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Backing up Apple’s iCal & Address Book data

Posted in AddressBook, Apple/Mac, Backup, Basic, How To, Mac help, OS X, Quick-tip, iCal | by jay - November 10th, 2006

A good thing to do prior to first synchronizing your calendars and address books with .Mac or Zimbra here’s how to back up Apple’s iCal & Address Book data in Mac OS X 10.4.

Backing up iCal:
First, launch iCal and select File > Back up Database:

ical backup

A window will appear in iCal requesting where to save the backup file to:

ical backup

This will create a backup file of iCal:

database ical

After creating your backup file, store it safely on an external hard drive or burn the data to CD/DVD. To recover from your backup file, simply navigate to File > Revert to Database Backup and select the backup file.

Backing up Address Book:
In Address Book, choose File > Back up Address Book. This will create a database record of all your Address Book contacts. If you ever need to restore from the backup, just launch Address Book and select File > Revert to Address Book Backup.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 10th, 2006 at 9:22 pm and is filed under AddressBook, Apple/Mac, Backup, Basic, How To, Mac help, OS X, Quick-tip, iCal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “Backing up Apple’s iCal & Address Book data”

  1. Mac Blog - Using Apple Macintosh Computers in Business & Home » Blog Archive » How to install the Zimbra iSync Connector Says:
    November 11th, 2006 at 7:27 pm

    [...] There’s also an option to reset your sync data, if needed.  Before resetting your data make sure you have backed up your calendar & address book data.  See Backing up iCal & Address Book data for help on this. [...]

  2. Genevieve Says:
    February 16th, 2007 at 11:11 am

    I have a problem with my address book. I already have a copy of my database on a cumputer. I want to transport this copy by network to save it in an other cumputer.
    I drag the copy on the desktop of the other cumputer. After, I open address book, I select “Revert to address book backup” and it doesn’t work. Actually, there is no database record in this computer, in this address book. Why the copy of my database, sent by network, can’t be revert to this address book backup???

    NEED HELP!
    Tanks you
    Geneviève

  3. Alex Says:
    April 23rd, 2007 at 3:33 am

    Thank You

  4. Rod Says:
    September 8th, 2007 at 11:26 am

    Genevieve,

    I had the same problem (I think) on my Macbook. Instead of reverting to the address book backup file, the computer would just ‘beep’ and show the same default addresses. I tried everything including deleting the preferences, etc. Finally, I ran Tiger Cache Cleaner and cleaned the cache (I just did a light cleaning), rebooted, and the problem was solved. Give it a shot and post your results.

    Hope this helps!

    -Rod

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