Support

What are the differences between Nobex Contacts and Apple Data Detectors?

Both technologies are targeting the same - making it easier for the user to extract information from the screen. The main two differences, we believe, are the user experience and the technology behind the feature. In terms of the user experience, we found from our users that the fact that our technology works in the background, and automatically pops up a notification, is a major plus - because typically, when you open an email, you focus on reading it, replying to it, etc., and do not remember to save the contact information. Then, later, when you need it, it is a pain to find it in the older emails. Like with many other products, a background agent that prompts the user when there is something to tell him makes the product more useful. The other difference is the technology. It seems that the approaches are different and that the Nobex Contacts technology is more flexible and identifies a wider range of possibilities. Our technology page details how we do this.

When does the notification pop up?

The automatic notification pops up 3 seconds after you open an email with a signature block. The analysis takes a fraction of that time (you can see how much at the bottom of the notification).

If a notification did not pop up, can I manually start the process?

Typically, there is no need. But if you have an email that the notification did not pop up for, you can click the ToolBar button to initiate the analysis of the message. This, at the minimum, will pop up a new contact with the email address of the sender. You can then also click the Improve Results button, and a screen will come up that allows you to mark the specific region with the contact information. In most cases, though, this is not required.

When I try to use Nobex Contacts for Microsoft Outlook, why do I see a message that the trial period has ended?

The free trial version works for 30 days and allows you to save up to 10 automatically found Contacts. If you bought the product from us, you should have received a purchase confirmation email with a license key that has no limitations. Please open the purchase confirmation email and click the "New Contact from Message" button and Nobex Contacts for Microsoft Outlook will process the license key automatically. Alternatively you can copy the key from the purchase confirmation email into the Options screen of Nobex Contacts for Microsoft Outlook.

When I try to use Nobex Contacts for Microsoft Outlook, why do I see a message that the license key is wrong?

Please check in the Options screen that both the User Email Address and License Key are exactly the same as those in your purchase confirmation email.

What is this "signature block" or "contact info" that Nobex Contacts looks for?

Many emails have a "signature block" at the end, made up of the sender's full name, email address, and often such additional items as the company name, postal address and phone/fax numbers. You often want to create a Contact in your Address Book with this information. Nobex Contacts automatically looks for this information and classifies it into the right fields in the Contact - no more manual cut-and-paste needed.

But people build their signatures in all sorts of ways, how does that affect it?

Our unique technology deals with all that. We use sophisticated algorithms to decide what"s what in the signature - just as your brain does when you read it. We normally manage pretty well any reasonable signature, with or without any of its possible parts.

I have an email with a signature but Nobex Contacts did not find the information in it. Why did it fail and can I do something about it?

As is always the case with technology that deals with free text, there will be cases where the algorithm did not find all the information that was there. You can review the Contact before saving it in your Address Book, and add anything that was missed. Or you can use the "Improve Results" button that comes up at the top of the Contact screen. This allows you to select the signature block in the original email and try again - sometimes a bit of help in showing the algorithm where to look solves the problem. Be sure to include everything you want it to look for, starting with the sender's full name.

Can I tell it where to look?

When you click the "New Contact from Message" button, the program opens a Contact screen with all the details it could find. If needed, you can then use the "Improve Results" button that comes up at the top of the Contact screen. This allows you to select the part you want it to look at and try again - sometimes a bit of help in showing the algorithm where to look solves the problem. Be sure to include everything you want it to look for, starting with the sender's full name.

What happens if there's no signature block?

Many emails have no signature block. We will still build a Contact for you with any information we can find anywhere, such as the sender's name and email address. Often this is enough for you not to lose an important contact.

All I need is the name and email of the sender - can Nobex Contacts help me?

Almost any email you receive contains the sender's name and email address. Click the button and Nobex Contacts will create a Contact for you with at least that information. Often this is enough for you not to lose an important contact.

Does it work for emails in languages other than English?

Yes, although somewhat less reliably than in English. You can expect it to find many signature blocks in foreign-language emails too. If it doesn't, remember that you can use the "Improve Results" button that comes up at the top of the Contact screen. This allows you to select the signature block in the original email and try again - sometimes a bit of help in showing the algorithm where to look solves the problem. Be sure to include everything you want it to look for, starting with the sender's full name.

Which versions of Microsoft Outlook does Nobex Contacts support?

Nobex Contacts has been tested with Microsoft Outlook versions 2000, 2002 (Office XP), 2003 and 2007.

Where do I see the toolbar buttons in Outlook 2007?

In Outlook 2007, you should be able to see our buttons in a toolbar on the main screen. When you open a message, our buttons can be found in the Add-Ins ribbon. The automatic notification works just in any other version of Outlook and should pop up 3 seconds after you open an email with a signature block.

Sometimes when I save a new contact, Outlook tells me that this is a duplicate. Why is this happening and what should I do?

Outlook tries to prevent you from creating duplicate contacts by mistake. If the contact you are saving contains a name or email address which already exists, you will see this message. The message provides various choices on how to continue. You may: (1) Add this as a new contact anyway, or (2) Update new information from this contact to an existing one. The second option is selected by default. If you would prefer to do neither simply press Cancel. You can then close the contact screen without saving by selecting File+Close from the menu or clicking on the Close button (the little X) at the top right.

Sometimes when I update new contact information to an existing contact, Outlook exclaims: "The text or attachments in the current contact's message body will not be copied to the existing contact. If you wish to keep the new message body information, select Cancel and make a copy of it. If you don't need the new information, select OK". What does this mean and what should I do?

The term "current contact's message body" is Outlook-speak for the Notes displayed for the current contact. Since you asked to update this information to an existing contact, Outlook is calling attention to the fact that these Notes will not be written to the existing contact. Since this is usually fine, pressing OK is usually the best way to proceed.