missing contacts in Entourage 2008

S

SG

I've recently upgraded to Entourage 2008 on my MacBookPro. I was
shocked today to discover that a business associate I've been writing
to for over 15 years was not in my address book. Same for my daughter!
Plenty of other contacts are there, but with these two gaps, I have to
wonder how many others are missing.

I don't really know how to get back my database contact information. I
don't know at what point the contacts went missing. I do have Time
Machine, and a recent BackUp onto DVDs. Also, the missing info does
appear to be in Address Book -- but how old would THIS database be?
Can I import it (and if so, how?), but without errassing whatever new
contacts I've added?

I maintain important newsletter mailing lists on this Entourage
database.

Unnerving, to say the least!
 
C

Corentin Cras-Méneur

SG said:
I don't really know how to get back my database contact information. I
don't know at what point the contacts went missing. I do have Time
Machine, and a recent BackUp onto DVDs. Also, the missing info does
appear to be in Address Book -- but how old would THIS database be?
Can I import it (and if so, how?), but without errassing whatever new
contacts I've added?
Click to expand...

The problem with Entourge is that EVERYTHING is in only *one* database.
You cannot restore just the address book and keep the rest as it is now.

In addition, I'm surprised you kept Entourage in your TIme Machine
setup. Because of this design, it means that virtually every time you
received 1 e-mail, TM had to make a full backup of the entire
database....

Well if you have a backup, you can restore it *without deleting the
current on*, rename the identity folder and ask ENtourage to switch to
the "new" identity. You'll then be able to export to an archive that you
will later re-import in your current database.

Corentin
 
D

Diane Ross

Corentin Cras-Méneur said:
In addition, I'm surprised you kept Entourage in your TIme Machine
setup. Because of this design, it means that virtually every time you
received 1 e-mail, TM had to make a full backup of the entire
database....
Click to expand...

Entourage and Time-Machine-like backup (creates chronological backup of
Identity can be used by both Tiger and Leopard)

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2008/01/entourage_and_time_machine.html>

Alternative method to use Entourage and Time Machine (does a once a day or
whatever time period you select)

<http://blog.entourage.mvps.org/2008/01/alternative_method_to_use_entourage_
and_time_machine.html>
 
S

SG

Is it possible to import from Mail in such a way that it adds to the
information in the existing Entourage database?

Any clue as to how this might have happened? It's disconcerting... and
making me think of switching to Mail.
 
D

Diane Ross

SG said:
Is it possible to import from Mail in such a way that it adds to the
information in the existing Entourage database?
Click to expand...

Yes. First make a backup of both your Entourage database and your Address
Book contacts. I would go a step further in duplicating your Identity and
work on this copy.

Entourage can export just contacts as Entourage archive (.rge) and a text
file that can be opened in Excel (this tab delimited file can be used by
most email clients)

Apple's Address Book: To archive your address book: Choose File > Export >
Address Book Archive

When you turn on Sync Services in Entourage, you have the options on how you
want the items to sync. (This is the tricky part...if you select the wrong
option you could loose your data. This is why backing up and working on a
copy if advised.)

Replace Entourage items with Sync Services items
Replace Sync Services items with Entourage items
Merge Entourage items with Sync Services items

You can use scripts to delete duplicates. You could export all to Excel and
clean up your contacts in Excel. Delete all in both applications and import
your Excel file.
Any clue as to how this might have happened? It's disconcerting... and
making me think of switching to Mail.
Click to expand...

Right now the state of Sync Services is not reliable. Microsoft is working
with Apple on this and everyone is looking forward to an update that will
fix this situation.
 
Top