Use Greasemonkey to extract your Facebook Phonebook

by anonymous

7/19/2010 UPDATE: There is a BRAND NEW version of the script available on Userscripts here.

10/12/2009 UPDATE: Added fixes from Marcel Chastain

UPDATE: It looks like the version that got uploaded was missing a * in the trigger URL! That might be the issue everyone is having.


UPDATE: Video of the process: fbimport

Facebook’s API + FBConnect is great but it has some severe limitations. Notably, it doesn’t expose all the functionality available on the Facebook  site. Tonight in particular, I wanted to be able to copy a dump of my friends’ names and phone numbers off the site to load into a fresh cell phone. Unfortunately, looking at the API this isn’t possible.

Never fear – Greasemonkey provides enough of a hook into Firefox that it would be possible to write a UserScript to accomplish this.

Continuing beyond this point is probably against the Facebook TOS and will probably severely void your warranty.

You have been warned.

The following describes how to use this userscript to extract your Facebook “Phonebook”. It produces of a CSV of your friends’ names and phone numbers. Fair warning – this is a rough prototype and does almost no error handling. Also, since the “Phone” field is a free text field I can’t promise people will have formatted their numbers in any sane fashion. But either way it’s a good start to revering lost numbers.

So here is what you need to do to use the script:

1. Install Greasemonkey – https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/748

2. Follow these instructions to install the script – http://userscripts.org/about/installing

Edit: The script is also on Userscripts at http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/43681

3. Navigate over to http://m.facebook.com/friends.php? (You’ll have to login)

4. Answer yes to the prompt and sit back – the script will move through your phonebook and eventually dump you a CSV of the results.

5. Copy/Paste the CSV wherever you want.

6. Un-install the Greasemonkey script.

So that’s it, one less walled garden to worry about. And hopefully one less “I lost my cellphone!” event/group on facebook!

The script:

Facebook Phonebook Exporter

// ==UserScript==
// @name           fb phonebook
// @namespace      setfivefb
// @description    Scrapes your Facebook friend's phone #s and optionally email addresses. Login to http://m.facebook.com/ and navigate to http://m.facebook.com/friends.php?a&rf6e4c397&refid=5
// @include        http://m.facebook.com/*
// ==/UserScript==

var s = document.createElement('script');
s.src = 'http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.4.2/jquery.min.js';
s.type = 'text/javascript';

document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0].appendChild(s);

s.addEventListener('load', function(){
  jQuery = unsafeWindow['jQuery'];
  jQuery.noConflict();

  var queryString = unsafeWindow["window"].location.search;

  if( queryString.indexOf("sfScraper") > 0 ){

	  var localStorage = unsafeWindow['localStorage'];
	  var scrapeWhat = JSON.parse( localStorage.getItem("sfScrapeWhat") );

	  if( scrapeWhat.emailsDone ){
		  extractEmailandPhones();
		  return false;
	  }

	  if( scrapeWhat.phone ){
		  scrapePhoneContacts();
		  return false;
	  }

	  if( scrapeWhat.email ){
		  scrapeEmailContacts();
		  return false;
	  }

	  return false;
  }

  if( jQuery("b:contains('Everyone')").length ){

	  var localStorage = unsafeWindow['localStorage'];
	  localStorage.removeItem("sfStoredContacts");
	  localStorage.removeItem("sfScrapeWhat");
	  localStorage.removeItem("sfContactLinks");

	  jQuery("#title").after("
" + "What do you want to save?
Phonenumbers Phonenumbers and Emails" + "  
" + "
"); jQuery("#sf-scrapeBtn").click( function(){ var scrapeWhat = { phone: false, email: false, emailsDone: false }; jQuery("#sf-scraperFrm input:checked").each( function(){ if( jQuery(this).val() == "p" ){ scrapeWhat.phone = true; }else if( jQuery(this).val() == "e" ){ scrapeWhat.email = true; } }); localStorage.setItem("sfScrapeWhat", JSON.stringify(scrapeWhat)); if( scrapeWhat.phone ){ scrapePhoneContacts(); } if( scrapeWhat.email ){ scrapeEmailContacts(); } return false; }); }else{ jQuery("#marquee_tabs").after("
You need to switch to the Friends -> 'Everyone' tab for the scrapper to become active.
"); } }, false); function extractEmailandPhones(){ var contacts = localStorage.getItem("sfStoredContacts"); var contactLinks = JSON.parse( localStorage.getItem("sfContactLinks") ); if( contacts == null ){ contacts = [ ]; }else{ contacts = JSON.parse( contacts ); } var name = jQuery(".section_title:first").text(); var email = jQuery("td:contains('Email:')").next("td:first").text(); var phone = jQuery("td:contains('Mobile Number:')").next("td:first").text(); contacts.push( {"n": name, "p": phone, "e": email} ); localStorage.setItem("sfStoredContacts", JSON.stringify(contacts) ); jQuery(".section_title:first").after("
" + "Links left: " + contactLinks.length + "
"); if( contactLinks.length ){ unsafeWindow["window"].location = contactLinks.pop(); localStorage.setItem("sfContactLinks", JSON.stringify(contactLinks) ); return false; } var textArea = "Name,Phone,Email \n"; jQuery.each(contacts, function(i, val){ textArea += val.n + "," + val.p + "," + val.e + "\n"; }); jQuery("body").append(""); jQuery("#sf-fbContacts").val( textArea ); } function scrapeEmailContacts(){ var localStorage = unsafeWindow['localStorage']; var contactLinks = localStorage.getItem("sfContactLinks"); if( contactLinks == null ){ contactLinks = [ ]; }else{ contactLinks = JSON.parse( contacts ); } jQuery("tr[valign='top']").each( function(){ var url = "http://m.facebook.com" + jQuery(this).find("a:first").attr("href") + "&v=info&sfScraper=true"; contactLinks.push( url ); }); jQuery("#title").after("
" + "Saved: " + contactLinks.length + "
"); localStorage.setItem("sfContactLinks", JSON.stringify(contactLinks) ); if( jQuery("a:contains('Next')").length ){ var nextLink = jQuery("a:contains('Next')").attr("href") + "&sfScraper=true"; unsafeWindow["window"].location = "http://m.facebook.com" + nextLink; }else{ var scrapeWhat = JSON.parse( localStorage.getItem("sfScrapeWhat") ); scrapeWhat.emailsDone = true; localStorage.setItem("sfScrapeWhat", JSON.stringify(scrapeWhat) ); unsafeWindow["window"].location = contactLinks.pop(); localStorage.setItem("sfContactLinks", JSON.stringify(contactLinks) ); } return false; } function scrapePhoneContacts(){ var localStorage = unsafeWindow['localStorage']; var contacts = localStorage.getItem("sfStoredContacts"); if( contacts == null ){ contacts = [ ]; }else{ contacts = JSON.parse( contacts ); } jQuery("tr[valign='top']").each( function(){ var name = jQuery(this).find("a:first").text(); if( jQuery(this).find("a:contains('Call')").length ){ var number = jQuery(this).find("a:contains('Call')") .attr("href").replace("tel:", ""); contacts.push( {"n": name, "p": number, "e": ""} ); } }); jQuery("#title").after("
" + "Saved: " + contacts.length + "
"); localStorage.setItem("sfStoredContacts", JSON.stringify(contacts) ); if( jQuery("a:contains('Next')").length ){ var nextLink = jQuery("a:contains('Next')").attr("href") + "&sfScraper=true"; unsafeWindow["window"].location = "http://m.facebook.com" + nextLink; }else{ var textArea = "Name,Phone \n"; jQuery.each(contacts, function(i, val){ textArea += val.n + "," + val.p + "\n"; }); jQuery("body").append(""); jQuery("#sf-fbContacts").val( textArea ); } return false; }

Tags: , , , ,

34 Responses to “Use Greasemonkey to extract your Facebook Phonebook”

  1. Extract Your Phonebook From Facebook, At Your Own Risk Says:

    [...] Facebook’s API doesn’t let you do this, though, but you can do this with the help of a Greasemonkey script. We don’t recommend it, especially since it probably violates Facebook’s Terms of Service. If you’re planning to try it out anyway, you’ll need to install Greasemonkey first. The script is a bit of a rough hack, and the full instructions on how to use it are over here) [...]

  2. How to Extract Your Phonebook From Facebook, At Your Own Risk | 82123 Says:

    [...] Facebook’s API doesn’t let you do this, though, but you can do this with the help of a Greasemonkey script. We don’t recommend it, especially since it probably violates Facebook’s Terms of Service. If you’re planning to try it out anyway, you’ll need to install Greasemonkey first. The script is a bit of a rough hack, and the full instructions on how to use it are over here. [...]

  3. telperin Says:

    it says something like this when i try to install script in firefox:
    [Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80520003 (NS_ERROR_FILE_EXECUTION_FAILED) [nsIProcess.run]” nsresult: “0×80520003 (NS_ERROR_FILE_EXECUTION_FAILED)” location: “JS frame :: chrome://greasemonkey/content/utils.js :: launchApplicationWithDoc :: line 188″ data: no]

  4. peterc Says:

    same problem here… anyone can help?

  5. anonymous Says:

    It might be due to a Greasemonkey version discrepancy. Check to make sure you are running the latest release – 0.8.20090123.1

  6. peterc Says:

    i downloaded that version from mashable this morning… can i do something wrong?

  7. peterc Says:

    even when i try other greasemonkey scripts, it gives me an option to install automatically… this one doesnt :( i really need to make this work :(

  8. Extract Your Phonebook From Facebook, At Your Own Risk | Orange County Adobe Dreamweaver User Group Says:

    [...] Facebook’s API doesn’t let you do this, though, but you can do this with the help of a Greasemonkey script. We don’t recommend it, especially since it probably violates Facebook’s Terms of Service. If you’re planning to try it out anyway, you’ll need to install Greasemonkey first. The script is a bit of a rough hack, and the full instructions on how to use it are over here. [...]

  9. hey_tc Says:

    I don’t get how this is supposed to work. It installed ok but how do you run it? Just navigating to the phonebook page doesn’t seem to be triggering any action :-(

  10. Extract Your Phonebook From Facebook, At Your Own Risk | KGRAND ONLINE NEWS Says:

    [...] Facebook’s API doesn’t let you do this, though, but you can do this with the help of a Greasemonkey script. We don’t recommend it, especially since it probably violates Facebook’s Terms of Service. If you’re planning to try it out anyway, you’ll need to install Greasemonkey first. The script is a bit of a rough hack, and the full instructions on how to use it are over here. [...]

  11. anonymous Says:

    Hey guys give this a shot http://userscripts.org/scripts/review/43681

  12. Extract Your Phonebook From Facebook, At Your Own Risk | TechWeb Says:

    [...] Facebook’s API doesn’t let you do this, though, but you can do this with the help of a Greasemonkey script. We don’t recommend it, especially since it probably violates Facebook’s Terms of Service. If you’re planning to try it out anyway, you’ll need to install Greasemonkey first. The script is a bit of a rough hack, and the full instructions on how to use it are over here. [...]

  13. mate Says:

    doesnt work… i tried everything…

  14. Me Says:

    Could this script be modified to extract all the messenger addresses (Skype, MSN, …) of the friendlist?

  15. Google Voice Applications & Scripts | Ninja Blogging Says:

    [...] Import Facebook Contacts into your Google Voice Contacts (Script) Facebook’s API + FBConnect is great but it has some severe limitations. Notably, it [...]

  16. Jack Mo Says:

    It doesn’t work

  17. jason Says:

    You should just use sprnch.com it does this already. works on myspace twitter too.

  18. Marcel Chastain Says:

    2 changes needed to get this working.

    On line 9, change
    div[@class="lnav header"]
    to
    div[@class="nd header"]

    On line 10, change
    var desc = nodesSnapshot.snapshotItem(0).childNodes;
    to
    var desc = nodesSnapshot.snapshotItem(2).childNodes;

    That’s it!
    –mC

  19. Ashish Datta Says:

    thanks Marcel!

  20. Paul Aerison Says:

    I have installed the script and made the changes as noted by Marcel, but when I load http://www.facebook.com/friends/?filter=pfp nothing happens. GM says it’s enabled and there is a check next to the script. I verified that the above URL is in GM under manage scripts. Any ideas what I missed? This is my first GM script so keep that in mind.

  21. Jacopo Says:

    Paul , you are supposed to go to
    http://m.facebook.com/friends.php?

    and not to
    http://www.facebook.com/friends/?filter=pfp

  22. jamal Says:

    I used this script to create this bookmarklet tool that encapsulate all the above work and finally downloads the contacts directly as .CSV file. It does not need a firefox plugin or downloading a script. Check it out http://jamalpro.freehostia.com/fbphone.htm

  23. Esteban Says:

    Doesn’t work. Installed everything, but step 4 (‘Answer yes to the prompt and sit back’) doesn’t happen. Actually, it does nothing :((

  24. {5} Setfive – Talking to the World » Blog Archive » UPDATED: New Facebook Phonebook Script Says:

    [...] The original instructions for how to install the script are available here. [...]

  25. Rover Says:

    Nothing at all is happening in the new version. It just sits there on page 2. I’ve read the instructions…

  26. Marc.Quark Says:

    Same problem over here, stops on page two

  27. Full Movie Downloads Now Says:

    Now after which I’ll stumble across a post like this and I’ll recall that there quite are nevertheless useful pages on the web. ^_^. Thanks.

  28. jamie Says:

    hey,
    the script fails when you do phone and email
    phone works fine, hoerver the email does!
    really hope this gets sorted, as its a great script

  29. Nad Says:

    Same thing here.. it works for the phones only.. when trying for the emails, it stop at page 2…

  30. Gjeni Says:

    Even when i try to install the script i have failure. Pleeeease help me

  31. Pancho Says:

    Not working anymore, I think. There isn’t any tab of “Phonebook” in the mobile version of Facebook with the last greasemonkey script installed from here http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/43681. What can we do :( thanks

  32. originalbloog Says:

    Your website is great. Content is very beautiful. Thanks

  33. jogos Says:

    jogos…

    [...]{5} Setfive – Talking to the World » Blog Archive » Use Greasemonkey to extract your Facebook Phonebook[...]…

  34. Erick Says:

    This isn’t working :( Would love to have a script to easily add friends from Facebook to LinkedIn.

Leave a Reply