Knowledge Base:
How to Import contacts into Handheld Contact from the native address book
Posted by Craig S, Last modified by Craig S on 22 November 2022 02:55 PM

With the latest releases of Handheld Contact, the software has been fitted with an 'Import' option.  This Import will allow users to add contacts from the native address book into Handheld Contact and then to sync back to ACT!.  Below are the directions needed:

IMPORTANT:  If you are using a business card scanner (such as CamCard or Business Card Reader) you must scan the card and save the contact into your native address book first.  Also, Handheld Contact uses the international access code format.  This means that the '+' symbol is required when entering phone numbers.  If this '+' is ignored then importing and syncing to/from ACT! may not work successfully.  Also see this link for more '+1' phone number information.

iOS (iPhone and iPad) devices:

  1. Open Handheld Contact on the device.
  2. From the Dashboard screen, open the Menu and tap on Import/Export Contacts.  Choose 'Contacts Import'.
  3. If there is a pop-up asking to provide permissions, press Yes.
  4. Handheld Contact will scan the native address book and produce a list of contacts. 
  5. Use the Search tool to find the contacts to Import.
  6. Select the required contact(s) and tap on Import in the upper right corner.
  7. Handheld Contact will copy and create new records for these same contacts.  HHC will report how many were Imported
  8. You will be prompted to 'Sync Now' and 'Sync Later'.  We recommend choosing 'Sync now'.
  9. Open the HHC Contacts view and search for the newly added contacts.

Note:  If the selected contact(s) are potential duplicates within Handheld Contact a message will appear stating: "Possible Duplicate - Continue import for this contact?".  You would be provided with a Yes/No option.  Pressing Yes will create a potential duplicate within HHC.  Pressing No will cancel the Import process.

Android devices:

  1. Open Handheld Contact on the device.
  2. From the Dashboard screen, open the Menu and tap on Import/Export contacts.  Tap on Import icon in the top right of the screen.  This is the icon with the arrow pointing into the box.
  3. Handheld Contact will scan the native address book and produce a list of contacts. 
  4. If there was a business card scanned and saved prior to these steps, it would be the first contact on the list.
  5. Select the required contact(s) and tap on Import icon in the upper right corner.
  6. A pop up will appear asking 'Native contacts will be imported to Handheld Contact.  Continue?'.  Press Yes.
  7. When finished, Handheld Contact will show a message 'Importing contacts has finished.  Handheld Contact will now close'.  Press OK.
  8. Re-open Handheld Contact and tap on Contacts view and search for the newly added contacts.

Note:  If you try to Import a contact twice and it already exists within Handheld Contact, a message will appear stating "Duplicates found.  Select to import or cancel". The duplicate check for contacts happens on the fields 'First Name' AND 'Last Name' AND ('Phone Number' OR 'Email Address').