MacScripter / Convert vCard files from XING business network for Address Book

Martin Michel · 2008-08-08 04:09:43 am

I am an avid user of the XING business network, an online community much like LikedIn. When you have an account there, you can also export vCard files from your online address book to import contacts into your local Mac OS X Address Book.

Unfortunately Address Book will not display the corresponding contact pictures of imported XING vCards. But Christian Aust wrote an excellent free Python script to successfully convert the downloaded vCards, so that the contact pictures are shown in Address Book after import!

Now, we all know that most Mac users love convenience and do not want to touch the Terminal more than necessary. And that's why I simply wrote an AppleScript wrapper for Christian's tool to make life a bit easier:

http://files.macscripter.net/joy/images/osxingvcards.png

XING vCard Utility - Converts vCard files from XING business network for Mac OS X Address Book (v1.0, ca. 92 KB)

The script requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher and an active internet connection, as the Python script has to access the contact pictures located on the XING servers.

You can use the XING vCard Utility in two different ways:
1. Just drag and drop unconverted XING vCards onto the script (droplet).
2. Open the script with a double-click. Now you are asked to choose a folder containing unconverted vCard files.

I recommend to use the XING vCard Utility as a toolbar script. This way you can conveniently drag and drop unconverted vCard files onto it from any Finder window:

http://files.macscripter.net/joy/images/subidootoolbar.jpg

The script saves a converted vCard file in the parent folder of the original vCard file and uses the following naming scheme:
*.vcf -> -conv.vcf

Examples:
Original vCard file is located on the desktop:
/Users/martin/Desktop/vcard-Steve-Jobs.vcf
Converted vCard file is saved here:
/Users/martin/Desktop/vcard-Steve-Jobs-conv.vcf

Already existing vCard files are not overwritten.

Happy Scripting!

Skeeve · 2009-02-06 05:12:17 pm

I like your work.

But I don't like the standard icon. So I made a humble attempt in creating a better icon, but don't know how to put it here. Is there a way I can upload the icon?

Martin Michel · 2009-02-08 02:40:08 am

Skeeve wrote:
I like your work.

But I don't like the standard icon. So I made a humble attempt in creating a better icon, but don't know how to put it here. Is there a way I can upload the icon?

If you control-click on the script's icon in the Finder and choose the menu item Show package contents, you can find an icon file named droplet.icns in this directory:

XING vCard Utility.app/Contents/Resources/droplet.icns

If you exchange this icon file with your icon file (but keeping the same name), then the script should show the desired new icon.

Hope that helps!

Skeeve · 2009-02-08 01:20:05 pm

No. It didn't help, because I know that. I wanted to upload the file here, or shall I mail it to you so that everyone can use it.

Last edited by Skeeve (2009-02-08 03:53:20 pm)

Martin Michel · 2009-02-09 02:30:13 am

Skeeve wrote:
No. It didn't help, because I know that. I wanted to upload the file here, or shall I mail it to you so that everyone can use it.

I am sorry for misunderstanding you Just send the zipped icon to me via eMail, I'll then try to update the download as soon as possible.

ringrocker · 2009-09-22 03:07:48 am

Hi,

this is great work, i have been searching for a solution like that for month. One more question: XING is also writing some information in the notes field like "24.07.2009, 16:31 - XING - http://www.xing.com
CLASS: PRIVATE". Is it possible to get rid of this too with yout rool or in any other automatic way?

Thx in advance

Christian

#1 2008-08-08 04:09:43 am

Convert vCard files from XING business network for Address Book

#2 2009-02-06 05:12:17 pm

Re: Convert vCard files from XING business network for Address Book

#3 2009-02-08 02:40:08 am

Re: Convert vCard files from XING business network for Address Book

Skeeve wrote:

#4 2009-02-08 01:20:05 pm

Re: Convert vCard files from XING business network for Address Book

#5 2009-02-09 02:30:13 am

Re: Convert vCard files from XING business network for Address Book

Skeeve wrote:

#6 2009-09-22 03:07:48 am

Re: Convert vCard files from XING business network for Address Book

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