How do I import addresses from my previous address book software?

Handy's Import and Export Wizards make it easy to transfer your addresses from other address book programs into Handy, and also from Handy back into other address book programs.  Handy supports importing and exporting addresses from a wide variety of formats and software programs.  Here are some step by step instructions for transferring addresses from/to some of the more common address book programs:

Importing from Windows Address Book (Outlook Express) into Handy Address Book:

1. Go into your Windows Address Book (also the address book available from within Outlook Express), and choose "File/Export/Other Address Book..."
2. Choose "Text File (Comma Separated Values)"
3. Click the "Export" button
4. Assign a filename where you will save this exported file
5. Choose all the fields to export. Just select all of them.
6. Click "Finish"
7. Now, in Handy, choose "File/Import..."
8. Select the "Comma Separated Format", and choose "Next"
9. Enter the filename, where you saved it to in step #4. Choose "Next".
10. Press the "Field Templates..." button, and choose "Windows Address Book". Click OK.
11. Choose "Next" and review your choices.
12. Press the "Finish" button

Importing from Outlook into Handy Address Book:

1. Go into your Outlook Contacts folder, and choose "File/Import and Export..."
2. Choose "Export to a File". Click "Next".
3. Choose the "Comma Separated Values (Windows)". Click "Next".
4. Select the "Contacts" folder you wish to export. Click "Next".
5. Assign a filename where you will save this exported file. Click "Next".
6. Choose "Finish" to perform the export
7. Now, in Handy, open the address book you wish to import into, and then choose "File/Import..."
8. Select the "Comma Separated Format", and choose "Next"
9. Enter the filename, where you saved it to in step #5. Choose "Next".
10. Press the "Field Templates..." button, and choose "Microsoft Outlook". Click OK.
11. Choose "Next" and review your choices
12. Press the "Finish" button

Importing from Palm Desktop into Handy Address Book:

1. Go into Palm Desktop and select the Address book
2. Choose "File/Export...", and select "All" for the Range and "Commas Separated" for the type
3. Assign a filename for the export and click the "Export" button
4. Leave all the defaults as they are set in the next dialog labeled "Specify Export Fields". All the fields should be selected already.
5. Click OK to complete the export
6. Go into Handy and select "File/Import..."
7. Select the "Comma Separated Format", and choose "Next"
8. Enter the filename, where you saved it to in step #3. Choose "Next".
9. Press the "Field Templates..." button, and choose "Palm Desktop". Click OK.
10. Choose "Next" and review your choices
11. Press the "Finish" button

Importing from Parson's Address Book into Handy Address Book:

1. Go into Parson's Address Book and select "File / Import/Export/Merge / Export"
2. In the Export dialog set the Export Format to "Comma Delimited".  Specify an export filename and location, and choose to export all addresses currently shown.
3. Click OK to complete the export
4. Go into Handy and select "File/Import..."
5. Select the "Comma Separated Format", and choose "Next"
6. Enter the filename, where you saved it to in step #2. Choose "Next".
7. Use this "Specify Import Fields" page to map fields from your Parson's book into your new Handy book.  For each Handy field, select it in the list and then press "Change Mapping...".  Pick the field from your importing Parson's book to map to this Handy field, and press OK.  Repeat this mapping for each Handy field, until all the fields you want transferred are mapped.
8. Use the left/right arrow buttons to scroll through your contacts, previewing how the contacts will be imported.  Make any changes necessary with the "Change Mapping..." button.
9. Choose "Next" and review your choices
10. Press the "Finish" button

Exporting from Handy Address Book into Windows Address Book (Outlook Express):

1. In Handy, choose "File/Export..."
2. Select the "Comma Separated Format", and choose "Next"
3. Assign a filename where you will save this exported file. Choose "Next".
4. Accept the defaults for which fields will be exported. Choose "Next".
5. Review your choices, and press "Finish"
6. Now, go into your Outlook Express Address Book, and choose "File/Import/Other Address Book..."
7. Choose the "Text File (Comma Separated Values)"
8. Click the "Import" button
9. Enter the filename, where you saved it to in step #3. Choose "Next".
10. Review the field mappings, the defaults should be good. Press "Finish".

Exporting from Handy Address Book into Outlook:

1. In Handy, choose "File/Export..."
2. Select the "Comma Separated Format", and choose "Next"
3. Assign a filename where you will save this exported file. Choose "Next".
4. Accept the defaults for which fields will be exported. Choose "Next".
5. Review your choices, and press "Finish"
6. Now, go into Outlook and choose the Contacts view. Select "File / Import and Export...".
7. Choose "Import from another program or file", click "Next"
8. Choose "Comma Separated Values (windows)", click "Next"
9. Enter the filename, where you saved it to in step #3. Choose "Next".
10. Select the contact folder you want to import into, click "Next"
11. Review the field mappings, the defaults should be good. Press "Finish".

Exporting from Handy Address Book into Palm Desktop:

1. Open up Handy Address Book
2. Decide whether you want to export all addresses, or just some. If you want to export just some, then select those from the address list. You can use the Ctrl and Shift keys to quickly select multiple addresses.
3. Select "File/Export..."
4. Select the "vCard File" format, choose whether to export all or just the ones you selected in step #2, and choose "Next".
5. Assign a filename for the export, and choose "Next"
6. Choose which fields you want to export and press "Next"
7. Review your choices, and press "Finish"
8. Go into Palm Desktop and select the Address book
9. Choose "File/Import..."
10. Select "vCard File (*.vcf)" for the "Files of Type" option
11. Go select the file that you created in step #5, and press "Import" to complete the import

Return to the FAQ.