What's new ?

Hello !

XlContactImport recently had a major upgrade with version 1.1.0. This page will give you in a few words some explanations about the changes, and also some "do" and "don't", especially for old time users of the app.


First, the app had a complete rewrite of its internal import engine. Since a few months, we encountered more and more mail comments about the app not being able to import some files, and we discovered some of the underlying APIs used by the app were less and less working well with the very last generation of smartphones. To ensure the app's future and add new functions in the months to come, we had to adopt more robust APIs.

The main consequence resulting is that the xls format used by XlContactImport, but also XlContactExport, has changed.

A good advice to migrate your data would be to complete/apply all the remaining changes to your contact databases using XlContactImport previous version (1.0.5) before upgrading the app on your device to the 1.1.0 version. Then, we advise you to download the version 1.1.0 of our other app XlContactExport (dedicated to contact export operations) to produce a xls file compliant with the new format, a file that you will use now.

Alternately, if you already have an Excel file filled with contact data that you want to use, you need to update it to the new format before launching the first import with version 1.1.0 (please read below the details of the new format)

Use under XlContactImport 1.1.0 of an xls file containing data under the old format can create a real mess in your contacts database, so don't do it !

You will see that the new format gives real improvements about data control : events like birthday, accounts identification, etc... are now managed.


Now, the app also offers an alternate Pro version with specials features :

• XLSX format support, as an alternative to the old XLS format
• Dropbox support, to retrieve a import file stored on your account
• improved speed of work, visible on small or medium-sized contact databases

Several display & interface enhancements or adjustements have also been done on the app. You will see now for example that rotation is enabled on all screens.

Sadly, the APIs changes have a cost, as we will no longer offer ugrades of the app for Android 1.6, 2.0.x, 2.1.x, 2.2.x devices (the focus will be now on Android 2.3.x - and all versions above - devices). Anyway, you can always download a compatible version for theses old devices on Google Play (contact us if a problem occurs there on this subject) and we will continue to provide support for the Android 1.6, 2.0.x, 2.1.x, 2.2.x users of the app.

Do not hesitate to send us feeback about the new version. XlContactImport is your app too !

The new XlContactImport / XlcontactExport xls format

New fields coming with version 1.1.0 are marked in red.
Please note the Group field has moved in the fifth column.

 - PERSON_NAME
 - PHONE_NUMBER
 - PHONE_TYPE
 - CUSTOM_PHONE_TYPE_LABEL
 - GROUP_CODENAME
 - ACCOUNT_CONTACT_NAME
 - ACCOUNT_CONTACT_TYPE (com.google, vnd.sec.contact.phone, vnd.sec.contact.sim... see the SystemGroups app for details)
 - NOTE
 - FAVORITE
 - EMAIL_ADDRESS
 - EMAIL_TYPE
 - CUSTOM_EMAIL_TYPE_LABEL can be defined if the value for the previous type field is "C" (custom)
 - INSTANT_MESS_ADDRESS
 - INSTANT_MESS_TYPE
 - CUSTOM_INSTANT_MESS_TYPE_LABEL can be defined if the value for the previous type field is "C" (custom)
 - INSTANT_MESS_PROTOCOL
 - CUSTOM_INSTANT_MESS_PROTOCOL_LABEL can be defined if the value for the previous type field is "C" (custom)
 - POSTAL_ADDRESS can still be used or the adress can be defined alternately with the structured fields below
 - POSTAL_ADDRESS_TYPE
 - CUSTOM_POSTAL_ADRESS_TYPE_LABEL can be defined if the value for the previous type field is "C" (custom)
 - POSTAL_ADDRESS_STREET
 - POSTAL_ADDRESS_POBOX
 - POSTAL_ADDRESS_NEIGHBORHOOD
 - POSTAL_ADDRESS_CITY
 - POSTAL_ADDRESS_REGION
 - POSTAL_ADDRESS_POSTCODE
 - POSTAL_ADDRESS_COUNTRY
 - ORGANIZATION_NAME
 - ORGANIZATION_TYPE
 - CUSTOM_ORGANIZATION_TYPE_LABEL can be defined if the value for the previous type field is "C" (custom)
 - ACTIVITY_NAME
 - DEPARTMENT_NAME
 - ACTIVITY_DESCRIPTION
 - ORGANIZATION_SYMBOL
 - ORGANIZATION_PHONETIC_NAME
 - OFFICE_LOCATION
 - EVENT_DATE
 - EVENT_TYPE can be defined if the value for the previous type field is "C" (custom)
 - CUSTOM_EVENT_TYPE_LABEL
 - WEBSITE_URL
 - WEBSITE_TYPE can be defined if the value for the previous type field is "C" (custom)
 - CUSTOM_WEBSITE_TYPE_LABEL
 - SIPADDRESS
 - SIPADDRESS_TYPE can be defined if the value for the previous type field is "C" (custom)
 - CUSTOM_SIPADDRESS_TYPE_LABEL
 - NICKNAME
 - NICKNAME_TYPE
 - CUSTOM_NICKNAME_TYPE_LABEL can be defined if the value for the previous type field is "C" (custom)
 - RELATION
 - RELATION_TYPE
 - CUSTOM_RELATION_TYPE_LABEL can be defined if the value for the previous type field is "C" (custom)
 - PERSON_GIVEN_NAME
 - PERSON_FAMILY_NAME
 - PERSON_PREFIX
 - PERSON_MIDDLE_NAME
 - PERSON_SUFFIX
 - PERSON_PHONETIC_GIVEN_NAME
 - PERSON_PHONETIC_MIDDLE_NAME
 - PERSON_PHONETIC_FAMILY_NAME