GUIDE
How to Fix Quoted-Printable Names in Old VCF Files
Older vCard 2.1 exports may use quoted-printable values. A parser that ignores the encoding can show equals signs, broken accents, or wrapped names.
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What you should know
Older vCard 2.1 exports may use quoted-printable values. A parser that ignores the encoding can show equals signs, broken accents, or wrapped names.
Before you begin
- Keep an untouched copy of the source export.
- Work on a small sample before changing a complete address book.
- Review the downloaded file before importing it elsewhere.
recognize the pattern
Quoted-printable values commonly include an ENCODING parameter and hexadecimal byte escapes. Line folding can split the encoded value across physical lines, so both rules must be handled together.
Decode a copy and inspect it
The repair workflow should preserve the original property semantics while decoding the display value. Check accented, Cyrillic, and Asian names individually rather than trusting one sample.
- Validate the source copy.
- Inspect encoding and folding warnings.
- Decode quoted-printable values in the output copy.
- Compare representative names with the original export.
When the source is already damaged
If a legacy export replaced bytes with question marks before you received it, decoding cannot recreate the original characters. Request a fresh export when accuracy matters.
Questions people ask
Does How to Fix Quoted-Printable Names in Old VCF Files change the original file?
No. The browser works with the selected copy and creates a separate download. Keep the original export as your rollback point.
What should I verify after How to Fix Quoted-Printable Names in Old VCF Files?
Compare counts and representative fields, validate the generated copy, and test a small import before processing a full address book.