This post shows frequently asked questions and answers. Please read them before you ask me.
I've tried some features including
Google's Contacts Data
API,
Thunderbird's address book
API, E4X/
XMLHttpRequest of JavaScript. They are all new for me. So, it may
invoke some problems. Indeed, some bugs have been found and Google Contacts has been updated frequently. Please check the blog regularly and use the latest version. If you find bugs, please let me know error messages in the
Config Editor and methods how to reproduce them.
1. It does not retrieve all contacts in Gmail.
It retrieve only about 25 contacts by default. If you have more contacts, set the maximum number of the contacts in the Google Contacts' option dialog. This limitation will be removed in v0.6.34.
2. It does not synchronize at all.
At first, verify there is at least one account checked in the Accounts Window from the options. Then authorize your accounts before you synchronize
Thunderbird and Google It is done by clicking Reload button. If
uncheck the "Load contacts at
startup" option, you have to reload contacts manually before you modify address books.
3. It does not add contacts.
Duplicated email addresses are not allowed in Gmail. Confirm the address you want to add is unique.
4. What's the difference in the Interactive and Batch mode?
The interactive mode publish changes you did in
Thunderbird to Gmail immediately . On the other hand, the batch mode does not publish them immediately. The changes are
sumitted to Gmail only when you click the Reload button. I recommend you to use the interactive mode for
daily use. Use the batch mode when you changes many cards and mail lists at once or you manage them offline.
5. Some groups are not mapped if several accounts are synchronized.
Thunderbird does not allow duplicated mail lists even if they are in different address books. So, if there are groups whose name is the same in accounts, only one of them is mapped and the others are ignored. It is due to a limitation of
Thunderbird's database and I can do nothing about it.
6. Do I have to install your IMAP addon, Gmail IMAP Account Setup, too?
No. Gmail
IMAP Account Setup is not needed for Google Contacts.
7. What fields are synchronized?
Only fields exist in both
Thunderbird and Gmail. Fields only exist in
Thunderbird are stored in
Google's database so you can share them among
Thunderbirds but you cannot see them in Gmail. See
here following for the mapping.
8. No contact is retrieved after I deleted the address books created by the addon.
When you delete address books, the accounts to which the address books are bound are set not to synchronize anymore. If you want to synchronize them again, open the
addon's option and check the accounts in the "Accounts" section. They will come back after you restart
Thunderbird.
9. Where is the Reload button?
It is not added to a toolbar automatically. It exists in the toolbar palette of the both main (messenger) and address book windows. Please add it manually.
10. It sometimes fails to retrieve contacts.
A synchronization takes some times because it sends requests to Google and waits for replies. The time depends on the amount of data, your network conditions and load of Google. Please wait for a few minutes after it started to synchronize.
11. How can I reset it to the initial settings?
You cannot initialize it only by removing and reinstalling the
addon. Please reset it as follows:
- Delete address books created by the addon
- Open the Config Editor
- Type gmcont in the filter
- You will see preferences starts with gmcont; Clear all of them by right-clicking a pref and choose "Reset"
- Restart Thunderbird
12. Does Google Contacts supports Shredder/Thunderbird3 beta?
It does not support Shredder and Thunderbird3 beta so far. And it will not work even if you install it by modifying install.rdf since APIs for address books are changed in Thunderbird3. I plan to start to implement when Thunderbird3 beta2 is released.
Test builds for Thunderbird3 Beta are available now. Please see the Thunderbird3 Compatibility Testing Thread and try the latest builds.
Now v0.6 or later support Thunderbird3.
13. Does Google Contacts supports Google Apps?
Yes, it does. But it cannot detect your Google Apps accounts automatically, not as it finds POP/
IMAP Gmail accounts. So, after you install the
addon, open the
addon's option dialog and add your Google Apps accounts to the account section manually.
14. Why is a password needed to download Google Contacts?
Google Contacts is placed in the sandbox system in AMO, where experiment addons are stored. You have to sign up AMO account and login to download them. In order to push them into a public space, they have to be reviewed by AMO editors and be approved. I nominated for the review and am waiting for the approval. However, the review takes many times since many addons are waiting for the review.
Google Contacts becomes a public add-on. You can download it without an AMO account.
15. I cannot receive a update notification for Google Contacts.
As I wrote in the question 14, it stored in the sandox of AMO. You will get the notification after it is pushed to a public. Please wait until it is approved.
