10.4: Create a classification feature in Address Book

Jan 03, '06 05:57:00AM

Contributed by: Anonymous

Tiger only hintEver since I started using Address Book, I have wanted to be able to use some kind of feature classification of records (like enum types in Java/C, or value lists in File Maker). Using Smart Groups and a previous hint on Mac OS X Hints, I managed to set up an acceptable system.

It's not perfect (for example, I have not been able to get iSync to understand Smart Groups), but it works reasonably well.

Here's how I did it...

  1. Set up a category field:
  2. Choose categorisation labels:
  3. Set up Smart Groups:
  4. Categorising your records:
Bonus hint #1: If you are unsure if you have categorised all records, create a Smart Group with criteria that excludes all records containing any of the labels.

Bonus hint #2: If you do not want to have all records in Address Book on your iSynced device (cell phone, iPod, ...), you can have a separate 'stupid' group in Address Book, for example called 'My Cell Phone.' Before iSyncing, empty that group, and then drag-and-drop (or copy-and-paste) the contents of the relevant Smart Groups to 'My Cell Phone.' Then restrict the iSyncing to that group.

[robg adds: I haven't tested this one...]

Comments (10)


Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20051226142158131