Ubuntu
evolution package

How to back up and restore Contacts in Evolution please?

Asked by Alan Wirth

Using Evolution 2.22.2 I tried (many times) to back up Evolution using the method File/Backup Settings/etc so I could restore in a new installation of Evo on a new computer. Evo closes down but no backup file is created. I have archived all my individual email folders now (except Inbox) using Archive Manager but can't back up my Contacts (most important).
I can't even identify the file where these contacts are stored or maybe I could simply transfer that onto the new computer?
Backup is installed and I have re-installed from Synaptic.
I am a GUI user and not a terminal user by preference.
Can someone help please?
Thanks.

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Ubuntu evolution Edit question
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Solved by:
Jon D. Kunsch
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Revision history for this message
Steven Rose (steveydoteu) said : 		#1

Have a look at this: http://ubuntu.wordpress.com/2005/12/03/how-to-backup-evolution/ it may well be of use to solve your issue.

Revision history for this message
Alan Wirth (mtbark) said : 		#2

I had already read that blog and it didn't resolve my problem.
I am not a proficient user of Terminal.
I had previously tried copying and pasting the lines stated and got an
unhelpful response.
I don't understand the explanations.
I had read all the other input from other users and saw some of them
still had problems too.
Surely there must be a simple GUI resolution for what must be a very
common need.
In Outlook and other email clients I am aware of you can export your
contacts as a .csv file.
Thanks,
Alan

On Sun, 2008-07-06 at 02:40 +0000, Steven Rose wrote:
> Your question #38341 on evolution in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/evolution/+question/38341
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> Steven Rose proposed the following answer:
> Have a look at this: http://ubuntu.wordpress.com/2005/12/03/how-to-
> backup-evolution/ it may well be of use to solve your issue.
>

Revision history for this message
nglnx (nglnx) said : 		#3

Evolution's address book database is in the

$Home/.evolution/addressbook/local/system

folder, for local contacts

Revision history for this message
Bhavani Shankar (bhavi) said : 		#4

Hello

In order to backup Evolution do the following from a terminal.

Shutdown relevant processes:

gconftool2 --shutdown
evolution --force-shutdown

backup the following folders and file:

.evolution
.gconf/apps/evolution
.gnome2_private/Evolution

use the following command line to backup:

tar -cvzf backupname.tar.gz .evolution .gconf/apps/evolution .gnome2_private/Evolution

In order to restore, you need to shutdown the processed first.

Regards

Revision history for this message
Steven Rose (steveydoteu) said : 		#5

Bhavani, you have missed the point I think, the link provided the same information with which Alan still has problems.

Revision history for this message
Best Jon D. Kunsch (kunschj) said : 		#6

I moved my contacts from Evolution 2.10.1 to another machine with Evolution 2.22.1 using a USB memory stick. I'm certain that you could do the same using a shared folder across your network.

While in Contacts, click "File," then "Save Address Book As VCard."

Your contacts will be saved as a .vcf file (list.vcf, for example), in the folder of your choice.

Open the new application of Evolution, go to the Contacts tab, click "File" and then "Import."

The Evolution Import Assistant will help you import your contacts from there.

Revision history for this message
Alan Wirth (mtbark) said : 		#7

Awesome John!! Thanks. It was unbelievably fast and smooth.
Problem SOLVED.