Address Book in swirling rainbow mode

Question

I have tried to merge address cards but instead have sent address book into a swirling mess. I think it is trying to merge all information into all cards. Help Is there anyway I can undo my large error?
What I did was to highlight all 802 names in one of my groups and hit the drop down pane (the one that looks like a gear) and hit merge card choice. I was trying to merge duplicate cards. Have I ruined the entire address book? Thanks for any help. Pegs

Answer 1

Oh dear. Merge cards is for taking the data from two or more cards and making one card. Sometimes for example I have email details for someone in Address Book and phone details for them on my phone. When I do a sync (a handy way of backing up your phone!) I have them on two separate cards - so I select both and merge them. You have asked AB to make one card from more than 800 - no wonder it puts up the swirling pizza of death!
Try this (but I don't know if it will help in this case):
Quit Address Book.
In folder ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook drag file AddressBook.data to the desktop. Rename AddressBook.data.previous to AddressBook.data and restart AB. If it starts OK and your group has its 800 cards breathe a sigh of relief, otherwise quit AB again and repeat the drag/rename process, this time with AddressBook.data.beforesave.
Remember that Address book has a backup function!
The operation that you actually wanted in AB was Card/Look for Duplicate Entries. I have not used it recently, but the last time I looked it doesn't give you a lot of flexibility in dealing with them. I have an Applescript that I use for the purpose, as I have several apparent duplicates that are in fact separate contacts. If you would like a copy I will post it.
AK