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Cannot remove or create new contacts

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 14 views
  • Last reply by Matt

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I tried this and it did not work I could not find abook.mab anywhere on my computer. I even uninstalled and reinstalled and it still does not work.

1) In Address Book, select Personal Address Book, then Tools/Export, name the LDIF file.


2) Select Help/Troubleshooting Information, click Show Folder to open the profile folder, exit TB, delete or rename abook.mab.


3) Restart TB, Tools/Import...Address books...Text file...select the LDIF file from 1).


4) In Address Book, select the imported address book in the left pane, then select all the contacts in the right pane (Ctrl-A) and drag them onto the Personal Address Book icon.


Changes to PAB should now be retained.

I tried this and it did not work I could not find abook.mab anywhere on my computer. I even uninstalled and reinstalled and it still does not work. 1) In Address Book, select Personal Address Book, then Tools/Export, name the LDIF file. 2) Select Help/Troubleshooting Information, click Show Folder to open the profile folder, exit TB, delete or rename abook.mab. 3) Restart TB, Tools/Import...Address books...Text file...select the LDIF file from 1). 4) In Address Book, select the imported address book in the left pane, then select all the contacts in the right pane (Ctrl-A) and drag them onto the Personal Address Book icon. Changes to PAB should now be retained.

Chosen solution

Ok Lets get something absolutely clear. Windows search is rubbish, it hides more than it shows and is programmed to basically only show documents, not program components. You might as well forget it exists when it comes to heavy lifting. If you want instruction on how to make this rubbish work correctly ask Microsoft they have your money for it, they can pay for some support for you.

I have no idea what you did or why you posted a set of instructions your apparently unable to follow. I assume exporting your address book as LDIF is not to difficult.

1) In Address Book, select Personal Address Book, then Tools/Export, name the LDIF file.

In Thunderbird. That is load the application From it's menu (press F10 to see the menu if it is not visible) Select the Help menu then troubleshooting information Click Show Folder to open the profile folder Close Thunderbird delete or rename abook.mab in the windows explorer window that opened when you clicked show folder..

3) Restart TB, Tools/Import...Address books...Text file...select the LDIF file from 1).

4) In Address Book, select the imported address book in the left pane, then select all the contacts in the right pane (Ctrl-A) and drag them onto the Personal Address Book icon.

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If you followed those instructions your would have seen the abook.mab file listed in step 2 when your explorer window opened.

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I did a search of my computer and the search results were blank. Give me step by step directions to correct this. In the directions I am not sure what TB is and where to find it. I opened Mozilla and I thought TB stood for tool bar and it is automaticly open. When I do step 2 the only file with a mab extension is impab.mab. please more help.

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Chosen Solution

Ok Lets get something absolutely clear. Windows search is rubbish, it hides more than it shows and is programmed to basically only show documents, not program components. You might as well forget it exists when it comes to heavy lifting. If you want instruction on how to make this rubbish work correctly ask Microsoft they have your money for it, they can pay for some support for you.

I have no idea what you did or why you posted a set of instructions your apparently unable to follow. I assume exporting your address book as LDIF is not to difficult.

1) In Address Book, select Personal Address Book, then Tools/Export, name the LDIF file.

In Thunderbird. That is load the application From it's menu (press F10 to see the menu if it is not visible) Select the Help menu then troubleshooting information Click Show Folder to open the profile folder Close Thunderbird delete or rename abook.mab in the windows explorer window that opened when you clicked show folder..

3) Restart TB, Tools/Import...Address books...Text file...select the LDIF file from 1).

4) In Address Book, select the imported address book in the left pane, then select all the contacts in the right pane (Ctrl-A) and drag them onto the Personal Address Book icon.

Modified by Matt

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It worked. My problem was that the abook.mab was not showing. I changed the settings to show all folders and sub folders then the abook.mab was visible and I was able to complete the task. I was able to follow the directions but I had to think through why the abook.mab file was not visible. I was very displeased with the tone of your e-mail. It was very condescending. I was able to do the task but not because of anything you did. I already had the directions. Your help was not worth the time I used to read it. I hope you somehow find social skills, and understanding to help others in the future.

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if you click the show folder button you do not need to have the hidden folders showing. You also do not need to have them showing is you type %appdata% into the start menu and press enter.

Perhaps before you toss big rocks my way you might consider that I really had no idea what was going on. You posted the instructions, in your original posting. with a vague complaint that "I tried this and it did not work"

I have followed that procedure to get to my profile folder multiple times every day for years. Anyone telling me it does not work is not doing it, they are doing something else. Even now your saying that the file and folder did not open in Explorer until you changed the hidden files and folders setting. You are the first one who had to do that. I wonder why.