From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Russell Adams Subject: Re: Re: contact management in org-mode? Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:34:10 -0500 Message-ID: <20091025023410.GK2357@thinkpad.adamsinfoserv.com> References: <878wfoc5ao.fsf@cuma.i-did-not-set--mail-host-address--so-tickle-me> <87iqerzvm2.fsf@gollum.intra.norang.ca> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Return-path: Received: from mailman by lists.gnu.org with tmda-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1N1swI-0006Jc-7B for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:34:38 -0400 Received: from exim by lists.gnu.org with spam-scanned (Exim 4.43) id 1N1swG-0006H1-5T for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:34:37 -0400 Received: from [199.232.76.173] (port=46134 helo=monty-python.gnu.org) by lists.gnu.org with esmtp (Exim 4.43) id 1N1swG-0006Gy-19 for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:34:36 -0400 Received: from squirtle.drak.net ([72.52.144.201]:33058) by monty-python.gnu.org with esmtps (TLS-1.0:DHE_RSA_AES_256_CBC_SHA1:32) (Exim 4.60) (envelope-from ) id 1N1swF-0004HW-H2 for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:34:35 -0400 Received: from [167.206.154.26] (helo=localhost) by squirtle.drak.net with esmtpsa (TLSv1:AES128-SHA:128) (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1N1sw1-0002ab-Jr for emacs-orgmode@gnu.org; Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:34:21 -0500 Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <87iqerzvm2.fsf@gollum.intra.norang.ca> List-Id: "General discussions about Org-mode." List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org Errors-To: emacs-orgmode-bounces+geo-emacs-orgmode=m.gmane.org@gnu.org To: emacs-orgmode@gnu.org > > Lindsay> package. Or is BBDB so wonderful that I should just use > > Lindsay> that instead? > > > > I use both and I really recommend BBDB. I've never used the link between > > bbdb and org-mode, so I cannot comment on that. But they're two great > > packages on their own merits. > > Bets regards, > > I use both. bbdb works great as a contact manager. I link to entries > in bbdb in my org-mode files for phone calls etc. > > -Bernt I reverse my recommendation regarding BBDB. /rant on I'm migrating out of it as fast as I can. The import/export tools are terrible / nonexistant unless you know elisp, and good luck with resolving contacts from multiple sources. I don't use GNUS or any of the other features of BBDB aside from rare org-links and mutt lbdb integration for address lookup. I have wasted hours at this point trying to export data from BBDB so I can use it to rebuild my contacts on my new phone (G1). Imagine hacking the data back out of BBDB's funky format so I can have it in CSV. There's absolutely no way for me to sync between sources without fast import/export. At this point the forerunner is abook, not just because its format is simple and plain text, but because it integrates with lbdb and FULL CSV import and export work properly out of the box. My only complaints are its fixed database format which doesn't extend easily, and its not inside emacs. Given that an "addressbook" program is typically used as the most basic example in learning how to code forms or databases, its sad to see how badly the available options suck. /rant off I'll post if I find a better alternative. I welcome recommendations while I try to centralize my contacts to CSV while I decide what to put them in. Thanks.