Migrating from Outlook 2003 to Thunderbird = A Series of Small, Painful Steps
1/12/2010
The purpose of the migration: to save money and test-drive some of these 'cloud apps' that are comin' to fruition. I'm not finished migrating yet (squawk squawk!), but I'm already curling my toes in frustration. Exchange Server might be easier to configure than dealing with dozens of tiny add-ons, extensions, conversion tools etc.
One of my goals today was to import a rather large amount of contacts from Outlook to Thunderbird. Sounds simple, right?
WRONG!
Since I'm test driving an installation of vTiger CRM (not linking because I'm affiliated, nor am I at the stage to recommend vTiger, just for reference), I tried to use the vTiger add-on for Thunderbird, since I have managed to successfully import all of the contacts into the vTiger database.
That didn't work. It failed majestically. Within seconds, I received an error. It wouldn't connect even though my login and location settings were accurate. Forum searches revealed that everyone else has the same problem, that the connector is a serious pile of smegma and should be wiped from the intertubes (though apparently it did work for previous versions of vTiger and TB).
So I thought I'd use the direct route, the import feature of TB. I clicked on tools : import and tried to point it directly to Outlook. The GUI said it was importing, but my address book only contained one contact once the import finished (even though it seemed to take awhile). FAIL.
Then I tried pointing the import feature to the Contacts backup PST. Suddenly, strange french error messages were popping up in TB, the application crashed, and nothing was imported. FAIL.
At this point I'm thinking: WTF? Are ALL of these open source db 'solutions,' cloud apps and plugins just pieces of crap? So far, yes. Every cloud app I've tried, aside from my Pogoplug at home, has failed on me more than it has succeeded. I'm losing patience. Every add-on for synchronizing data with Outlook and vTiger, or TB and vTiger, or TB and Outlook, or TB and Gmail, or Outlook and Gmail, have all pretty much failed or produced enough errors to consider them useless.
Anyway, back to my task at hand.
I thought... maybe the 'new' (post 2002) PST format was the reason the import feature within TB was not working, so I created a new PST in the old format. Still didn't work. The result was the same as before; it imported only one contact but seemed to take awhile to do it.
Then I tried making a CSV from outlook. The field mappings were all over the place in Thunderbird. I DO NOT recommend this method; once you move one header to the appropriate slot within Thunderbird, the headers above and below move, too, thus making it impossible to line them up. In addition, you're limited to four custom fields which you cannot rename (and my custom contacts form in Echange held much more data than a simple email address book can, much to the demise of the entire project... but let's gloss over that, shall we? Who would ever have thought that I might give kudos to Microsoft for anything... ).
I very nearly gave up. But I was thinking.... what about vcards?
Guess what? Thunderbird doesn't have a built-in method for importing .vcf files (which, incidentally, I downloaded from my contacts backup on Gmail). I even tried emailing the file to myself, which didn't work. I double-clicked on the .vcf and nada happened.
After a little googling, I stumbled upon a solution, a simple online conversion tool that takes vcards and converts them to LDIF files. You can find it here.
Within seconds, I was saving my LDIF and importing it into Thunderbird. SUCCESS!
All my contacts are now stored in Thunderbird. It only took me about 3 hours.
Final thoughts on the subject: Get your shit together, Mozilla. Get your shit together vTiger. Your apps are great for simple uses, but for real business/tech environments, the non-working bits of your proggies can cause more headaches than Outlook and Exchange, and that's really sad to me.
But I'm glad it's finished (well... I still need to review some of the imported data to see if anything is missing that is essential, all 1800 contacts or so.)
Now onto pistol-whipping vTiger into some sort of usable state. I'm losing hope, but I'm not giving up.
The pain I put myself through just to get away from Exchange $$$erver.
posted by novachild @ Tuesday, January 12, 2010,
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Band Schwag!
12/10/2009
It's been a good while since I've posted regularly, so I'm not even sure who's reading this! Chime in if it's you (comment link below).
Anyway, in the months I've been away, I helped get a band off the ground. We're now solid, ready to play, and buying merch to sell. Below is our logo on some vinyl stickers, and also on a nifty shirt (vinyl transfer).
Check out our facebook at http://www.thelivingmachines.com. You can find our respective other pages from there :)
We're playing a couple of shows this weekend. If you're in the area or fancy a long drive to Tulsa, come see us! We rock!
posted by novachild @ Thursday, December 10, 2009,
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UltraVivid Dream - 12-8-09
12/08/2009
crazy I know, places I goDREAM: Bought a new car, a '98' toyota. Red. Looked futuristic and small like electric car. I was with a woman. It was a nondescript woman, an amalgamation of lovers perhaps, changing with every scene. We were going to this rickety house in a bad neighborhood to visit a friend. The house was old and falling apart. I can't remember who the friend was who lived in the house, but it was haunted by 3 spirits. One was a man, late 20s or no older than 30. He just sort of wandered in and out. He didn't seem to concern me that much, and neither did another spirit. Younger girl. Can't remember her much other than that. There was an older woman, late 60s, a fearsome, violent and malevolent spirit. Everyone else there was terrified but I chose not to be. She would come at me with knives and things, or run into windows and cut herself up. Repeatedly. And she would scream. I chose not to be scared, so none of it had actual effect on me aside from visual disturbance.
make me feel so tired
I can see how people look down
I'm on the outside
(The Sundays)
There was a gunshot somewhere. Cops came to raid the neighborhood. Everyone was told to go outside.
Skip to morning, we went to the car. Strangely, a tree grown right through it and destroyed it from the inside. The property owners or someone involved offered to replace it, but all they had was prev. years model, and it was sort of orange color. I accepted it and drove off.
Visited a shopping area, sort of like downtown jenks. Was just walking along when a homeless looking wanderer walked past. He was thin-ish, dark beard, brown eyes, about 6' tall. He wore a black stocking hat, a canvas bag and an army jacket. Looked like a wanderer, a traveler down on his luck. He said hi and I smiled and said hi back. He seemed very elated and we talked. He told me his name was Michael. I got the sensation suddenly that he was the man haunting that house and he needed validation of his existence in order to be free and happy and go to whatever next level awaited him. Somehow he was hoping to get that from me, because I was aware of him when others were not. I then felt a burden lift from both our shoulders as we parted ways. He smiled again and wandered off into crowds of people shopping.
I woke up feeling like I had accomplished something. Like my presence in whatever celestial space this dream happened... changed things for the positive. My emotional state was intense with empathy, happiness, and a touch of sadness.
I also woke up to the song "Here's Where The Story Ends" by The Sundays playing on Pandora. The bit at the beginning of this entry seems the most relevant to the dream.
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Here's where the story ends - Lyrics
people I know, places I go, make me feel tongue-tied
I can see how people look down, they're on the inside
here's where the story ends
people I see, weary of me showing my good side
I can see how people look down
I'm on the outside
here's where the story ends
ooh here's where the story ends
it's that little souvenir of a terrible year
which makes my eyes feel sore
oh I never should have said, the books that you read
were all I loved you for
it's that little souvenir of a terrible year
which makes me wonder why
and it's the memories of your shed that make me turn red
surprise, surprise, surprise
crazy I know, places I go
make me feel so tired
I can see how people look down
I'm on the outside
oh here's where the story ends
ooh here's where the story ends
it's that little souvenir of a terrible year
which makes my eyes feel sore
and who ever would've thought the books that you brought
were all I loved you for
oh the devil in me said, go down to the shed
I know where I belong
but the only thing I ever really wanted to say
was wrong, was wrong, was wrong
it's that little souvenir of a colourful year
which makes me smile inside
so I cynically, cynically say, the world is that way
surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise
here's where the story ends
ooh here's where the story ends
posted by novachild @ Tuesday, December 08, 2009,
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A story must be told: Ants In My Mailbox
9/10/2009
Today, this exciting discovery greeted me as I came home from work. These ants seemingly rescued thousands of little ant babies by climbing up my mailbox and placing them inside. I remember a time when things like this were the highlight of my day (I could give many examples from my childhood). Happily, this was the highlight of THIS day.
Also, dear journal (and whoever may be reading), it seems I must catch you up with the strange, transformative twists my life has taken since I last updated you. Perhaps I will do that tomorrow.
On that note.... "Pull the string!"
posted by novachild @ Thursday, September 10, 2009,
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New galaga high score!
2/01/2009
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posted by novachild @ Sunday, February 01, 2009,
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New Assimilation Promo Video
1/31/2009
Made this today in my spare time:
posted by novachild @ Saturday, January 31, 2009,
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"I Pledge"
1/20/2009
This inspiring video features music by The Album Leaf, one of my favorite bands. :)
MySpace Celebrity and Katalyst present The Presidential Pledge
posted by novachild @ Tuesday, January 20, 2009,
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Christmas came early!
12/23/2008
My new studio monitors and condenser mic arrived today. I'm excited about unpacking these beauties.
posted by novachild @ Tuesday, December 23, 2008,
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Galaga score
12/21/2008
Just chillin at the arcade tonight. My highest score in awhile.
posted by novachild @ Sunday, December 21, 2008,
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Car Wreck - Monday December 8
12/11/2008
This is what happened to my car Monday morning.
Jennifer has a concussion, and I'm sore as hell all over.
Fucking South Tulsa. Good riddance.
Jennifer has a concussion, and I'm sore as hell all over.
Fucking South Tulsa. Good riddance.
posted by novachild @ Thursday, December 11, 2008,
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BOYCOTT CINEMARK
11/13/2008
The CEO of Cinemark Theaters, Alan Stock, gave $9,999 to the anti-gay marriage Prop 8 proposal in California (which passed).
Let's send them a message, people. When you go to the movies, give Circle Cinema a chance or, at the least, another multiplex that ISN'T run by a gay-hating bigot.
REPOST IF YOU AGREE. Maybe enough people will get on board to make them think twice about funding hate again.
posted by novachild @ Thursday, November 13, 2008,
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Tales of Midnight Nazis
11/05/2008
I have two cats in the animal hospital under observation for poisoning. I am sick with a head cold I cannot shake. I am getting sued for medical bills I cannot afford to pay. I am 34 and have level 4 hypertension. And my own mother is burying me with judgment because I would rather take my cats to the vet than let them die because I can't even afford my own medical bills.
Yet somehow.... right now, I don't give a toss. Because I'm positively glowing after experiencing Obama's acceptance speech tonight.
I don't live under an illusion that this election will change my life in any major way. What gives me hope is the fact that - after so many years of dusty old men strangling the life out of our nation - FINALLY the good guy won. There is hope for humanity, even if it's just a glimmer, and I didn't feel this way when I woke up this morning.
I sit here on my balcony breathing the cool, crisp air. Yes, I think, maybe I was a bit too harsh in my general disdain for humanity when I awoke this morning. A small weight is lifted in my soul... I feel this for just a moment, and then ....
Two of my neighbors stumble through the courtyard, drunken, shouting for everyone in earshot to witness.
"I hate niggers!"
"I hate niggers!"
posted by novachild @ Wednesday, November 05, 2008,
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