Adding Contacts from a Message to Contacts, and LibreOffice on the Mac, Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Adding a Phone Number to Contacts from a WhatsApp Message

Ali demonstrated how to locate a phone number within a WhatsApp message and add it to the iOS Contacts app.

Details
- Ali: Navigated to a WhatsApp message containing a phone number (226-999-5543), performed a double-tap and hold to access the context menu, and found the “Copy phone number” option.
- Ali: Noted that in this scenario, the number would typically be copied and pasted into an existing contact entry.
- Ali: Also demonstrated the “Add to contacts” option available in the long-press action menu on a WhatsApp message, which pre-fills the name based on the sender’s WhatsApp display name.
- Siena: Observed that WhatsApp pre-fills the first and/or last name based on the sender’s WhatsApp profile display name, and that some users include symbols in their display names.
Conclusion
- A phone number from a WhatsApp message can be added to contacts via the long-press context menu using the “Add to contacts” option.
- The “Sync contact to phone” toggle should be enabled to save the contact to the device’s Contacts app rather than only within WhatsApp.

Adding a Contact Card Shared via iMessage

Ali demonstrated how to add a contact card received in the iOS Messages app to the Contacts app.

Details
- Ali: Navigated to the Messages conversation containing Siena’s shared contact card.
- Ali: Described the multi-step process Apple now uses: flicking right from the message header reveals a phone number button, then an edit button, then the number itself, followed by options including “Create new contact” and “Add to existing contact.”
- Ali: Selected “Create new contact,” filled in the first and last name fields, and saved the entry.
- Ali: Clarified navigation: to reach the Done button efficiently, touching the top-left corner of the screen and flicking right avoids navigating through all keyboard keys.
Conclusion
- Contact cards received in iMessage can be saved via the contact card attachment, which presents a “Create new contact” or “Add to existing contact” option.
- Apple has made this a multi-step process; navigating to the Done button is most efficiently done by touching the top-left corner of the screen and flicking right.

Adding a Contact Card Shared via WhatsApp — Initial Attempt and Discovery

Ali attempted to add a contact card (Joe Schmoe) sent by Lily via WhatsApp but found no direct “Add to contacts” option in the context menu.

Details
- Lily: Created a fake contact (Joe Schmoe) with placeholder information and initially sent it to Ali via copy-paste in both Messages and WhatsApp.
- Ali: Explored the long-press context menu and the “More” button on the WhatsApp message but found no option to add the contact card directly.
- Macara: Suggested checking the “More” button, which Ali confirmed had already been activated without success.
- Ali: Theorized that Apple restricts third-party apps from directly accessing the Contacts list to add entries via shared cards.
- Lily: Added that WhatsApp requests contact sync permission upon setup, which handles most contact additions automatically.
Conclusion
- WhatsApp does not provide a direct context menu option to add a shared contact card to the iOS Contacts app.
- This is likely an intentional Apple privacy restriction on third-party app access to the Contacts database.

After the initial failure, Lily reshared the contact card using the proper share sheet method, which resolved the issue.

Details
- Lily: Explained she had originally used copy-paste from her Mac to send the contact card, which only copied the contact’s name as plain text.
- Ali: Instructed Lily to go to the Contacts app on her phone, find the Joe Schmoe entry, and use the Share button to send it directly to WhatsApp.
- Lily: Reshared the contact card via the Contacts app share sheet to WhatsApp.
- Ali: Upon receiving the properly shared card, found that activating the contact card in WhatsApp presented a “Create new contact” option with the full details (name, phone number) pre-filled.
- Siena: Confirmed that the copy-paste method only transfers the name, not the full contact data.
Conclusion
- Contact cards must be shared via the Contacts app share sheet (not copy-pasted) to transmit the full vCard data.
- Once properly shared, WhatsApp displays the contact card with a “Create new contact” option that includes all contact fields.

Technical Explanation: Contact Card File Format (CSV/vCard)

Ali provided a technical explanation of why copy-pasting a contact card does not work the same way as copying a standard file.

Details
- Ali: Explained that contact cards use a CSV (contact) format; to be shared or imported elsewhere, the file must first be exported, then imported at the destination.
- Ali: Noted that standard files (e.g., Word documents) can be pasted because they are standard attachment formats, whereas contact cards require export/import.
- Ali: Gave an example of exporting an iCloud contact list as a CSV and importing it into Google Contacts via the web interface.
- Lily: Summarized that the contact card behaves like an internal format that must be exported via the share function to work correctly.
- Siena: Thanked Ali for clarifying whether the CSV format is Apple-specific or universal, confirming it is a universal contact format.
Conclusion
- Contact cards use a universal CSV/vCard format that requires proper export (via share sheet) to be imported elsewhere.
- This format is cross-platform and can be used to migrate contacts between services such as iCloud and Google Contacts.

Future Topic Request: Adding a Phone Number from an Email

Liz raised a common use case not covered in the current session.

Details
- Liz: Described her current workaround of memorizing a phone number from an email in segments and manually entering it into a new contact, then returning to the email for the next digits.
- Ali: Acknowledged this as a separate topic and offered to cover it in a future session.
- Siena: Confirmed she would add it to the session reminders.
Conclusion
- Adding a phone number from an email to Contacts will be covered in a future Textravaganza workshop.

LibreOffice Writer on macOS — Overview and Document Navigation

Siena demonstrated LibreOffice on macOS, covering the start center, file opening, and VoiceOver-based document navigation.

Details
- Siena: Shared her screen and opened LibreOffice, walking through the Start Center options: Remote Files, Recent Documents, Templates, Writer Document, Calc Spreadsheet, Impress Presentation, Draw, Math Formula, and Base Database.
- Siena: Opened a .docx file (Sweet Caroline lyrics) from iCloud Drive, granting LibreOffice access to the Desktop folder, iCloud Drive, and Dropbox as prompted.
- Siena: Noted that LibreOffice on Mac can be finicky with VoiceOver; the document sometimes needs to be closed and reopened before it becomes properly readable.
- Siena: Demonstrated that standard arrow key navigation does not move the cursor as expected; instead, Control-Option-Left/Right Arrow (VoiceOver character/word navigation via the rotor) must be used to navigate within and edit text.
- Siena: Successfully edited a word (“growin’ strong”) using character-level rotor navigation, confirming editing is possible but requires this specific approach.
- Ali: Suggested that when VoiceOver left/right flicking moves between edit fields (each line treated as a separate field), interacting with the desired field and then using Control-Option navigation may be the most effective approach.
- Siena: Noted she would contact LibreOffice developers about improving VoiceOver support on Mac.
- Ali: Noted in chat that a link to the LibreOffice for Windows tutorial from the previous week should be added to the show notes.
Conclusion
- LibreOffice Writer is functional on macOS with VoiceOver but requires rotor-based character/word navigation rather than standard arrow keys.
- Each line/paragraph is treated as a separate edit field; users should interact with the target field before navigating within it.
- The Windows version was covered the previous week; the Mac version was demonstrated this session.

Document Creation Tool Preferences

Ali facilitated a brief discussion on preferred word processing tools while Siena was temporarily away.

Details
- Lily: Uses Pages for word processing and Numbers for spreadsheets on Mac; prefers TextEdit for personal documents due to its cleaner interface; uses formatted tools like Pages for resumes.
- Ali: Prefers Google Docs for its simplicity, easy sharing via link, and collaboration features; has also used Pages with iCloud sharing.
Conclusion
- Tool preference varies by use case: TextEdit for simple personal documents, Pages/Numbers for formatted or spreadsheet work, and Google Docs for collaboration and sharing.

Platform Transition: Zoom to Google Meet (September 2026)

Siena announced that Textravaganza workshops will transition from Zoom to Google Meet in September 2026.

Details
- Siena: Cited ongoing Zoom admin-side issues including audio setup problems across computers, recording access difficulties (now requiring the Zoom Hub), and general interface changes negatively affecting screen reader usability.
- Siena: Reported that the team (Ali, Makara, Ashlyn, Lily, and Siena) conducted extensive testing of Google Meet and found significant improvements in hosting, participant joining, and recording accessibility.
- Siena: Confirmed the official transition will take effect with the first September 2026 workshop.
- Siena: Announced individual and group office hours will be offered throughout the three months leading up to the transition to help participants prepare.
- Ali: Emphasized that the team will continuously monitor the experience for participants with and without Google accounts and provide ongoing updates as the platform evolves.
- Siena: Noted that recordings are significantly easier to locate in Google Meet compared to Zoom’s current Hub-based system.
Conclusion
- Textravaganza will officially move to Google Meet starting September 2026.
- Zoom will continue to be used until then.
- Individual and group office hours will be available upon request to support the transition.
- Participants can reach out via support@textravaganza.ca or the WhatsApp group with any concerns.

Communication Channel Updates: Messenger and Discord Discontinuation

Siena announced changes to Textravaganza’s communication channels.

Details
- Siena: Announced that the Messenger group and Discord server will be discontinued within the next one to two weeks.
- Siena: Confirmed the WhatsApp group will be the primary community channel going forward, alongside email at support@textravaganza.ca.
- Ashlyn: Indicated she may have additional updates related to this.
Conclusion
- The Messenger group and Discord server are being retired in favor of the WhatsApp group.
- Primary contact methods going forward: WhatsApp group and support@textravaganza.ca.

Workshop Naming Update: Textravaganza Afternoons and Evenings

Siena announced a rebranding of the two recurring workshop formats, effective July 2026.

Details
- Siena: Announced that the Wednesday workshops will be renamed “Textravaganza Afternoons.”
- Siena: Announced that the monthly Thursday evening sessions (currently “Textravaganza 2.0”) will be renamed “Textravaganza Evenings,” held on the second Thursday of each month.
- Siena: Noted the next Textravaganza Evenings session is June 11, 2026, covering YouTube.
Conclusion
- Wednesday sessions: Textravaganza Afternoons (effective July 2026).
- Monthly Thursday sessions: Textravaganza Evenings (effective July 2026).
- Next session: June 11, 2026 — YouTube topic.