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How to import my old address book (abook.sqlite)?

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by Lampros

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I've got a clean installation of Thunderbird 91.0.3 (64 bit).

From my previous installation I've got these files: — abook.sqlite — abook.sqlite-shm — abook.sqlite-wal

How can I import this old address book? Simply copy paste doesn't work.

I've got a clean installation of Thunderbird 91.0.3 (64 bit). From my previous installation I've got these files: — abook.sqlite — abook.sqlite-shm — abook.sqlite-wal How can I import this old address book? Simply copy paste doesn't work.

All Replies (5)

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With TB closed, in the current profile, rename abook.* to abook.*.bak, then copy in abook.sqlite from the previous installation. Restart TB and open Personal Address Book. The same method works for history.sqlite (Collected Addresses).

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sfhowes said

With TB closed, in the current profile, rename abook.* to abook.*.bak, then copy in abook.sqlite from the previous installation. Restart TB and open Personal Address Book. The same method works for history.sqlite (Collected Addresses).

I did it, and now the address book is empty, saying "Contacts from remote address books are not shown until you search. This address book shows contacts only after a search".

And if I try to make a search, nothing happens.

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The instructions I gave are exactly what I did myself in a new profile created with 91.0.3. I've no idea why you get a message about remote address books. Perhaps create a new profile from Help/More Troubleshooting, about:profiles, launch the new profile once, then close it (no need to add accounts). Then, open the new profile folder, where you should see a single abook file, abook.sqlite. Copy in abook.sqlite from another source, overwriting the current file, then restart TB in the new profile and open Personal Address Book.

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sfhowes said

The instructions I gave are exactly what I did myself in a new profile created with 91.0.3. I've no idea why you get a message about remote address books. Perhaps create a new profile from Help/More Troubleshooting, about:profiles, launch the new profile once, then close it (no need to add accounts). Then, open the new profile folder, where you should see a single abook file, abook.sqlite. Copy in abook.sqlite from another source, overwriting the current file, then restart TB in the new profile and open Personal Address Book.

Still not working :( Well, I'll try to do without my old address book. Thank you for your help!

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You can import addresses from a previous csv, ldf or vcf file. Do not use old files created in TB profile folder.