make a call the phone or contact app crashes making it a nightmare to make calls.
I have cleaned the cash, reinstated the full phone to factory, nothing works, anyone has a solution for this? Or an idea on why this happens? Is it the sync on LinkedIn and Facebook contacts?
Thanks for the support
Anyone?
No idea, never heard of it.
In any case, try to reset again and only sync google contacts, leave LinkedIn and Facebook away. If it still works, add either Facebook or LinkedIn and check again. If it still works add the third one and you might know the reason.
I there thanks for the idea I tried it yesterday actually and keeps doing the same thing I think I might go for a rom instead of stock. Can I do this having a branded phone?
You can do that, but I still wonder why it happens.
What exactly happens? Do you get the option to submit the data to google?
Which release are you currently running on the phone?
It just appears the damn error message of a app crash saying that the contacts application crashed and asking to close it.I am the latest version. Thanks for your help
Probably it's some contact which has some weird letter/symbol in his address. Maybe you could check all your contacts in gmail, if you synchronize it. But yeah, no idea why this is really happening.
Hehe damn computers! Well Thanks nevertheless for caring very much appreciated

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