Managing contact groups in Android using a Google account.

Problem:
I wanted to selectively show/hide groups of contacts without having to edit each contact individually and without having to use 3rd party apps if possible.

I wanted to do this because I don't want to delete contacts, but would like not to see all of them all the time I open my Contacts list.


Solution:
This solution uses the contacts stored in your google account. If you don't like that, this is not for you.

If you have your contacts in your Android sync with your Google account, from the Google account you can see them all under "My Contacts".

If you scroll down in the list on the left, just before "Import Contacts" you have "New Group".

You can create as many groups as you want, like Work, Friends, Hicking, CountryA, CountryB, etc.

Now, you have to associate the contacts with the groups. One contact can be in multiple groups. To associate them, just click on "My contacts", tick the box on the left of each contact you want to put on the same group, and then click on "Groups" and select the groups you want those contacts to be in.


Now you have your contacts organized in Google/Gmail.

Perform a Contacts sync from your Android device. Everything you just did is now on the device.

Now, to selectively show/hide groups, do the following:
1. In Android, click on People (may be called Contacts too)
2. Click on the options button, and select "View"
3. Click on Google, but on Google, not on the box on the right. The groups you created before will appear.
4. Now you can select which groups to show.

If you want to change things, you can do it easily from the Gmail Contacts page and then sync again. No ticking with your fingers in your device.

Sorry for the lack of pictures.