Is there a way to edit the BB address book on a PC . . . without using Outlook for syncing?

Thanks!

W

I don't think so....you need a program to sync it with.

I exported the BB address book out to a csv file, opened it in Excel, edited, and synced back onto the BB.

What did you use to export the BB address book to a csv file with?

Use the Desktop Manager, in the synchronize window, go into the configuration tab -> Config Sync. On the config window, select address book, hit the "Choose" button, and select ASCII Importer/Exporter as the application to sync to. Using this, you can only do an import or an export, but not a sync. I think the Refresh check box in that diolog does something too. I had it checked when doing updates to the csv file, and want to sync changes to my BB.

The ASCII export/import idea works great . . . Save for it strips the international prefix "+" from numbers.

For example, the number saved to Pearl "+12025551212" gets changed to "12025551212" in the exported CSV file.

Excel obviously makes the change, and I can't find a way to prevent it.

If the cell format is changed, the "+" is still lost.

I require the "+" and a country code in front of every phone book entry because I travel from one country to another on a frequent basis.

Maybe there is a third-party application that does address book editing?

W

why don't you guys just use the palm software with companion link. This way it is easy to keep ur contacts current and also not deal with outlook. I personally hate the treos, but have to admit, they make a really nice syncing software..

Maybe you care to explain this a bit more?

Do I need a Palm device as well or just Palm software???

Thanks for the idea, though.

W

(decloaking)

Don't forget you can also use SyncML and a free online service. It'll cost your $30 USD for the SyncML plug-in for your BB (*sigh* thanks, RIM) from one of two vendors: Nexthaus or MobileCreek.

Nexthaus client
Nexthaus Corporation

MobileCreek client
MobileCreek Software Inc.

NOTE: I own both, and at this time would recommend Nexthaus for the Pearl, SyncBerry 4.1 from MobileCreek is a little weird UI-wise. They've sent me a beta of 4.2 with proper Pearl support, but I haven't tried it yet. Personal opinion, I also like the UI layout of the Nexthaus client better.

To get this all working without spending one penny, do this:

1) On the PC/Mac, go to http://www.mobical.net/ and create yourself a login account. This is a free online SyncML service (based in Sweden) that has an *awesome* webUI for managing your contacts, calendar and tasks. You can also import/export data freely with their UI, it's very well done. They get an A+ in my book.

PS: don't send any settings to your device during setup, just make some random choices to get your account created. We'll do the actual setup from the Nexthause client.

2) Install the trial/demo Nexthaus client via OTA, you get 15 days to play with it before deciding if you want to purchase it. The company even called me when I had a problem and got me sorted out (had to do with purchasing online and Firefox support) right away.

3) Start the Nexthaus client ("SyncJe Client" on your BB menu). Pull up the menu and choose Settings. Put in http : // www . mobical . net/sync/server as the Server, and your login/pass from #1 above. (this forum keeps parsing that URL as a link, adding spaces to try and get it showing up here)

Here's where it gets slick and why I love this client -- click the menu button again, and choose "Get Folders" -- it should query Mobical and then fill in all the blanks with the rest of the settings (SyncBerry can't do this). In case this fails for you, here's the settings:

Contacts: con
Calendar: cal
ToDo: task

Click menu -> Save then to get back to the main screen.

4) Click menu -> Start Sync, and sit back! The first time you do this is takes forever and a day, it's reconciling and in your case uploading all your contacts/calendar to the server.

The rest is common sense, you can set it to autosync, whatever -- push the buttons and play around. Log back into Mobical webUI and you'll see all your info to work with; you can download vCards, upload iCals, whatever!

Here's one thing I did with it:
the SJ Sharks hockey schedule on your phone « rivviepop phantom

Alas, the SyncBerry client has no demo -- it's setup is basically the same, but more confusing (imho) than the Nexthaus. I also don't like the fact you can't Quit the SyncBerry client, it's always running in memory; the Nexthaus client allows a full quit, which is what I want -- I only sync once a week or so and on-demand.

$30 bucks is steep even though service sounds good. is this a one time fee?

Yes -- you're paying for the piece of software, not the service, from Nexthaus. The SyncML service is a generic term (spec, actually), there are other ... providers? other than Mobical. Hit up Google and search for like "free syncml server" and you'll get tons of hits to various things. Personally I have been using Mobical for years with many different handsets, and I just really like what they offer.

It's RIM, MS and Palm who have chosen to stick with only their proprietary sync protocol stacks that ship with the devices (wireless sync/BES, ActiveSync, and HotSync) and do not include a SyncML stack for you to use, hence the need to purchase an aftermarket software on these devices. It seems $25 or $30 is the standard going rate on all of them. The lack of SyncML by default on these devices basically locks you into their proprietary world -- which really sucks in the case of RIM when you're not a Windows user.

Other devices - Nokia S40 and S60 (Symbian), Moto (both classic and new EZX linux-based devices), Samsung (non-winmobile), etc. - all provide a SyncML stack in their firmware for you to use, free of charge. In this case, everything is 100% free to do, there's no $30 'startup cost' to get them sync'd and your contacts/calendar onto the device.

Some carrier branded firmwares hide the Sync service on these handsets though - in the case of Nokia and Samsung, nothing other than a complete firmware replacement with unbranded code will get you the option back. In the case of Moto devices, the Sync applet is easily unlocked with a USB cable and some basic know-how.

I dont have my DM handy but cant you just use Outlook Express which is free and included on every Windows PC ? If it works seems much better than a txt based format.