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Customizing default empty database

As you might have noticed, Open Contacts is very much customizable. You may customize predefined field names, predefined sections and preferences. In addition, most settings of customization are stored in the database.

Predefined fields

By default, predefined telephone field is named as "Phone", and you can change it to  "Tel" if you prefer, as long as you make sure the field type is "phone" and the field action is "phone". You can change it to "téléphone" for French, or "telefono" for Italian, etc.

Predefined sections

Predefined sections give you groups of predefine fields in order to quickly add fields of logical groups. Fields in predefined sections don't have to be predefined fields. After customizing or translating predefined fields, it is natural to translate predefined sections, and change settings of the "New Contact" tab of the Options window.

Settings in the Options window

• Birthday field in tab "General". This setting is for the "Search Birthday" function. For example, make it be "Geburtstag" for German.
• Settings in tab "New Contact".
• Some settings in tab "Map Services". It is common to change "Default Location" and "Road Types". Generally it is better to add more road types separated by comma, rather than to translate the types, because, you might need to record address info in English for addresses in English speaking countries. In addition, you may change the default location to your country.

Categories

Define some basic commonly used categories for individuals and organizations.

Remark:

Alternatively, you may export the database into an XML file with all settings, then translate the XML file, and import the XML file back to the database to overwrite settings. Please follow these steps:

1. Prepare an almost empty database with only one record.
2. Change the Options settings accordingly for custom habits of your nation.
3. Select the only one record and Export to XML with Options, and make sure that "Categories" and "Settings" are checked.
4. Translate the XML file.
5. Import the XML file.