Google claims Gmail can import contacts from various programs, which is working because they accept 'various common names' for data fields. However, when I've wanted to import contacts from Excel spreadsheet, I've found out that it isn't as easy as it should.
I've named fields according to 'common sense' notation: first name, last name, name, e-mail, phone. E-mail got imported, name also, but other fields where added to 'notes'. I've tried to google out to which names the import react but I've found no tip. It seems that Google simply have implemented support for various popular formats, so if you want to prepare your own CVS file, you should apply to one of this formats. I've gone this way, using Gmail contacts export format. E-mail fields is named "E-Mail 1 - Value", phone - "Phone 1 - Value" (you can use numbers from 1 to 3). Additionally you need to specify e-mail and phone type: "Mobile" for cellular phone, "Other" for other, "Home" for 'home' email.
First I've formatted in such way the phone and it got imported. But when I've formatted e-mail, e-mail got imported, but not the phone. What was the cause? I was specifying value first, then type, and it seems google's import mechanism needs a bit stricter format. So finally, the works-for-me solution was:
- Given Name - the first name
- Family Name - the surname
- Name - the displayed name
- E-Mail 1 - Type - "Home" (or "Other")
- E-Mail 1 - Value - e-mail
- Phone 1 - Type - "Mobile"
- Phone 1 - Value - phone number
- Notes - additional info about contact
