Automatically exported .VCF can't be imported

[hetszunyukapanyanyimonyok]

Checklist

• I can reproduce the bug with the latest version.
• I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information to.
• I have read the FAQ and my problem isn't listed.
• I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the bug report will be dismissed otherwise.
• This issue contains only one bug.
• I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.

Describe the bug
Trying to import one of the daily automatically backed up .vcf file.
It fails every time.
I have tried other days backup, does not help.
If I export manually, that works as normal import.
(But that is not efficient enough)

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Import automatically exported .vcf file.
2. Import failes.

Expected behavior
To able to import,
automatically exported .vcf files.

Device info (please complete the following information):

• OS: [e.g. Android 11]
• app version 1.0.1

Additional context
So i have analyzed the manually and the automatically exported .vcf files.
Their data structures are Totally different.
Because the manual works I did not touch it.
Than I tried to clean/the automatic backed up one/ by allowing only 1 contact
(Without extra infos for example: address; email etc.) and that failed too so based on this
the automatically exported files must be broken by default.

[Aga-C]

Can you send an example of a non-working VCF file (anonymized)?

[hetszunyukapanyanyimonyok]

@Aga-C
Hi! I have uploaded it in tresorit because GitHub does not support this file format if you need it I can email it or any solution that you have.

https://web.tresorit.com/l/JVxKp#_tBTZOJv6oTr0PAapeHLhw

[Aga-C]

Thanks! It looks that you got JSON exported instead of VCF. It surely needs to be fixed.

[naveensingh]

The feature was originally added at SimpleMobileTools/Simple-Contacts#998
and SimpleMobileTools/Simple-Commons#1739 but I have no idea why the contacts were exported in JSON.

@Merkost Do you remember why it was done that way or was it just a mistake? Sorry for the ping :)

[Merkost]

The feature was originally added at SimpleMobileTools/Simple-Contacts#998
and SimpleMobileTools/Simple-Commons#1739 but I have no idea why the contacts were exported in JSON.

@Merkost Do you remember why it was done that way or was it just a mistake? Sorry for the ping :)

Hi there,
Json is used for app backups. It's standardized within all Simple apps.
Vcf's are used for basic contract exports.
The vcf format doesn't support the app's custom fields, that's why the backup is in this format.

[hetszunyukapanyanyimonyok]

@Merkost Hi, sorry my two cents question:
Than why the manual export is in simple .vcf format and works when imported?
(with hidden fields too)

[Merkost]

@Merkost Hi, sorry my two cents question:
Than why the manual export is in simple .vcf format and works when imported?
(with hidden fields too)

It will work, as the hidden fields are not custom ones

[HarriBuh]

Yes, this one here is an old bug from SimpleTools. I remember several opened issue threads about it (including mine) and it hasn't been tackled ever since.

[naveensingh]

Since VCF is a well-known file format, it makes sense for automatic backup exports to be in that format.

[abdo2048]

Hi, I wanted to open new issue but maybe I could mention my problem here and I will open new issue if you need me to do so.
As I understand, Automatic Backup Feature should backup the contacts (whether in vcf or json format as in this discussion) when a new contact is added, right?
But the Automatic Backup Feature doesn't work with me at all! No files exported (vcf or json).

What I tried but the automatic backup didn't do anything:

1. Adding new contact using Fossify Contacts app to my Samsung email.
2. Adding new contact using Fossify Contacts app to my phone storage (which is not visible to other apps)
3. Adding new contact using Samsung Contacts app to my Samsung email.
4. Changed the path/folder of backup.

Device info
OS: Android 14 (Samsung - One UI v6.0)
App version: 1.0.1

[Aga-C]

@abdo2048 Automatic backup runs once a day.

[abdo2048]

@Aga-C Sorry, I didn't know that.
I think it would be better to show this piece of info in the app, I mean a phrase should be written in Settings under BACKUPS section that indicates the backup happens one time each day.
And I believe adding the flexibility of choosing when to backup (Scheduling backups) would be great too.
Thank you so much.

[franco-bez]

Since VCF is a well-known file format, it makes sense for automatic backup exports to be in that format.

aggreed.

what make me wonder is that the "fix" was implemented in January, but the bug is still there in July.