Pre-Mountain Lion, Address Book (now Contacts) had the ability to customize how phone numbers were displayed based on matching a pattern. I had several definitions, because I deal with phone numbers in many countries. Also, I prefer periods instead of dashes or slashes to split up pieces of the phone number.
But, I can't find that functionality any more. Has any one else seen it?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2)
It seems to be gone. Apple giveth and Apple taketh away. Again.
I too am frustrated with this change and even more frustrated that I can't find any information about Contacts app on the Apple Support pages.
Mountain Lion now seems to format all phone numbers automatically (as does iOS). In ML this is done by the "PhoneNumbers.framework" which stores all the formatting rules for all countries in a single (binary) file (/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/PhoneNumbers.framework/Versions/A/Resources/ Default.phoneformat).
You could try to remove/rename that file to see what happens (though code signing might not like you changing that file) or even to change the file itself to have the formats be according to your liking (though the format of that file is somewhat messy…).
Andreas
same here, don't understand why....
I have an Applescript that permanently reformats numbers but 10.8 broke it and I don't have the time to update it. That might be a solution, unless Apple has changed the guts and numbers are no longer stored formatted.
I noticed the same thing. Apple has removed a user option from Address Book in the transition to the new Contacts in OS10.8, and this conforms to the lack of configurability in iOS.
This is absurd for many reasons, not the least being that no one any longer uses parentheses in rendering phone numbers -- least of all on mobile phones which do not distinguish between local and long distnace calls.
This was simply a mistake on Apple's part, and I hope that they will walk it back in a future update. Both OS X and iOS should allow the user to decide how to format each phone number for all contacts.
I suggest that those who agree send feedback on this point to Apple.
Skeets, I still use parentheses
Just found this thread after noticing that Contacts seemed to take all the spaces out of UK phone numbers (even though the iPhone retained them for the same contacts). I managed to get the spacing back by Preferences > General and changing the Address Format to United Kingdom. They all came back automatically, didn't have to manually edit them. Hope that helps!
If you add the country code with a + sign, then the numbers stay as you format them but with parentheses instead of spaces which I would prefer.
I have the same issue. With 10.7, I had all of my domestic phone numbers formatted as: nnn-nnn-nnnn
and now, with 10.8, all of my phone numbers are: (nnn) nnn-nnnn
I live in Denver, CO, and I have seen many locals use the European format: nnn.nnn.nnnn
It would be great if Apple could simply add a Phone Number formatting option to: Languages & Text in the System Preferences. One can already customize the Dates, Times, and Numbers for the entire operating system. Why not add Phone Numbers & Addresses here too?!
It doesn't let me use the periods with Canadian or UK formatting.
I was particularly annoyed by the "extension" formatting. If you use "extension", "ext" or "X" it removes all the spaces, which makes it unwieldy.
Solution: If you use "x" (lower case) then it will format properly as 1 (nnn) nnn-nnnn xNNN.
Solution: If you use "x" (lower case) then it will format properly as 1 (nnn) nnn-nnnn xNNN.
Unfortunately if you use +1 rather than 1 it reformats as +1 nnnnnnnnnnxNNN having stripped all of the spaces and dashes and paranthasises.
Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.
Has anyone found a solution to format phone numbers when printing the contact list???
I have found that the displayed number (nnn) nnn-nnnn is not necessarily the same as the printed number.
The printed number appears to be how you actually entered the number in the field.
So, if you entered the number in the field as nnnnnnnnnn it will display as (nnn) nnn-nnnn but it will print as nnnnnnnnnn.
Hope this helps.
Spent 4 hours with Apple technicians - actually got up to a supervisor after 4 hours. This is another bug in the 10.8.2 operating system. Just like when the contacts would not print in alpha order. Hopefully Apple will fix their bug.
LindafromPinehurst
Formatting phone numbers in Contacts?
