;;
;; Simply M-x `bbdb-csv-import-buffer' or `bbdb-csv-import-file'.
;; When called interactively, they prompt for file or buffer arguments.
+;;
+;; Then view your bbdb records: M-x bbdb .* RET
+;; If the import looks good save the bbdb database: C-x s (bbdb-save)
;;; Advanced usage / notes:
;;
-;; Tested to work with thunderbird, gmail, linkedin, outlook.com/hotmail.com. For
-;; those programs, if it's exporter has an option of what kind of csv format,
-;; choose it's own native format if available, if not, choose an outlook
-;; compatible format. If you're exporting from some other program and its csv
-;; exporter claims outlook compatibility, there is a good chance it will work
-;; out of the box.
+;; Tested to work with thunderbird, gmail, linkedin,
+;; outlook.com/hotmail.com. For those programs, if it's exporter has an option
+;; of what kind of csv format, choose it's own native format if available, if
+;; not, choose an outlook compatible format. If you're exporting from some other
+;; program and its csv exporter claims outlook compatibility, there is a good
+;; chance it will work out of the box. If it doesn't, you can try to fix it as
+;; described below, or the maintainer will be happy to help, just anonymize your
+;; csv data using the M-x bbdb-csv-anonymize-current-buffer (make sure csv
+;; buffer is the current one) and attach it to an email.
;;
;; Duplicate contacts (according to email address) are skipped if
;; bbdb-allow-duplicates is nil (default). Any duplicates found are echoed at
;; the end of the import.
+
+;;; Custom mapping of csv fields
;;
-;; If things don't work, you can probably fix it with a custom field mapping
-;; variable. It should not be too hard. Use the existing tables as an
-;; example. By default, we use a combination of most predefined mappings, and
-;; look for all of their fields, but it is probably best to avoid that kind of
-;; table when setting up your own as it is an unnecessary complexity in that
-;; case. If you have a problem with data from a supported export program, start
-;; by testing its specific mapping table instead of the combined one. Here is a
-;; handy template to set each of the predefined mapping tables if you would
-;; rather avoid the configure interface:
+;; If a field is handled wrong or you want to extend the program to handle a new
+;; kind of csv format, you need to setup a custom field mapping variable. Use
+;; the existing tables as an example. By default, we use a combination of most
+;; predefined mappings, and look for all of their fields, but it is probably
+;; best to avoid that kind of table when setting up your own as it is an
+;; unnecessary complexity in that case. If you have a problem with data from a
+;; supported export program, start by testing its specific mapping table instead
+;; of the combined one. Here is a handy template to set each of the predefined
+;; mapping tables if you would rather avoid the configure interface:
;;
;; (setq bbdb-csv-import-mapping-table bbdb-csv-import-combined)
;; (setq bbdb-csv-import-mapping-table bbdb-csv-import-thunderbird)
;; (setq bbdb-csv-import-mapping-table bbdb-csv-import-outlook-web)
;; (setq bbdb-csv-import-mapping-table bbdb-csv-import-outlook-typed-email)
;;
-;; In addition to the examples, the doc string for `bbdb-create-internal' may
-;; also be useful. Please send any new mapping tables to the maintainer listed
-;; in this file. The maintainer should be able to help with any issues and may
-;; create a new mapping table given sample data.
+;; The doc string for `bbdb-create-internal' may also be useful when creating a
+;; mapping table. Please send any new tables to the maintainer listed in this
+;; file. The maintainer should be able to help with any issues and may create a
+;; new mapping table given sample data.
;;; Misc tips/troubleshooting:
;;
;; - ASynK looks promising for syncing bbdb/google/outlook.
;; - The git repo contains a test folder with exactly tested version info and working
-;; test data.
+;; test data. Software, and especially online services are prone to changing how they
+;; export. Please send feedback if you run into problems.
;; - bbdb doesn't work if you delete the bbdb database file in
;; the middle of an emacs session. If you want to empty the current bbdb database,
;; do M-x bbdb then .* then C-u * d on the beginning of a record.
;;;###autoload
(defun bbdb-csv-import-file (filename)
- "Parse and import csv file FILENAME to bbdb."
+ "Parse and import csv file FILENAME to bbdb.
+The file will be saved to disk with blank lines and aberrant characters removed."
(interactive "fCSV file containg contact data: ")
(bbdb-csv-import-buffer (find-file-noselect filename)))
;;;###autoload
(defun bbdb-csv-import-buffer (&optional buffer-or-name)
- "Parse and import csv BUFFER-OR-NAME to bbdb.
-Argument is a buffer or name of a buffer.
-Defaults to current buffer."
+ "Parse and import csv buffer to bbdb. Interactively, it prompts for a buffer.
+The buffer will be saved to disk with blank lines and aberrant characters removed.
+BUFFER-OR-NAME is a buffer or name of a buffer, or the current buffer if nil."
(interactive "bBuffer containing CSV contact data: ")
(when (null bbdb-csv-import-mapping-table)
(error "error: `bbdb-csv-import-mapping-table' is nil. Please set it and rerun."))
- (let* ((csv-data (pcsv-parse-buffer (get-buffer (or buffer-or-name (current-buffer)))))
+ (let* ((csv-buffer (get-buffer (or buffer-or-name (current-buffer))))
+ (csv-data (save-excursion
+ (set-buffer csv-buffer)
+ ;; deal with blank lines and ^M from linkedin
+ (flush-lines "^\\s-*$")
+ (goto-char (point-min))
+ ;; remove ^M aka ret characters
+ (while (re-search-forward (char-to-string 13) nil t)
+ (replace-match ""))
+ (basic-save-buffer)
+ (pcsv-parse-file buffer-file-name)))
(csv-fields (car csv-data))
(csv-data (cdr csv-data))
(allow-dupes bbdb-allow-duplicates)
(when (not (string= "" result))
result)))
+(defun bbdb-csv-anonymize-current-buffer ()
+ (interactive)
+ "Anonymize the current buffer which contains csv data.
+ The first line should contain header names."
+ (goto-line 2)
+ (while (re-search-forward "\\w")
+ (delete-char -1)
+ (insert (number-to-string (random 9)))))
+
+
(provide 'bbdb-csv-import)
;;; bbdb-csv-import.el ends here
iankelling.org / git / bbdb-csv-import / blobdiff