# Vdirsyncer with Claws Mail

First of all, Claws-Mail only supports read-only functions for vCards. It can only read contacts, but there’s no editor.

## Preparation

We need to install vdirsyncer, for that look here. Then we need to create some folders:

    mkdir ~/.vdirsyncer
    mkdir ~/.contacts

## Configuration

Now we create the configuration for vdirsyncer. Open `~/.vdirsyncer/config` with a text editor. The config should look like this:

    [general]
    status_path = "~/.vdirsyncer/status/"

    [storage local]
    type = "singlefile"
    path = "~/.contacts/%s.vcf"

    [storage online]
    type = "carddav"
    url = "CARDDAV_LINK"
    username = "USERNAME"
    password = "PASSWORD"
    read_only = true

    [pair contacts]
    a = "local"
    b = "online"
    collections = ["from a", "from b"]
    conflict_resolution = "b wins"

- In the general section, we define the status folder path, for discovered collections and generally stuff that needs to persist between syncs.
- In the local section we define that all contacts should be sync in a single file and the path for the contacts.
- In the online section you must change the url, username and password to your setup. We also set the storage to read-only such that no changes get synchronized back. Claws-Mail should not be able to do any changes anyway, but this is one extra safety step in case files get corrupted or vdirsyncer behaves eratically. You can leave that part out if you want to be able to edit those files locally.
- In the last section we configure that online contacts win in a conflict situation. Configure this part however you like. A correct value depends on which side is most likely to be up-to-date.

## Sync

Now we discover and sync our contacts:

    vdirsyncer discover contacts
    vdirsyncer sync contacts

## Claws Mail

Open Claws-Mail. Got to Tools => Addressbook.

Click on Addressbook => New vCard. Choose a name for the book.

Then search for the for the vCard in the folder ~/.contacts/. Click ok, and you we will see your contacts.

Note

Claws-Mail shows only contacts that have a mail address.

## Crontab

On the end we create a crontab, so that vdirsyncer syncs automatically every 30 minutes our contacts:

    contab -e

On the end of that file enter this line:

    */30 * * * * /usr/local/bin/vdirsyncer sync > /dev/null

And you’re done!