Importing vCard to Excel is essential to consolidating and organizing contact information in a spreadsheet format, sorting and filtering data, as well as taking full advantage of Excel’s analysis and reporting tools.
In this Excel tutorial, you will learn to import a vCard file to Excel.
Consider a vCard or VCF file named Alberto Ria. We import the vCard file to an Excel spreadsheet.
What is a vCard file?
A vCard file, also known as VCF (Virtual Contact File), is a standardized electronic business card format. It contains contact information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and other details. vCard files are commonly used for sharing and transferring contact information between electronic devices and applications.
A Vcard or VCF looks like the following image.
2 Ways to Import vCard File to Excel
Considering some sample vCard files, we will import the vCard files to Excel by applying 2 approaches:
1. Using Text Import Wizard Tool
By using the Text Import Wizard tool, you can import the vCard file to Excel.
To use the Text Import Wizard tool in Excel, there are two approaches:
1.1 Importing Vcard File Directly
You can import a vCard file directly by opening a VCF file. The worksheet name will be updated automatically based on the vCard name.
To import the vCard file using the Open menu:
- To select a VCF file, go to File tab > Open menu > Browse command.
- Select All Files as file type then select the file you want to import.
- Now, click on the Open command.
Here, we select the VCF file of Alberto Ria.
- So, the Text Import Wizard- Step 1 of 3 dialog box will appear. Click on the Next command.
- Next, the Text Import Wizard- Step 2 of 3 dialog box will show up. Check the delimiters you want to split and click the Next command.
Here, we check the Tab, Semicolon, and used colon(:) in the Other field.
- Finally, the Text Import Wizard- Step 3 of 3 dialog box will appear. Click the Finish command.
As a result, we will be able to import the vCard files to Excel.
As a result, we will be able to import the vCard files to Excel.
1.2 Copying Data from Text File and Applying Text to Columns Feature
Another way to apply the Text Import Wizard feature is to use the Text to Column command. In this case, you must copy text from a plain text file. Here’s how:
- Copy texts from the Notepad by pressing Ctrl + C keys.
- Paste the texts wherever you want. Then click as follows: Data tab > Data Tools group > Text to Columns command.
Here, we paste the text in the A1 cell and it splits to the A1:A7 range.
After that Text Import Wizard will appear. By following the previous method, you will be able to import the vCard file to Excel.
2. Using Power Query Tool
For importing vCard or VCF files, you can also use the Excel Power Query tool. It also updates the worksheet name automatically considering the vCard name.
To import a vCard file to Excel using the Power Query tool:
- Click as follows: Data tab > Get & Transform group > From Text/CSV command.
- Next, the Import Data dialog box will appear. So select the All Files option > VCF file > Import command.
Here we select the Alberto Ria vCard file.
- Alberto Ria.VCF file will show up in the Power Query Editor. So, select the file.
- Now go to the Home tab > Split Column drop-down > By Delimiter command.
- Split Column by Delimiter dialog box will appear and select the delimiter. Then click on the OK command.
- The data is shown in separate columns based on a delimiter. So click the Close & Load command to export to a new worksheet.
As a result, you will be able to import the data of the vCard file to a new Excel worksheet.
As a result, you will be able to import the data of the vCard file to a new Excel worksheet.
Common Errors While Importing vCard File to Excel
Importing vCard files may result in errors because of structures and malfunctions of the VCF files. Some typical errors you may face are as follows:
- Unsupported Versions: Excel doesn’t support every vCard version. For instance, vCard 2.1, and vCard 3.0 are compatible versions to ensure a successful import.
- Incompatible Format: If the file doesn’t have .VCF format, Excel will be in trouble to open it.
- Oversized Files: When the file is extremely large, it is difficult for Excel to open those files. For improved compatibility, you can divide the files into smaller portions.
- Older Excel Versions: Make sure your Excel version supports the import of vCard files. Older versions may not have the same capabilities as newer versions.
- Missing Data: Verify that all of the information in the vCard file is accurate and full. Excel will not be able to import the data successfully if your vCard file has any empty or missing fields.
Benefits of Importing vCard File to Excel
The benefits of importing vCard files to Excel are as follows:
- Data Organization: Importing the vCard file to Excel is helpful since it is centralized and manages data in a single spreadsheet.
- Bulk Entries: In the case of bulk entries, it is error-free because human touch is absent here.
- Filtering and Sorting: Excel has robust features for data management such as sorting and filtering. Based on criteria, data can be populated.
- Easy viewing and editing: Excel facilitates us to view and edit contact information in a more structured and organized way compared to other applications.
- Easy Data Sharing: Excel files are widely used and maintain standard format. So it is easier to share contact details. Even you can back up and recover when it is required.
- Presentation and Customization: Excel offers numerous customized choices for data organization and presentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What’s on a vCard file?
A vCard contains contact information, such as titles, phone numbers, and email addresses.
2. Are the vCard file and VCF file the same?
Yes, the terms “vCard file” and “VCF file” refer to the same thing. “VCF” stands for “Virtual Contact File” and it is the file extension of vCard files. Both terms are used interchangeably to describe files containing electronic business card information, such as contact details, in a standardized format.
3. Can I automate the import of vCard files into Excel?
Yes, you can use Excel macros to automate the import process for vCard files, making it more efficient for repetitive tasks.
Download Excel Worksheet
Download the free Excel worksheet and practice yourself.
Conclusion
In short, we explained 2 easy ways to import a vCard file to Excel. The Text Import Wizard and Power Query tool are useful for importing vCard or VCF files to Excel. Feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions in the comment section along with queries.
Knowledge Hub: Import vCard to Excel
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