How to import addresses from CSV with different delimiter?

[pstover]

I get occasionally new CSV files with new addresses which I have to import into my address book.

Unfortunately sometimes some of the fields (e.g. work address or Notes) contain a comma.
So the comma is not suitable as delimiter when importing CSV files.

Is there a way to re-define/change the chars which should be seen as delimiter during import?

A semicolon as delimiter would be perfect.

Thank you
Peter

[tanstaafl]

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/769 ... a-csv-file says "Fields containing line breaks (CRLF), double quotes, and commas should be enclosed in double-quotes." Did you try importing the .csv file? There may not be a problem. If there is, try editing it using a text editor to add double quotes around any troublesome commas.

[makaiguy]

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/769 ... a-csv-file says "Fields containing line breaks (CRLF), double quotes, and commas should be enclosed in double-quotes." Did you try importing the .csv file? There may not be a problem. If there is, try editing it using a text editor to add double quotes around any troublesome commas.

I think this should be "try editing it using a text editor to add double quotes around any fields containing troublesome commas"

[pstover]

Thank you.

But digging into 500 email address lines, search for commas and manually wrap them into double quotes is rather tedious.

Wouldn't it be much smarter to let the user define a different delimiter like ";" ?

Maybe there is am AddOn which let users do this?

Or can I somehow easily store the addresses directly into TBs address book (=NOT by importing it)?

Peter

[makaiguy]

CSV = Comma Separated Values

Mozilla products are written to be as standards-compliant as possible. The problem is that whatever is generating those CSV files apparently is NOT complying with the standard. Have you tried contacting whoever is generating those lists and tell them about the problem?

[DanRaisch]

Wouldn't it be much smarter to let the user define a different delimiter like ";" ?

Except that CSV stands for Comma Separated Values which is an Internet standard (and was a computer standard before the Internet became as widely used as it is.) Firefox and Thunderbird strive to be standards compliant software to ensure the greatest possible compatibility with other software and websites.

Getting data into the TB address book is accomplished by typing in the data for a particular record or by importing data. There really isn't another process. Have you checked with the source of the CSV file to see if the provider can't make the file compliant before sending it to you?

[DanRaisch]

CSV = Comma Separated Values

Mozilla products are written to be as standards-compliant as possible. The problem is that whatever is generating those CSV files apparently is NOT complying with the standard. Have you tried contacting whoever is generating those lists and tell them about the problem?

^ "Great minds think alike."