How can I delete my address book data

Running Lion. I've read in several post that the data file is in home folder/library/application support/AddressBook.
To test this I set up a temporary user account, added a few contacts to the address book, quit the application, deleted the entire AddressBook folder and contents in home folder/library/application support/AddressBook, re-launched Address Book and the new contacts I just created are still there.
I quit address book, deleted this same folder and contents again, this time also deleted all address book preference files in library/preferences, re-launched address book and the new contacts are still there.
Anyone know where the data file is really kept? In a brand new user account there aren't many files in home folder/library so it shouldn't be too hard to find but I sure can't seem to.
Any help would be appreciated.
PS. For those who want to know "why". I believe my daughter's Mac has a corrupt address book data file so I want to start over "fresh" but can't seem to locate where the true data file is.
Thanks,

"Perhaps for recovery or  sync, don't know"
This was just a possible but the sync part of it really isn't possible in this case. In setting up a new temporary account on my Mac it would be an account without an iCloud or MobilMe account so there would be no syncing involved.
Address Book data for each user's account will be stored only within that users account. The fake contacts I've created in the temporary user account certainly don't show up in any other account.
Your behaviour "if I delete the files mentioned, there is absolutely nothing left." is exactly what I would expect. Just can't figure out (yet) what's going on, on my Mac because this expected behaviour is not happening.

Similar Messages

  • How can I retrieve my address book data??

    I have an old Palm V.  My hotsync cable is bad, it won't sync any more.  And it won't charge the palm, which has been out of charge for, oh, maybe a year.
    So I've still used the Palm Desktop program, to keep track of my telephone numbers, etc.   Well, my cat sprayed the pc, and I had to get a new one.  Meanwhile, with all the shorting out that happened, the program won't open right.  I copied what I thought were the user files, reinstalled Palm Desktop, and got the program open, HOWEVER, the user box comes up like it's a brand new user, and won't recognize when I paste the files to the directory!!
    How do I recover my address book?  I don't care about all the other data, but I NEED this stuff!
    Thanks in advance.
    Post relates to: Palm V
    This question was solved.
    View Solution.

    Yes, I have both those files.
    On a lark, I tried opening them through Open Office, AND I can see the data!   It's horribly arranged, but at least it's THERE.  So, problem solved, thank you!!
    Post relates to: Palm V

  • How can I get my address book data back?

    After upgrading to OS6, my address book has gone from almost a thousand entries to being totally empty.
    This is a *very* big deal for me bc I have no address book application on my PC.
    I had always assumed that if iTunes were backing up my iPod, that I would be able to restore from those backups, but now I cannot figure out how to tell iTunes to restore from a backup.   I've got a backup... just cannot restore from it.
    There's got to be a way.... and I'm probably looking right at it and not seeing it.

    It has been a very long time since I used 10.1.5 but Address Book data is not stored in a .plist file.
    The Address Book data should be located in an Addresses folder at Home > Library > Addresses.
    Locate this folder and with the Address Book application quit, move it back to the proper location.

  • How can I have 2 address books?

    Am new to Mac after microsoft. How can I have 2 address books, can it be done without opening another account?
    thanks.

    not sure if anyone found a solution to this but I found one at this link.
    http://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=33227
    I wiped my device to fix my problem before I found this, but it seems like this may solve this issue.
    this is comment 11 from the link provided.
    (In reply to comment #10)
    > It's not "fixed" for my users who have five instances of addresses on their BB.
    >  Is there a way to delete the redundant address stores from their devices
    > without wiping and reactivating?
    > thanks
    > Kevin
    While in the Address Book press the Menu and than Options. Just type in RSET
    (capital letters) and you'll be able to wipe out all your Desktops where the
    Wireless synchronization is Not available. You can keep intact the last Desktop
    where the Wireless Synchronization is Yes.
    Rasim Duric

  • How can I delete the purchased books list in iBook?

    How can I delete the purchased books list in iBook?

    Hi,
    Yes you are miss understanding the problem.  To clarify. The problem is not how to delete the book from a device, it is how to delete the puchase (i.e. the history).  You can hide it in your account settings, but you cannot delete it. So if you buy something on a shared account (i.e. a family account like mine), your children can see and download any of your puchases - forever.
    Some will say it's for your protection.  A bit like the shop looking after your receipt, so that you cannot lose it.
    However, I thought that as part of the data protection act, you could ask for this information kept about you to be deleted, but this doesn't apply to Apple purchases.  Believe me I've tried.

  • How can I sync the address book from Mail to my Address book?

    Ok, I open a new message and click on the Address Book icon in the new message to find my contacts on the address book, I choose the group I am looking for and the group has people on it that I have already deleted from my address book! How can I sync the address book from Mail to my Address book?

    It is using the same database on disk. You may have to re-launch Mail.

  • How can I delete a Downloaded book that doesn't go away ?

    How can I delete a Downloaded book that doesn't go away ?

    Back up all data.
    Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it, then copy it to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:
    ~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist
    Quit Safari.
    Select
    Go ▹ Go to Folder
    from the Finder menu bar. Paste into the text box that opens (command-V), then press return.
    A folder window should open with a file named "Bookmarks.plist" selected. Move the selected file to the Desktop, leaving the folder open.
    Relaunch Safari. It will open with the default set of bookmarks. Delete them all. Select
    File ▹ Import Bookmarks
    from the Safari menu bar. Import from the bookmarks file you moved to the Desktop. Arrange the bookmarks as you wish.
    If Safari now performs normally, you can delete the old bookmarks file. Otherwise, quit Safari again and put back the file you moved, replacing the newer one with the same name. Close the Finder window and post again.

  • HT2486 how can I export the contact book data to a csv file for editing?

    how can I export the contact book data to a csv file for editing?

    You can edit a card right in Contacts. No need to export and re-import.
    Select a name and on the right side, click the Edit button:

  • My iPhone is stolen. How can I get my address book back from the iCloud? I should have synchronized my iPad address book. However, I loss some recent contacts from iPhone.

    My iPhone is stolen. How can I get my address book back from the iCloud? I should have synchronized my iPad address book. However, I loss some recent contacts from iPhone.

    I use my iPad to get the address book backed up by iCloud from my iPhone. However, I cannot see the recent new contacts from my iPad. Is there anyway to check the iCloud server to see if my address book backup from my iPhone is still there?

  • How can I get the address book to sort by "Last" name (using v 31.3.0).

    After a computer crash, I had to load Thunderbird (v31.3.0) back into my machine running Windows 8.1, and I successfully imported my address book back up file into Thunderbird (v31.3.0).
    My problem is that I don't see an option to sort the address book by "Last" name, which was available with the version of Thunderbird I had before the crash.
    How can I get the address book to sort by "Last" name?

    In 'Address Book'
    Select address book
    'View' > 'Show name as' > 'Last/First'
    The you can sort by Name.
    Either click on 'Name' column header to change sort order,
    If reversed, then click on 'Name' column header again to reverse the order.
    Or
    'View' > 'Sort By' > choose 'Name' and 'Ascending'

  • How can I synch the Address Book on my Mac to the Contacts on my iPad (or, can I setup Address Book on my iPad?)

    How can I synch the Address Book on my Mac to the Contacts on my iPad (or, can I setup Address Book on my iPad?)

    Selected under the Info tab for your iPad sync preferences with iTunes.
    With such a question, you should spend some time with the user guide.
    http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/ipad_user_guide.pdf

  • How can I import my address book from aol and hotmail email to my iphone

    How can I import my address books from my aol and hotmail accounts to my Iphone4?

    First you must import them to your computer, and then sync your iPhone to your computer.
    http://www.juliakm.com/transferring-aol-address-book-apple039s-address-book
    http://email.about.com/od/windowslivehotmailtips/qt/Export_Contacts_Email_Addres ses_from_Windows_Live_Hotmail.htm

  • How can I import my address book from spicebird to thunderbird?

    I changed from Spicebird to Thunderbird for my email account. How can I import the address book from Spicebird to Thunderbird?

    did you follow the instruction on the spicebird web site http://spicebird.org/migration.html if you did your address book. settings and mail would all transfer without issue as the underlying formats are basically the same.

  • How can I delete the Click Book menu

    I have an irratating Click Book menu that I cannot delete and don't wish to use.  How can it be deleted?  I have Windows 7 installed. 

    How can you delete my clip book off the screen, as its taken a fair proportion of it. 

  • I have been forced to join Qwest email.  Is there a way I can get back to mail?  If not, how can I import my address book to Qwest?

    I have been "forced" to join Qwest email.  Is there a way I can get back to used Mail?  If not, how can I import my Address Book to Qwest email?
    carolfromwhitebearlake

    It sounds like you use Quest as your ISP, or whoever you have as your ISP is being taken over by Quest. If this is the case it is possible that your email server is being transitioned to Quest and you will need to change your email address and server settings.
    I am only speculating since I do not have enough information. I suggest calling your ISP or Quest and ask their help desk about this.

Maybe you are looking for