Can't see outlook contacts when writing an email

[Guest]

I have Outlook 2003. My computer had to have the OS reinstalled, so I
backed up my outlook info. I imported the contact info in (using the import
tool), and I can see it when I click on "Contacts", but when I am in a new
email, and try to use contacts to address the email, it says there is nothing
there. It seems my contacts are disconnected to the email address operation.
Appreciate any help given.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I have Outlook 2003. My computer had to have the OS reinstalled, so
I backed up my outlook info. I imported the contact info in (using
the import tool), and I can see it when I click on "Contacts", but
when I am in a new email, and try to use contacts to address the
email, it says there is nothing there. It seems my contacts are
disconnected to the email address operation. Appreciate any help
given.

Your problem is caused by the fact that you imported. There is never any
reason to import from a previous version of Outlook. Configure your Outlook
Address Book service, as described here countless times.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/287563/en-us

 

[Guest]

Hi Brian, thanks for your help.

I did this:
Step 1: Install the Outlook Address Book service
To do this, follow these steps, as appropriate for the version of Outlook
that you are running.
Microsoft Outlook 2002 and Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
1. On the Tools menu, click E-mail Accounts.
2. Click to select View or change existing directories or address books, and
then click Next.
3. If your Outlook Address Book is listed, click Cancel, and then go to the
steps in the "How to Mark Your Contact Folder for Use with Your Address Book"
section.

and I found something called "outlook address book" in this location, so I
cancelled.

Then I did this:
Step 2: Mark your contact folder for use with your address book
1. On the File menu, point to Folder, and then click Properties for your
folder name.
2. On the Outlook Address Book tab, click to select the Show this folder as
an e-mail address book check box, type a descriptive name, and then click OK.

on the inbox, but it did not display something called an "outlook address
book" tab.

By the way, how are you supposed to bring data in if you don't import it? I
looked for instructions on the microsoft website, but couldn't find any for
anything but importing.

 

[Gordon]

By the way, how are you supposed to bring data in if you don't import it?
I
looked for instructions on the microsoft website, but couldn't find any
for
anything but importing.

As posted in all the Outlook groups at least daily....
On Old Computer:
Close Outlook.
Search for, and copy the pst file. Default name and location for XP is:
C:\Documents and Settings\{Your User Name here}\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst. (You may have to enable Hidden and
System files in your search)

On the New computer:
Copy the pst file to your HDD. Do NOT overwrite any existing file. Remove
any read-only attribute. (Right-Click-Properties).
Open Outlook.
Do File-Open-Outlook Data File and navigate to where you copied the file.

You then have two alternatives.
1. Drag and drop the data from the old file to the new
or,
2. If you have a large amount of data then you can set the old file as the
Default Delivery location and Outlook will just carry on using that file.
(Control Panel-Mail-Data File)

more info here:

http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010771141033.aspx



HTH

 

[Brian Tillman]

Hi Brian, thanks for your help.

I did this:
Step 1: Install the Outlook Address Book service
To do this, follow these steps, as appropriate for the version of
Outlook that you are running.
Microsoft Outlook 2002 and Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
1. On the Tools menu, click E-mail Accounts.
2. Click to select View or change existing directories or address
books, and then click Next.
3. If your Outlook Address Book is listed, click Cancel, and then go
to the steps in the "How to Mark Your Contact Folder for Use with
Your Address Book" section.

and I found something called "outlook address book" in this location,
so I cancelled.

At this point, I would have removed the Outlook Address Book services,
stopped and restarted Outlook, then added the service back in again.

Then I did this:
Step 2: Mark your contact folder for use with your address book
1. On the File menu, point to Folder, and then click Properties for
your folder name.
2. On the Outlook Address Book tab, click to select the Show this
folder as an e-mail address book check box, type a descriptive name,
and then click OK.

on the inbox, but it did not display something called an "outlook
address book" tab.

Did you select the Contacts folder first before clicking
File>Folder>Properties? You should also be able to right-click your
Contacts folder and choose Properties. You should see the Outlook Address
Book tab.

By the way, how are you supposed to bring data in if you don't import
it? I looked for instructions on the microsoft website, but couldn't
find any for anything but importing.

Simply reuse the PST. See this:
http://www.howto-outlook.com/howto/backupandrestore.htm

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your help Brian.

I did this, but still, when I push "To" in a new mail, it tells me there is
not an address book associated with it. If I browse I see "Outlook address
book" which says there are no entrees in it. I can also see my contacts,
which has all the info.

Gordon, I checked through the help associated with Microsoft outlook, and
online techical pages and didn't see this process. I didn't know about the
resources you sited or this discussion group. If you are part of Microsoft,
then this would be feedback on the difficulty in finding the right info at
the right time.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Thanks for your help Brian.

I did this, but still, when I push "To" in a new mail, it tells me
there is not an address book associated with it. If I browse I see
"Outlook address book" which says there are no entrees in it. I can
also see my contacts, which has all the info.

RIght. The "Outlook ADdress Book" entry wil contain only your Contact
folder, just like it should. In the Address Book interface, click
Tools>Options. The "Show this address list first" drop-down should say
"Contacts". If it doesn't change it.