[kdepim-users] On going struggle to import KMail distribution list from KDE 3.5 or create new one (now using KDE 4.6)

Wed Aug 10 16:56:31 BST 2011

On Tuesday, August 09, 2011 11:40:09 AM Gil Weber wrote:
> On Tuesday, August 09, 2011 12:17:33 PM O. Sinclair wrote:
> > On 09/08/2011 18:06, Gil Weber wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, August 09, 2011 11:54:28 AM O. Sinclair wrote:
> > >> On 09/08/2011 15:07, Gil Weber wrote:
> > >>> Hello, everyone. First post to this list.
> > >>> 
> > >>> Sorry that it's a bit long-winded, but I want to be clear
> > >>> describing my problem and what I've done to try to find a
> > >>> solution.
> > >>> 
> > >>> I have searched the archives here and using Google. Everyone
> > >>> seems to have the same or similar problem, but no solutions!
> > >>> 
> > >>> :o)
> > >>> 
> > >>> I have recently upgraded from SuSE 11.1 to 11.4. Formerly using
> > >>> KDE 3.5 and now using KDE 4.6.00.
> > >>> 
> > >>> I do not use Kontact, only KMail (v. 1.13.6)
> > >>> 
> > >>> I have successfully migrated my e-mails from KDE 3.5, but no
> > >>> matter what I do I'm having a terrible time with the address
> > >>> book. I have copied over the address book, but the names are in
> > >>> completely random order.
> > >>> 
> > >>> I need to have them sorted by last name so I can find a name
> > >>> quickly, but I have not found a way to get KMail to sort this
> > >>> way.
> > >>> 
> > >>> Can anyone help with this first issue?
> > >>> 
> > >>> Further I cannot figure out how to copy over my old
> > >>> distribution lists, nor can I figure out how to create new
> > >>> ones.
> > >>> 
> > >>> I have looked and looked at various sources including SuSE and
> > >>> KDE discussion lists. Many, many, many people describe the same
> > >>> problem, but nobody seems to have an answer -- at least I have
> > >>> not found it.
> > >>> 
> > >>> In the process of trying things I may well have screwed up
> > >>> something in KMail (perhaps Akonadi?) so I really need help. (I
> > >>> am **not** a Linux guru!)
> > >>> 
> > >>> Can anyone help with this second issue of importing my existing
> > >>> distribution lists and/or creating new ones in KDE 4.6?
> > >>> 
> > >>> I am simply desperate to get the address book resorted and the
> > >>> distribution lists working as my business depends on being able
> > >>> to communicate with clients and subscribers.
> > >>> 
> > >>> Many thanks for your wise counsel and tolerance of this
> > >>> frustrated penguin.
> > >> 
> > >> You can forget your old distribution lists, unfortunately. They
> > >> are now known as "Groups" and you will have to recreate them
> > >> (please find me wrong anyone but as far as I can remember I had
> > >> to..).
> > >> 
> > >> in Kaddressbook, choose menu "File" and then "New" and then
> > >> Group. Add contacts by pressing the + sign and start typing
> > >> their names.
> > >> 
> > >> As for your sorting issue I hope someone else can assist you.
> > >> 
> > >> In all honesty "Contacts" or Kaddressbook is still a far cry
> > >> from what it was before migrating to Akonadi technology in
> > >> terms of usability. In my opinion that is... I think I have
> > >> recreated my lists close to 10 times after "upgrades" rendered
> > >> them unusable. For a while I resorted to empty template emails
> > >> addressed to those I wanted to reach as a list.
> > >> 
> > >> Just to confuse they are still called Distribution Lists in new
> > >> mail(s) but Groups in Kaddressbook...
> > >> 
> > >> Best
> > >> Sinclair
> > > 
> > > Sinclair, thanks for this informative reply.
> > > 
> > > Just so I understand you correctly, you're saying I will have to
> > > retype each and every name and address into a new "Group" to
> > > create a mailing list? I can't simply go "click, click, click" on
> > > the various names to add them?
> > > 
> > > And where/when do I press the + sign?
> > > 
> > > After I do as you've suggested I see a box where I can enter the
> > > new Group's name.
> > > 
> > > Then below that is an area where I can type in last names and it
> > > adds the e-mail address. So far, so good.
> > > 
> > > But then when I click "OK" there are no names in the Group.
> > > 
> > > What am I not understanding about this process? Does it have
> > > something to do with the + sign?
> > > Thx
> > 
> > Gil,
> > 
> > unfortunately there is no (that I know of) "choose a bunch of
> > contacts and then create a list". It still exists as an option in a
> > mail you create (save as distribution list, right?) but I don't
> > think it works at this moment.
> > 
> > you give the group a name, click the first "envelope" line in the
> > window and start typing. Your chosen contact should show up after a
> > few letters. Then you click on the next empty "envelop line". Sorry
> > the plus sign seems to be a phantom in my memory, could be that it
> > existed in an earlier version.
> 
> Sinclair, again, thanks. I really appreciate the time you've put into
> your answers. But still it's not working.   :o(
> 
> 1) I saved a nine-name group following your directions.
> 2) When I then try to look at the contents of the group it shows 0
> contacts.
> 3) I sent a test e-mail anyway to the (supposed) group.
> 4) It bounced back to me as undeliverable, stating the message had
> been addressed to <name of the group>@<name of my computer>.com
> 
> But clearly I did not send the message to that non-existent address.
> Rather, I sent it (or tried to send it) to 9 distinct e-mail
> addresses that are in my address book.
> 
> This is the same problem that has been described repeatedly on
> various discussion groups.
> 
> How can this significant problem be so widespread for so long since
> the release of KDE 4 yet it's still not fixed? Or has it been fixed
> but we're not aware of the fix?
> 
> Thanks
> Gil
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This is a problem I've encounter in the Akonadi environment since it was 
first used by kmail. They was I create a group is In Contacts. First I 
imported all my contact from the old kmail, then created a group as as 
described above. When I display the group all names an contacts exit but 
going to kmail 1.13.7 Al I get is the group name and blank cards. Once 
in a while a group will show up but if I added a contact to the group it 
is a blank card under kmail. 

See Bug reported first in Oct. 2010. Still exists in 11.4 and I will 
check it this week in 12.1 MS3.

   https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=650169

Sorry I cannot help but If someone knows a solution please post it.

meanwhile I have resorted to using SeaMonkey mail. I saved my contacts 
as a csv, then imported to the seamonkey address book and created the 
necessary distribution lists. Al works fine for the newsletters I send 
out, but seamonkey has a problem exporting the contacts.

-- 
Russ
openSUSE 11.4(2.6.37.6-0.7-desktop)|KDE Platform Version 4.6.5 (4.6.5) 
"release 7"|Intel core2duo 2.5 MHZ,|8GB DDR3|GeForce 8400GS (NVIDIA-
Linux-x86_64-270.41.06)  
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