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CSVImport
CSV Import into iPhone Lockbox.
Introduction
This article describes how to use the CSV import feature of Lockbox.
Details
If you want to import passwords, card information or other sensitive information into Lockbox, you can do this by setting up one or more CSV files with extension .csv. These files need to be located in ~/Library/Lockbox on your iPhone or iPod touch. Depending on the firmware version, the home directory ~ refers to /var/root (until firmware 1.1.2) or /var/mobile (1.1.3 and beyond). You may use something like iPhoneList for transfering the files. If you go to the Lockbox options, you can find there the Import CSV File field. By tapping on the Import CSV File field you get to the Import CSV File view listing all available CSV files in ~/Library/Lockbox
As soon as you tap on one of the listed files, it gets imported. After import is complete, the file import.csv gets erased from the file system, i.e. it gets overwritten with zeros and then deleted.
CSV Format
The format of the CSV Files must be the following:
Type;Key;Value;Additional Info;Website;Exp.Date;Phone;Notes;Tags
Type is one of the following:
- Password
- Card
- Other
Depending on the Type the entries have the following meaning:
- Password
- Key is the Username
- Value is the Password
- Website is the website of the Password entry
- Note is a one- or multi-line note for the password
- Tags is a comma-separated list of tag names
- Card
- Key is the Cardname
- Value is the Card #
- Additional Info is the CCV field of the Card entry
- Exp. Date is the Exp Date of the Card
- Phone is a phone number associated with the Card
- Note is in same format as for the Password Type
- Tags is in same format as for the Password Type
- Other
- Key is the Description of the entry
- Value is the Secret
- Note is in same format as for the Password Type
- Tags is in same format as for the Password Type
Please note that only listed entries are used for the according entry Type. The other entries can be left empty.
Here is an example of a CSV file:
Password;dummy;my-dummy;;www.dummy.com;;;"Older Passwords: my-older my-newer some-other";Private Card;American Express;3750 000000 00000;1234;;31.12.2010;+49 (69) 9797-1000;http://www.americanexpress.com/germany;Business,Company Other;Social Security Number;99 123456 A 123;;;;;That's the SSN of Dummy Dough;Privat
Another tip: If you use Microsoft Excel, it will write out this format automatically when you save as .csv.
You can download this example as import.csv or as import.xls. The import.xls still contains a header line. Thus, when exporting import.xls as import.csv don't forget to delete the first line in import.csv.
Security
After a file is imported, Lockbox will zero the file out, and then delete it. However, due to journaling and the nature of NVFS, there will be traces of your plaintext left on the flash chips until the data is written over at some point in the future, but it will take a very talented person with good resources to recover such data. Depending on the thickness of the aluminum foil in your hat and the sensitivity of your data, you may or may not wish to use this feature.
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I'm having trouble importing even the default file above - from the spreadsheet. The header is removed and the file saved as a CSV. The format looks good in notepad, however you have semi colons as separators above (rather than commas) and a comma between Business and Company in the second row - which I thought might have thrown it off. Have tried both. Lockbox says it imports the file but nothing appears....
I got this to work by using Excel with the import.xls sample file. Then I added my own entries, deleted the header, and exported as cvs. I had to open the file with a text editor and replace all the commas with semicolons as it did not work with commas. I transferred the file to the phone in ~/Library/Lockbox and changed the permissions to 666. It imported fine. Not quite as simple as it could be, but much better than entering everything on the phone.
I could not get this to work when I used Cyberduck on a Mac to transfer the import.csv file to the iPhone, however when I used WinSCP on a PC, it worked. I don't know why.
Is there a way to make this app more friendly with KeePass?, KeePassX, or some other desktop app?
It would be nice to be able to be able to export from a desktop app and directly import into Lockbox.
My phone froze last night, and when I restarted and opened lockbox, all the data had been erased. Is this normal? I will definitely try this csv import tonight. I just wish it were easier. My iPhone is new and I love it. Just not alot of simple tools out there yet, and this is no exception.
I have tried everything suggested (file with commas or semicolons, chmod 666 or 777, winscp or putty) and I was not able to import the CSV file. Versions: Lockbox 0.71 - FW: 1.1.4. Thanks for that great program !
OK, I found the solution to my problem (see above comment). I did not structure my CSV file properly. Do not forget to put the semicolons where there are empty columns. So, the file ended up having the following structure for passwords:
Password;username;password;;website;;;note;
Don't forget to leave the ;;;
Ok, I was able to import the file at least it says successfully imported and deleted but the app itself is not showing any of my entries?? what is going on
I use splash id, and I'm able to export it, but how can I rename the colums in a fast way, since I have so many entries? This looks like a cool solution.
As far as I can tell, the CSV format (which is COMMA delimited!) DOES NOT WORK. As long as I use semicolons to separate the fields, everything works fine. The problem is, the semicolons are NOT a CSV format. If you use Excel togenerate teh CSV file, it will put commas in to separate the fields, and when you import it, you do not see anything. The solution is to use a straight text editor. Once the file has been created, you will have to save it with a CSV extension, even though it is not a CSV file (since it is semicolon delimited). This is a pretty fundamental flaw to the program. Nathan, if you are reading these posts, could you fix this bug?
Thanks for a nice program. However when I import a CSV file, it does not recognize Korean. I've saved the file as UTF-8 but still does not work. Hope you can change the program to support UTF-8. Thanks~ ;)
I was quarrelling a lot with this app recently - I use it very often. However after the last update all my data was lost which was really bad! maybe it occured because I swapped all the apps on the other partition with boss tool? Now I imported my about 80 entries with the csv option which worked fine (my excel (2004 version on a mac) does export with semicolons yet), I only had to change the access rights in order to (automatic) delete the file after importiing. I miss a few things: - What about a field for a title? It could be the only (bold!) visible array on the main screen or at least a constant field instead of once the website, once the cardname which is shown bold. - an option to sort the entries would be very nice - an option to overwrite double entries if they are identical (useful for importing the same but extended csv-file) - another key-field: key (for program-keys....) ..... or drop the different keys and leave all the fields and labels to the user) anyway... thanks - great app!!!
I just finished importing data using the import csv feature from SplashID on my blackberry. I had to change the ownership on the import file to mobile before the import would work. I used semi colon delimiters.
Features I would like to see are sort options and most importantly an export to csv function in case I change programs or phones again. I would hate to enter all values by hand more than once.