I have created a csv file in gmail in outlook format.

The I tried to import it into outlook.

It fails since the fields map stays empty, although the first line in the csv file contains the correct list of field names.

Also, I cannot drag and drop field names.  Well, I drag and drop the name, but it doen't stick in.

Any advice or suggestion?

Thanks in advance ...

Most likely, the separator used in the csv-file doesn't match with the list separator that you have configured in Windows.

To fix this see: Importing a contacts csv export

Well the character used to separate the fields in my .csv file is    ,

while the character specified in the regional list separator is       ,

They look pretty much the same to me, so that is not the problem.

Thank you.

If I have to find the common denominator to the problems I described above, I can say that the

field mapping list (the list of pairs of field names, <outlook_field_name, csv_field_name>)

does not accept any pairs into this list.  It doesn't automatically build the list from the .csv file,

and it doesn't allow me to drag and drop csv_field_names from the .csv list sub-window into the mapping sub-window.

And since this mapping stays empty, all the records are imported into outlook as empty records themselves.

So the question is, why does the mapping list insists to stay empty?

Thank you,

and it doesn't allow me to drag and drop csv_field_names from the .csv list sub-window into the mapping sub-window.

One of two possibilities

#1 - You have an issue with the Outlook config on your system so if the same file can be used without any issues on another system - would suggest a repair of your Office install. If that fails, would create a new Outlook profile purely for testing purposes to see if the profile itself has some kind of really obscure issue

#2 - You have some obscure issue with the CSV file and there is no way to determine that without reviewing the file itself but even then - would be the first time I've ever heard of a file issue preventing the mapping process

This is the first time I use Outlook, so the use profile is fresh and new.

The rest of Office works just fine, so I wouldn't want to fiddle around with it.

Here is a simple test file:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First Name,Middle Name,Last Name,Title,Suffix,Initials,Web Page,Gender,Birthday,Anniversary,Location,Language,Internet Free Busy,Notes,E-mail Address,E-mail 2 Address,E-mail 3 Address,Primary Phone,Home Phone,Home Phone 2,Mobile Phone,Pager,Home Fax,Home Address,Home Street,Home Street 2,Home Street 3,Home Address PO Box,Home City,Home State,Home Postal Code,Home Country,Spouse,Children,Manager's Name,Assistant's Name,Referred By,Company Main Phone,Business Phone,Business Phone 2,Business Fax,Assistant's Phone,Company,Job Title,Department,Office Location,Organizational ID Number,Profession,Account,Business Address,Business Street,Business Street 2,Business Street 3,Business Address PO Box,Business City,Business State,Business Postal Code,Business Country,Other Phone,Other Fax,Other Address,Other Street,Other Street 2,Other Street 3,Other Address PO Box,Other City,Other State,Other Postal Code,Other Country,Callback,Car Phone,ISDN,Radio Phone,TTY/TDD Phone,Telex,User 1,User 2,User 3,User 4,Keywords,Mileage,Hobby,Billing Information,Directory Server,Sensitivity,Priority,Private,Categories
beta,,,,,,,,,,,,,,beta@gmail.com,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Normal,,my contacts
gamma,,,,,,,,,,,,,,gamma@gmail.com,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Normal,,my contacts
delta,,,,,,,,,,,,,,delta@hotmail.com,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Normal,,my contacts

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When imported to Outlook it generatred three new totally empty contact records.

The fact that I cannot make manual mapping, regardless of my profile details, seems like a serious bug to me.

Thank you

The fact that I cannot make manual mapping, regardless of my profile details, seems like a serious bug to me.

#1 - You haven't answered the questions regarding whether or not you have tried importing this same file on another computer results in the same issues

#2 - You have not indicated whether or not you have repaired your Office installation

#3 - Copying the contents of your CSV file is not an indicator of whether or not there is an issue with the actual CSV file itself as it exists on your system. As a point of interest, creating a new CSV file with the data you posted imported just fine into Outlook '2013 with no issues - fields were "auto-mapped" and there was no problem manually mapping any fields so whatever the cause of your problem - it's specific to your existing configuration.

Based on your response - suspect that you have not tried any of the suggestions to eliminate any of the possibilities.

1.  I have tried to import the very same file into another Windows-8/Office-2013/
first-time-used-Outlook.  This time I have encountered two problems:

a.  I got the error message: "Completion of the operation was unsuccessful since the service provider does not support it."
[ This probably is NOT the original English error message.  My error message appeared in Hebrew, and the above is my free translation back to English. ]

b.  The very same refusal to accept manual drag and drop fields into the map, as described above in the first machine.

2.  Since the drag-and-drop refusal occurred on two different machines, on which Outlook was used for the very first time (while all the rest of office plays just fine),  I don't think I should chase ghosts by reinstalling Office on either.

3.  The file is just a text file (I have examined it with a HexEditor).
Hence simply copying it with copy and paste created the very same file on the target machine, as long as you use the default ANSI format (each line ends with CR-LF) when you save it to the disk.

Thank you

1.  I have tried to import the very same file into another Windows-8/Office-2013/
first-time-used-Outlook.  This time I have encountered two problems:

a.  I got the error message: "Completion of the operation was unsuccessful since the service provider does not support it."
[ This probably is NOT the original English error message.  My error message appeared in Hebrew, and the above is my free translation back to English. ]

b.  The very same refusal to accept manual drag and drop fields into the map, as described above in the first machine.

2.  Since the drag-and-drop refusal occurred on two different machines, on which Outlook was used for the very first time (while all the rest of office plays just fine),  I don't think I should chase ghosts by reinstalling Office on either.

3.  The file is just a text file (I have examined it with a HexEditor).
Hence simply copying it with copy and paste created the very same file on the target machine, as long as you use the default ANSI format (each line ends with CR-LF) when you save it to the disk.

Thank you

Re: the new error message - just means that the email account is configured as an EAS (Exchange ActiveSync) Outlook.com account which doesn't allow importing to the contact folder

Re: The inability to map - does the full list of fields from the CSV file appear on the left hand side of the mapping field screen? If not, that's the issue that needs to be addressed which relates to the list separator character used in the CSV file. If yes, then the only way that anything else can be suggested is by testing the actual CSV file itself (see point #2 of my first response in this thread). Whatever the cause of this issue is - is specific to your configurations - feel free to send the csv file to <karl @ claxton . com> referencing this thread. Would be interested to test it and see what the results are given that I have more then a passing interest in contact import/export issues>

The EAS thing is the default behavior.  I didn't select it on purpose.

Further more, hile on the first machine I started Outlook without configuring an external Hotmail account, on the second machine I did configure a Hotmail account, the result is that for hours, the machine tries to sink with Hotmail server for no avail.

This list of fields appears to be the complete list.

At your request I have sent you a copy of the .csv file.  I took the liberty to also attach screen snap shots with the list of fields in the mapping window.

Thank you

At your request I have sent you a copy of the .csv file.  I took the liberty to also attach screen snap shots with the list of fields in the mapping window.

Would have been really helpful if your full system description was included from the start (as in being a Hebrew based system). Unfortunately, don't have any system configured that would enable me to replicate the environment.

For everyone else's benefit - the screenshot of the mapping field being referenced is

Unfortunately, going to have to leave this to someone else who has access to similarly configured systems - simply not something I can test at this point.

Well, since Windows 8 and Office 2013 are multilingual by default, one expects the native system language not to be the source of bugs.

Well, since Windows 8 and Office 2013 are multilingual by default, one expects the native system language not to be the source of bugs.

It just struck me - how are you trying to map the fields - LTR or RTL? The standard mapping process goes from left to right on North American systems. Have no idea if the underlying code which is otherwise universal would change the direction of how fields are mapped. To ask this question another way - have you tried mapping the fields in the opposite direction you're currently doing it?

On the right side of the picture you can see the no-no red sign which appears when you try to drag outlook field name into the .csv sub-window (from left to right).

On the left side of the picture you can see a legitimate trial to drag a field name from the .csv sub-window into the map (from right to left).

The field name text floats in white-on-grey in MIRROR characters.  When one releases the pointer this white-on-grey disappears, and the field name does NOT stick on the map sub-window. 

[[ Here I have inserted the picture.  However when I try to submit the post get the following error message: "Body text cannot contain images or links until we are able to verify your account." ]]

So I'll send the picture to Karl's email.

So I'll send the picture to Karl's email.

The screenshot you sent is included below. In terms of any comments, don't have any since have no experience with RTL mapping (or able to read the applicable screens etc) so have no idea whether this is a problem with Outlook or anything else. You may want to open a support case with the Microsoft support office for your region. Think the following link would be applicable (I just did a search for "Microsoft Support for Israel")

https://support.microsoft.com/he-il

Screenshot that was provided for others who may be familiar with this is

Checked with my MS Outlook contact to see if there were any reported cases regarding RTL field mapping- none to date for any version of Outlook so would strongly suggest you open a support case with MS so that they can pursue the specifics of your situation.