iPhone contacts syncing

[evillageprowler]

Hi,

I have a noob-ish question regarding the sync'ing of my contacts data on my iPhone with Google contacts or Outlook. What I am asking is if I set my iPhone to sync contacts (either Google or Outlook), will it merge the data?

I am asking because I have all my contacts already on my iPhone, and now would like to have a backup copy somewhere.

Sorry for the noob-ish question; I searched on the forum but didn't find my answer.

TIA,

EVP

 

[SFC Archer]

Hi,

I have a noob-ish question regarding the sync'ing of my contacts data on my iPhone with Google contacts or Outlook. What I am asking is if I set my iPhone to sync contacts (either Google or Outlook), will it merge the data?

I am asking because I have all my contacts already on my iPhone, and now would like to have a backup copy somewhere.

Sorry for the noob-ish question; I searched on the forum but didn't find my answer.

TIA,

EVP

Yes it will merge. Make sure that you already have a contact in Outlook or Google. When you initiate sync a pop up should show asking if you want to replace or merge...select merge.

 

[evillageprowler]

Thanks SFC Archer... I did a test sync with my IPT. The IPT has one contact in it, and my Google account has one (different) contact. The sync is taking a freakishly long amount of time - just spins and spins, and saying "Syncing contacts with ..."

I tried twice - second time after I came back from eating some food (canceled the first attempt and restarted) - and doesn't look promising.

I just sync'ed (successfully) after I unchecked contacts. On my third attempt now at syncing contacts...



EVP

PS I also checked my Google account, and the contacts there also hasn't been updated.

 

[evillageprowler]

Just came back from playing tennis, and it was still syncing. Oh, well...

BTW, I'm using XP SP3.

EVP

 

[SFC Archer]

Sorry...got side tracked.

Also on XP but not ready to go with SP3 yet.

Recommend that you do a few things:

First is to BACKUP all of your contacts somewhere safe.
Second, do you just have one contact in iPhone and one in Google?
Also need to know are you going to use google or outlook?

Third is to go into iTunes and select "Edit" "Preferences" and "Syncing".
Delete your Back Up files and Reset Sync History...make sure you do a new back up after you complete the next steps.

Now select your iPhone in iTunes and "Info" tab. Insure that your contacts says google and insure that google will allow this to occur. Attempt to sync.

If does not work then go down to the bottom of page and select the Advance for contacts and try again.

Hope that helps.

 

[evillageprowler]

Sorry...got side tracked.

No worries...

Also on XP but not ready to go with SP3 yet.

I got weird problems when going to SP3; don't recommend it over SP2 since it is just a rollup of bugfixes for prior SP's and contains no functional enhancements.

First is to BACKUP all of your contacts somewhere safe.

Is there an automated (or easy) way to do this? All my critical stuff is now in my iPhone contacts, and it'll be a royal PITA to have to re-create this if I trash my iPhone's contacts data somehow.

Second, do you just have one contact in iPhone and one in Google?
Also need to know are you going to use google or outlook?

I have only one contact in my IPT that I used as a test. I currently have only one contact in Google. My iPhone is the one that contains the bulk of my stuff. I plan to use Google going forward - nice to have all my contacts whenever I have a browser/internet.

Third is to go into iTunes and select "Edit" "Preferences" and "Syncing".
Delete your Back Up files and Reset Sync History...make sure you do a new back up after you complete the next steps.

Now select your iPhone in iTunes and "Info" tab. Insure that your contacts says google and insure that google will allow this to occur. Attempt to sync.

If does not work then go down to the bottom of page and select the Advance for contacts and try again.

This I can do... However, if I accidentally trash my contacts data *after* I do a backup, will I be able to reclaim my contacts data as part of doing a restore from that last backup?

Thanks again,

EVP

PS Want to add that I have not yet tried syncing my contact with my iPhone. All previous attempts were with my IPT that does not have the Google *mail* account setup on that device. (Currently marked as "inactive".)

 

[cesium62]

I Love Customer Support

SFC Archer is in customer support, right? I like the way evillage prowler says they are trying to back up there iphone contacts, and the first thing customer support says in order to do that is to back up the iphone contacts.

Why does customer support *always* do that?

 

[SFC Archer]

First off...NO, I am not customer support...I am a user of the original iPhone from day one. I use it on Windows and with Outlook. Based on my experience I "TRY" to help users with issues that I have knowledge of. If I don't know, I will state it or not answer.

To the OP...The scary part about your situation is that you have everything on your iPhone. Mine was started in Outlook and with that, I am able to backup the database in a different location in case I wipe out my Calender/Contacts. I have not used Google address book although I have it. I will check to see if there is a backup option there.

When your iPhone backs up your contacts and calenders, it does not do it in the Apple database but uses the medium you have selected. In your case, google contacts would be your backup, not iTunes. Until you start using Google, iCalender or Outlook...you will not have a backup of your address's anyway.

You have two choices...Go ahead and merge as suggested and take the leap or Manually enter your address somewhere else and then do the merge. I just don't use my iPhone as the Base of Operations, I use the computer that way there is always a backup.

Don't know if this will help but good luck on the choice you make.