Because of a system reload, I'm having to restore all my Kontact databases. I *THOUGHT* I'd restored all of them, but the Contacts are missing (and I want to thank you for help with email last night!).

I have all of the files from the old system. What do I need to bring back to get the Contacts back?

Thanks much.
---Michael

Contacts are stored in differing locations depending on your KDE version.
You need to restore those files named *.vcf.

MSatterwhite wrote:Because of a system reload, I'm having to restore all my Kontact databases. I *THOUGHT* I'd restored all of them, but the Contacts are missing

How did you restore them? What did you restore? Answers probably depend on this If you still have all the old data it should be possible to get them back, but we need to know where to start.

annew wrote:

MSatterwhite wrote:Because of a system reload, I'm having to restore all my Kontact databases. I *THOUGHT* I'd restored all of them, but the Contacts are missing

How did you restore them? What did you restore? Answers probably depend on this If you still have all the old data it should be possible to get them back, but we need to know where to start.

I copied the directory kabc (with the ,vcf files) from the original (saved) .kde4/share/apps to the one for the new install.

OK. More questions then. We still don't know much about your versions and how you had things set up before you did the restore, so -

Are you using a version of KAddressBook recent enough to be Akonadi-enabled?

If yes - do you have backups of your old ~/.local/share/contacts and ~/.local/share/akonadi?

Did you ever use Akonadi Tray Icon to create a backup?

If you are not using Akonadi, but an older addressbook, have you checked that you own the file (you can lose permissions as you move files around) and that you have write access to it.

Once we know these things we should be able work out a strategy

annew wrote:OK. More questions then. We still don't know much about your versions and how you had things set up before you did the restore, so -

Are you using a version of KAddressBook recent enough to be Akonadi-enabled?

If yes - do you have backups of your old ~/.local/share/contacts and ~/.local/share/akonadi?

Did you ever use Akonadi Tray Icon to create a backup?

If you are not using Akonadi, but an older addressbook, have you checked that you own the file (you can lose permissions as you move files around) and that you have write access to it.

Once we know these things we should be able work out a strategy

The old system was running Akonadi. I have a COMPLETE copy of the old home directory (actually, I kept the old home directory now mounted as /oldhome) as well as three backups of everything in it. To be honest, I wouldn't know an Akonadi icon if it kicked me, so no, I never created a backup with it (Actually, I don't see the icon now ... where is it?); I assumed that by having *ALL* the support/data files available, I was safe.

The old system was running Akonadi. I have a COMPLETE copy of the old home directory (actually, I kept the old home directory now mounted as /oldhome) as well as three backups of everything in it. To be honest, I wouldn't know an Akonadi icon if it kicked me, so no, I never created a backup with it (Actually, I don't see the icon now ... where is it?); I assumed that by having *ALL* the support/data files available, I was safe.

You are - don't worry. Your contacts are not lost, if you kept all that. We just need to get it set up again.

As for the Tray Icon, an easy way to get it is by typing Akonadi into KRunner then selecting it. We're probably not needing it at the moment, though.

OK - in KAddressBook, do you have Personal Contacts? If not, that's the first step. Again, the answer depends on your KDE version. If you are in 4.4 (and not the betas for 4.5, which are numbered 4.4.80 upwards) first make sure that you have copied ~/.local/share/contacts from the old-home to the new one, then follow the instructions on http://userbase.kde.org/KAddressBook_4. ... _Resources

Create a Personal Contacts resource and, using, Modify in the Management screen (shown on the UserBase page) point it to #?.local/share/contacts. While you are there, look for std.vcf and, using Modify again, point that to ~/.kde/share/apps/kabc/std.vcf. If you are going to keep both addressbooks, set Personal Contacts to be the standard one.

At that point you should be able to start KAddressBook and see your contacts. If you can't, try to give us more detail about how far you got, and what happened.

annew wrote:
OK - in KAddressBook, do you have Personal Contacts? If not, that's the first step. Again, the answer depends on your KDE version. If you are in 4.4 (and not the betas for 4.5, which are numbered 4.4.80 upwards) first make sure that you have copied ~/.local/share/contacts from the old-home to the new one, then follow the instructions on http://userbase.kde.org/KAddressBook_4. ... _Resources

OK, I'm running 4.4.4 of KDE.

First problem. I'm looking in .local/share. There isn't a contacts directory in it (either in oldhome or current hoome). The directories are:
akonadi
applications
data
desktop-directories
exaile
gnome-do
gvfs-metadata
local-mail
mime
rhythmbox
totem
Trash
vinagre
webkit
Where is the contacts file/directory?

It should be right there, on that list. So perhaps you never set up Personal Contacts properly. Never mind. In that case you were very likely using std.vcf. Create Personal Contacts then in KAddressBook use File Import and select vcf file. That should import all your old contacts into Personal Contacts, and you should be good to go.

annew wrote:It should be right there, on that list. So perhaps you never set up Personal Contacts properly. Never mind. In that case you were very likely using std.vcf. Create Personal Contacts then in KAddressBook use File Import and select vcf file. That should import all your old contacts into Personal Contacts, and you should be good to go.

I'm sure I sound like a computer incompetent, but I've used Kontact since about 2002. Please, *PLEASE* forgive my ignorance - and my thanks for your very patient help!

That said, assume for a moment that I know nothing about Kontact using Akonadi (close to truth, BTW). You say, set up Personal Contacts. Where is that done? Up until recently, Kontact just worked, and I didn't look into the why of it. I'm sure you're right that I didn't set it up as I just assumed it worked without my doing anything (and it did). I really do want to do it right ... I'm just not sure what that is.

Again, thank you for your patience and help.

---Michael

When things change as much as this has, it's not surprising that you feel lost at times. In SystemSettings go to Akonadi Configuration (in 4.4 it's on the Advanced tab). If it shows Personal Contacts, use Modify to check that it is pointing to ~/.local.share/contacts. If it isn't there, add it - Add button and scroll down until you see Personal Cotacts. Again, check that the path is right.

That should give you a new addressbook in KAddressBook - though if it doesn't you simply Add AddressBook (from right-click) and again scroll down to Personal Contacts. It will almost certainly be empty. (Be careful not to add an AddressBook Folder - that's different).

At that point open the Personal Contacts addressbook, then File > Import > VCard and the wizard will ask you whether you are importing a VCard file or a directory of VCards. Choose File and point it to your std.vcf. All the addresses from the std.vcf will appear in Personal Contacts, and will be databased by Akonadi.

You could then remove std.vcf - you won't need it again. You won't lose it if you remove it from your list of addressbooks. You could if you choose organise your contacts into sub-folders - that's where 'Add AddressBook Folder' comes in. They are still part of your main addressbook, but are easier searched in subfolders. I have one for Family, one for KDE contacts and one each for my club memberships. Before that the list was getting very long, so scanning for an entry wasn't so easy.