OL2000: Cannot Import a Vcard File

If you attempt to import a vCard file using the Import and Export Wizard you may receive the following error message: If you double-click the vCard file in a mail message or double-click the file from Windows Explorer, it opens without error as a contact item.

The Import and Export Wizard uses very strict parsing instructions when determining the correct vCard file format. You can encounter the error above when the vCard file does not strictly adhere to the correct format.

You can demonstrate this problem by inserting white space after the colon in the "BEGIN:VCARD" text string on the first line of the vCard file. Since this is an invalid format, the Import and Export Wizard does not import the file.

Use the following workarounds to save the information as a contact item:

• Double-click the vCard file to open it as a contact item, and save it as a contact.
• Drag the file onto your Contacts folder in the Folder list.
• Drag the file onto your Contacts shortcut on the Outlook Bar.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Outlook 2000.