Contacts edits my phone numbers - how can I stop that?

[Evan M Jones]

Hi,

I travel a lot and all my stored numbers are in full international format -
viz "+<country code><areacode><number>. In that way they work anywhere in
the world, home or abroad. Which is good.

However, when I set up a new Contact in Outlook it deletes the international
access code identifier "+", which stops the numbers from working on other
devices, such as my phone. A number entered as "+44nnnnnnn" becomes
"44nnnnnnn" and doesn't work when called as it no longer makes sense on every
phone system.

Strangely, numbers originiating on other devices, such as my phone, and
synchronised across /keep/ the leading '+' in the Outlook Contacts record.
It's only numbers entered into Outlook that lose it.

Does anyone know how I can stop Contacts from editing the number and to
record what I tell it to?

Many thanks,

Evan

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

We could if you had posted your Outlook version. In some versions you go to
Contacts > Actions > Call Contact > New call... > Dialing Options... and
select the option to automatically add the country code to local numbers
there.

 

[Evan M Jones]

Apologies it's Outlook 2003 11.5608.5606

I don't want it ot automatically add hte country code though - that would
mean resynching my phone every time I land in a new country - and when I
tried using that feature it often got it wrong. I just want it to stop
editing my numbers and dial the number I tell it to. It doen't edit numbers
synched from the phone so it must be possible to get it to desist?

Thanks,

Evan

We could if you had posted your Outlook version. In some versions you go to
Contacts > Actions > Call Contact > New call... > Dialing Options... and
select the option to automatically add the country code to local numbers
there.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi,

I travel a lot and all my stored numbers are in full international
format -
viz "+<country code><areacode><number>. In that way they work anywhere in
the world, home or abroad. Which is good.

However, when I set up a new Contact in Outlook it deletes the
international
access code identifier "+", which stops the numbers from working on other
devices, such as my phone. A number entered as "+44nnnnnnn" becomes
"44nnnnnnn" and doesn't work when called as it no longer makes sense on
every
phone system.

Strangely, numbers originiating on other devices, such as my phone, and
synchronised across /keep/ the leading '+' in the Outlook Contacts record.
It's only numbers entered into Outlook that lose it.

Does anyone know how I can stop Contacts from editing the number and to
record what I tell it to?

Many thanks,

Evan

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

The method I posted is the only way to get Outlook to use canonical format.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Apologies it's Outlook 2003 11.5608.5606

I don't want it ot automatically add hte country code though - that would
mean resynching my phone every time I land in a new country - and when I
tried using that feature it often got it wrong. I just want it to stop
editing my numbers and dial the number I tell it to. It doen't edit
numbers
synched from the phone so it must be possible to get it to desist?

Thanks,

Evan

We could if you had posted your Outlook version. In some versions you go
to
Contacts > Actions > Call Contact > New call... > Dialing Options... and
select the option to automatically add the country code to local numbers
there.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi,

I travel a lot and all my stored numbers are in full international
format -
viz "+<country code><areacode><number>. In that way they work anywhere
in
the world, home or abroad. Which is good.

However, when I set up a new Contact in Outlook it deletes the
international
access code identifier "+", which stops the numbers from working on
other
devices, such as my phone. A number entered as "+44nnnnnnn" becomes
"44nnnnnnn" and doesn't work when called as it no longer makes sense on
every
phone system.

Strangely, numbers originiating on other devices, such as my phone, and
synchronised across /keep/ the leading '+' in the Outlook Contacts
record.
It's only numbers entered into Outlook that lose it.

Does anyone know how I can stop Contacts from editing the number and to
record what I tell it to?

Many thanks,

Evan

 

[Evan M Jones]

Thanks Russ, that's much apppreciated.

Forgive my having trouble getting my head round this, I'm wondering why
anyone would deliberately look to alter a phone number so it doesn't work.
And it appears the only way I can keep numbers in the definitive format it is
to enter the numbers in my phone contacts then synch accross.... So Outlook
won't accept full-format numbers if I write them in Outlook but will accept
them if I write themwith some other device. Seems weird.

I guess the other reason it seems wierd is in a world where hardly any
international agreements are worth anything the ITU has managed to get 190+
countries to sign up to _and honour_ a standard telephone number format.....
and Microsoft writes a subroutine to actively delete numbers written in that
definitive form? Who gets in to work in the morning and says, "America,
Japan, Britain, (even France) and thousands of telecommunications companies
all over the world have agreed a standard for telephone numbers - we must
write something that corrupts any number written as per that agreement."?
Sounds rather like treason after the effors the USA went to to get it agreed
in the first place! <G>

OK - can anyone here recommend a contacts programme that doesn't self-edit
numbers and synchs with Nokia?

Thanks!

Evan

The method I posted is the only way to get Outlook to use canonical format.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Apologies it's Outlook 2003 11.5608.5606

I don't want it ot automatically add hte country code though - that would
mean resynching my phone every time I land in a new country - and when I
tried using that feature it often got it wrong. I just want it to stop
editing my numbers and dial the number I tell it to. It doen't edit
numbers
synched from the phone so it must be possible to get it to desist?

Thanks,

Evan

We could if you had posted your Outlook version. In some versions you go
to
Contacts > Actions > Call Contact > New call... > Dialing Options... and
select the option to automatically add the country code to local numbers
there.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Hi,

I travel a lot and all my stored numbers are in full international
format -
viz "+<country code><areacode><number>. In that way they work anywhere
in
the world, home or abroad. Which is good.

However, when I set up a new Contact in Outlook it deletes the
international
access code identifier "+", which stops the numbers from working on
other
devices, such as my phone. A number entered as "+44nnnnnnn" becomes
"44nnnnnnn" and doesn't work when called as it no longer makes sense on
every
phone system.

Strangely, numbers originiating on other devices, such as my phone, and
synchronised across /keep/ the leading '+' in the Outlook Contacts
record.
It's only numbers entered into Outlook that lose it.

Does anyone know how I can stop Contacts from editing the number and to
record what I tell it to?

Many thanks,

Evan

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Outlook uses standard international format which includes the country code.
That's what it has to do. If dialing requirements do not include the country
code, it is up to the dialing device to handle that with its dialing rules
or algorithm. Outlook plays no role in dialing. Any device that syncs with
Outlook should know what format Outlook uses and adjust accordingly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks Russ, that's much apppreciated.

Forgive my having trouble getting my head round this, I'm wondering why
anyone would deliberately look to alter a phone number so it doesn't work.
And it appears the only way I can keep numbers in the definitive format it
is
to enter the numbers in my phone contacts then synch accross.... So
Outlook
won't accept full-format numbers if I write them in Outlook but will
accept
them if I write themwith some other device. Seems weird.

I guess the other reason it seems wierd is in a world where hardly any
international agreements are worth anything the ITU has managed to get
190+
countries to sign up to _and honour_ a standard telephone number
format.....
and Microsoft writes a subroutine to actively delete numbers written in
that
definitive form? Who gets in to work in the morning and says, "America,
Japan, Britain, (even France) and thousands of telecommunications
companies
all over the world have agreed a standard for telephone numbers - we must
write something that corrupts any number written as per that agreement."?
Sounds rather like treason after the effors the USA went to to get it
agreed
in the first place! <G>

OK - can anyone here recommend a contacts programme that doesn't self-edit
numbers and synchs with Nokia?

Thanks!

Evan

The method I posted is the only way to get Outlook to use canonical
format.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Apologies it's Outlook 2003 11.5608.5606

I don't want it ot automatically add hte country code though - that
would
mean resynching my phone every time I land in a new country - and when
I
tried using that feature it often got it wrong. I just want it to stop
editing my numbers and dial the number I tell it to. It doen't edit
numbers
synched from the phone so it must be possible to get it to desist?

Thanks,

Evan



:

We could if you had posted your Outlook version. In some versions you
go
to
Contacts > Actions > Call Contact > New call... > Dialing Options...
and
select the option to automatically add the country code to local
numbers
there.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Hi,

I travel a lot and all my stored numbers are in full international
format -
viz "+<country code><areacode><number>. In that way they work
anywhere
in
the world, home or abroad. Which is good.

However, when I set up a new Contact in Outlook it deletes the
international
access code identifier "+", which stops the numbers from working on
other
devices, such as my phone. A number entered as "+44nnnnnnn" becomes
"44nnnnnnn" and doesn't work when called as it no longer makes sense
on
every
phone system.

Strangely, numbers originiating on other devices, such as my phone,
and
synchronised across /keep/ the leading '+' in the Outlook Contacts
record.
It's only numbers entered into Outlook that lose it.

Does anyone know how I can stop Contacts from editing the number and
to
record what I tell it to?

Many thanks,

Evan

 

[Evan M Jones]

Hi Russ,

"Outlook uses standard international format which includes the country code"

Errr... no, because it deletes the international access code, which is "+"
in telephony. Because different countries have many diffeent access codes
that have to go before the country code the number "+" is internationally
agreed shorthand for "international access code". If I put in "0044" in
front of a UK number it'll work from some countries, not all, and be acepted
by Outlook. If I put in "+44" it'll work in all countries but isn't accepted
by Outlook.

The trouble starts if I want to copy my numbers to another device, such as a
phone. All my handset numbers are international format (+nn) so wherever I
am I chose a contact from the menu and it dials. But a contact synched from
Outlook will have a trunkated number (EG just 44, since Outlook has deleted
the "+") and therefore won't work.

Do you know what I mean?

Cheers,

Evan

Outlook uses standard international format which includes the country code.
That's what it has to do. If dialing requirements do not include the country
code, it is up to the dialing device to handle that with its dialing rules
or algorithm. Outlook plays no role in dialing. Any device that syncs with
Outlook should know what format Outlook uses and adjust accordingly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks Russ, that's much apppreciated.

Forgive my having trouble getting my head round this, I'm wondering why
anyone would deliberately look to alter a phone number so it doesn't work.
And it appears the only way I can keep numbers in the definitive format it
is
to enter the numbers in my phone contacts then synch accross.... So
Outlook
won't accept full-format numbers if I write them in Outlook but will
accept
them if I write themwith some other device. Seems weird.

I guess the other reason it seems wierd is in a world where hardly any
international agreements are worth anything the ITU has managed to get
190+
countries to sign up to _and honour_ a standard telephone number
format.....
and Microsoft writes a subroutine to actively delete numbers written in
that
definitive form? Who gets in to work in the morning and says, "America,
Japan, Britain, (even France) and thousands of telecommunications
companies
all over the world have agreed a standard for telephone numbers - we must
write something that corrupts any number written as per that agreement."?
Sounds rather like treason after the effors the USA went to to get it
agreed
in the first place! <G>

OK - can anyone here recommend a contacts programme that doesn't self-edit
numbers and synchs with Nokia?

Thanks!

Evan

The method I posted is the only way to get Outlook to use canonical
format.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Apologies it's Outlook 2003 11.5608.5606

I don't want it ot automatically add hte country code though - that
would
mean resynching my phone every time I land in a new country - and when
I
tried using that feature it often got it wrong. I just want it to stop
editing my numbers and dial the number I tell it to. It doen't edit
numbers
synched from the phone so it must be possible to get it to desist?

Thanks,

Evan



:

We could if you had posted your Outlook version. In some versions you
go
to
Contacts > Actions > Call Contact > New call... > Dialing Options...
and
select the option to automatically add the country code to local
numbers
there.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Hi,

I travel a lot and all my stored numbers are in full international
format -
viz "+<country code><areacode><number>. In that way they work
anywhere
in
the world, home or abroad. Which is good.

However, when I set up a new Contact in Outlook it deletes the
international
access code identifier "+", which stops the numbers from working on
other
devices, such as my phone. A number entered as "+44nnnnnnn" becomes
"44nnnnnnn" and doesn't work when called as it no longer makes sense
on
every
phone system.

Strangely, numbers originiating on other devices, such as my phone,
and
synchronised across /keep/ the leading '+' in the Outlook Contacts
record.
It's only numbers entered into Outlook that lose it.

Does anyone know how I can stop Contacts from editing the number and
to
record what I tell it to?

Many thanks,

Evan

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

No, I don't. I'm no telephony expert. I only know that what Outlook uses is
considered standard international format. It's what Outlook has always used
and is by design:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=318575

I've seen no reports of others having problems with it and it certainly
isn't going to change.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi Russ,

"Outlook uses standard international format which includes the country
code"

Errr... no, because it deletes the international access code, which is "+"
in telephony. Because different countries have many diffeent access codes
that have to go before the country code the number "+" is internationally
agreed shorthand for "international access code". If I put in "0044" in
front of a UK number it'll work from some countries, not all, and be
acepted
by Outlook. If I put in "+44" it'll work in all countries but isn't
accepted
by Outlook.

The trouble starts if I want to copy my numbers to another device, such as
a
phone. All my handset numbers are international format (+nn) so wherever
I
am I chose a contact from the menu and it dials. But a contact synched
from
Outlook will have a trunkated number (EG just 44, since Outlook has
deleted
the "+") and therefore won't work.

Do you know what I mean?

Cheers,

Evan

Outlook uses standard international format which includes the country
code.
That's what it has to do. If dialing requirements do not include the
country
code, it is up to the dialing device to handle that with its dialing
rules
or algorithm. Outlook plays no role in dialing. Any device that syncs
with
Outlook should know what format Outlook uses and adjust accordingly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Thanks Russ, that's much apppreciated.

Forgive my having trouble getting my head round this, I'm wondering why
anyone would deliberately look to alter a phone number so it doesn't
work.
And it appears the only way I can keep numbers in the definitive format
it
is
to enter the numbers in my phone contacts then synch accross.... So
Outlook
won't accept full-format numbers if I write them in Outlook but will
accept
them if I write themwith some other device. Seems weird.

I guess the other reason it seems wierd is in a world where hardly any
international agreements are worth anything the ITU has managed to get
190+
countries to sign up to _and honour_ a standard telephone number
format.....
and Microsoft writes a subroutine to actively delete numbers written in
that
definitive form? Who gets in to work in the morning and says,
"America,
Japan, Britain, (even France) and thousands of telecommunications
companies
all over the world have agreed a standard for telephone numbers - we
must
write something that corrupts any number written as per that
agreement."?
Sounds rather like treason after the effors the USA went to to get it
agreed
in the first place! <G>

OK - can anyone here recommend a contacts programme that doesn't
self-edit
numbers and synchs with Nokia?

Thanks!

Evan



:

The method I posted is the only way to get Outlook to use canonical
format.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Apologies it's Outlook 2003 11.5608.5606

I don't want it ot automatically add hte country code though - that
would
mean resynching my phone every time I land in a new country - and
when
I
tried using that feature it often got it wrong. I just want it to
stop
editing my numbers and dial the number I tell it to. It doen't edit
numbers
synched from the phone so it must be possible to get it to desist?

Thanks,

Evan



:

We could if you had posted your Outlook version. In some versions
you
go
to
Contacts > Actions > Call Contact > New call... > Dialing
Options...
and
select the option to automatically add the country code to local
numbers
there.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Hi,

I travel a lot and all my stored numbers are in full
international
format -
viz "+<country code><areacode><number>. In that way they work
anywhere
in
the world, home or abroad. Which is good.

However, when I set up a new Contact in Outlook it deletes the
international
access code identifier "+", which stops the numbers from working
on
other
devices, such as my phone. A number entered as "+44nnnnnnn"
becomes
"44nnnnnnn" and doesn't work when called as it no longer makes
sense
on
every
phone system.

Strangely, numbers originiating on other devices, such as my
phone,
and
synchronised across /keep/ the leading '+' in the Outlook
Contacts
record.
It's only numbers entered into Outlook that lose it.

Does anyone know how I can stop Contacts from editing the number
and
to
record what I tell it to?

Many thanks,

Evan

 

[Evan M Jones]

Fair enough - I'm sure you're right that it isn't going to change but
seriously, "+" is a number in telephony and I can't work out why Microsoft
would delete it. IN a complete contradiction it's shown on the article that
you reference saying that it /should/ be used.

Here's a quote:

"To resolve this issue, type the telephone numbers in the following format:
+Country/RegionCode (AreaCode) SubscriberNumber
For example, this is the format for a subscriber in the United States of
America in canonical format:
+1 (nnn) nnn-nnnn "

Which is fine. /very/ correct - but when I do that in Outlook, as Microsft
advise, the leading "+" is deleted by the programme.

I can't help but feel I'm missing something really obvious; it must be
something that I'm doing wrong since deliberately deleting the "+" is a) mad;
and b) agains the advice you've kindly referenced in the MS help & support
site.

I'll look at it agin in daylight. Thanks for your help in trying to resolve.

Evan

No, I don't. I'm no telephony expert. I only know that what Outlook uses is
considered standard international format. It's what Outlook has always used
and is by design:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=318575

I've seen no reports of others having problems with it and it certainly
isn't going to change.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi Russ,

"Outlook uses standard international format which includes the country
code"

Errr... no, because it deletes the international access code, which is "+"
in telephony. Because different countries have many diffeent access codes
that have to go before the country code the number "+" is internationally
agreed shorthand for "international access code". If I put in "0044" in
front of a UK number it'll work from some countries, not all, and be
acepted
by Outlook. If I put in "+44" it'll work in all countries but isn't
accepted
by Outlook.

The trouble starts if I want to copy my numbers to another device, such as
a
phone. All my handset numbers are international format (+nn) so wherever
I
am I chose a contact from the menu and it dials. But a contact synched
from
Outlook will have a trunkated number (EG just 44, since Outlook has
deleted
the "+") and therefore won't work.

Do you know what I mean?

Cheers,

Evan

Outlook uses standard international format which includes the country
code.
That's what it has to do. If dialing requirements do not include the
country
code, it is up to the dialing device to handle that with its dialing
rules
or algorithm. Outlook plays no role in dialing. Any device that syncs
with
Outlook should know what format Outlook uses and adjust accordingly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thanks Russ, that's much apppreciated.

Forgive my having trouble getting my head round this, I'm wondering why
anyone would deliberately look to alter a phone number so it doesn't
work.
And it appears the only way I can keep numbers in the definitive format
it
is
to enter the numbers in my phone contacts then synch accross.... So
Outlook
won't accept full-format numbers if I write them in Outlook but will
accept
them if I write themwith some other device. Seems weird.

I guess the other reason it seems wierd is in a world where hardly any
international agreements are worth anything the ITU has managed to get
190+
countries to sign up to _and honour_ a standard telephone number
format.....
and Microsoft writes a subroutine to actively delete numbers written in
that
definitive form? Who gets in to work in the morning and says,
"America,
Japan, Britain, (even France) and thousands of telecommunications
companies
all over the world have agreed a standard for telephone numbers - we
must
write something that corrupts any number written as per that
agreement."?
Sounds rather like treason after the effors the USA went to to get it
agreed
in the first place! <G>

OK - can anyone here recommend a contacts programme that doesn't
self-edit
numbers and synchs with Nokia?

Thanks!

Evan



:

The method I posted is the only way to get Outlook to use canonical
format.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Apologies it's Outlook 2003 11.5608.5606

I don't want it ot automatically add hte country code though - that
would
mean resynching my phone every time I land in a new country - and
when
I
tried using that feature it often got it wrong. I just want it to
stop
editing my numbers and dial the number I tell it to. It doen't edit
numbers
synched from the phone so it must be possible to get it to desist?

Thanks,

Evan



:

We could if you had posted your Outlook version. In some versions
you
go
to
Contacts > Actions > Call Contact > New call... > Dialing
Options...
and
select the option to automatically add the country code to local
numbers
there.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Hi,

I travel a lot and all my stored numbers are in full
international
format -
viz "+<country code><areacode><number>. In that way they work
anywhere
in
the world, home or abroad. Which is good.

However, when I set up a new Contact in Outlook it deletes the
international
access code identifier "+", which stops the numbers from working
on
other
devices, such as my phone. A number entered as "+44nnnnnnn"
becomes
"44nnnnnnn" and doesn't work when called as it no longer makes
sense
on
every
phone system.

Strangely, numbers originiating on other devices, such as my
phone,
and
synchronised across /keep/ the leading '+' in the Outlook
Contacts
record.
It's only numbers entered into Outlook that lose it.

Does anyone know how I can stop Contacts from editing the number
and
to
record what I tell it to?

Many thanks,

Evan

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Odd. I've never seen the leading "+" deleted by Outlook when I have
configured it to include the country code with phone numbers.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Fair enough - I'm sure you're right that it isn't going to change but
seriously, "+" is a number in telephony and I can't work out why Microsoft
would delete it. IN a complete contradiction it's shown on the article
that
you reference saying that it /should/ be used.

Here's a quote:

"To resolve this issue, type the telephone numbers in the following
format:
+Country/RegionCode (AreaCode) SubscriberNumber
For example, this is the format for a subscriber in the United States of
America in canonical format:
+1 (nnn) nnn-nnnn "

Which is fine. /very/ correct - but when I do that in Outlook, as
Microsft
advise, the leading "+" is deleted by the programme.

I can't help but feel I'm missing something really obvious; it must be
something that I'm doing wrong since deliberately deleting the "+" is a)
mad;
and b) agains the advice you've kindly referenced in the MS help & support
site.

I'll look at it agin in daylight. Thanks for your help in trying to
resolve.

Evan

No, I don't. I'm no telephony expert. I only know that what Outlook uses
is
considered standard international format. It's what Outlook has always
used
and is by design:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=318575

I've seen no reports of others having problems with it and it certainly
isn't going to change.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi Russ,

"Outlook uses standard international format which includes the country
code"

Errr... no, because it deletes the international access code, which is
"+"
in telephony. Because different countries have many diffeent access
codes
that have to go before the country code the number "+" is
internationally
agreed shorthand for "international access code". If I put in "0044"
in
front of a UK number it'll work from some countries, not all, and be
acepted
by Outlook. If I put in "+44" it'll work in all countries but isn't
accepted
by Outlook.

The trouble starts if I want to copy my numbers to another device, such
as
a
phone. All my handset numbers are international format (+nn) so
wherever
I
am I chose a contact from the menu and it dials. But a contact synched
from
Outlook will have a trunkated number (EG just 44, since Outlook has
deleted
the "+") and therefore won't work.

Do you know what I mean?

Cheers,

Evan

:

Outlook uses standard international format which includes the country
code.
That's what it has to do. If dialing requirements do not include the
country
code, it is up to the dialing device to handle that with its dialing
rules
or algorithm. Outlook plays no role in dialing. Any device that syncs
with
Outlook should know what format Outlook uses and adjust accordingly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Thanks Russ, that's much apppreciated.

Forgive my having trouble getting my head round this, I'm wondering
why
anyone would deliberately look to alter a phone number so it doesn't
work.
And it appears the only way I can keep numbers in the definitive
format
it
is
to enter the numbers in my phone contacts then synch accross.... So
Outlook
won't accept full-format numbers if I write them in Outlook but will
accept
them if I write themwith some other device. Seems weird.

I guess the other reason it seems wierd is in a world where hardly
any
international agreements are worth anything the ITU has managed to
get
190+
countries to sign up to _and honour_ a standard telephone number
format.....
and Microsoft writes a subroutine to actively delete numbers written
in
that
definitive form? Who gets in to work in the morning and says,
"America,
Japan, Britain, (even France) and thousands of telecommunications
companies
all over the world have agreed a standard for telephone numbers - we
must
write something that corrupts any number written as per that
agreement."?
Sounds rather like treason after the effors the USA went to to get
it
agreed
in the first place! <G>

OK - can anyone here recommend a contacts programme that doesn't
self-edit
numbers and synchs with Nokia?

Thanks!

Evan



:

The method I posted is the only way to get Outlook to use canonical
format.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Apologies it's Outlook 2003 11.5608.5606

I don't want it ot automatically add hte country code though -
that
would
mean resynching my phone every time I land in a new country - and
when
I
tried using that feature it often got it wrong. I just want it
to
stop
editing my numbers and dial the number I tell it to. It doen't
edit
numbers
synched from the phone so it must be possible to get it to
desist?

Thanks,

Evan



:

We could if you had posted your Outlook version. In some
versions
you
go
to
Contacts > Actions > Call Contact > New call... > Dialing
Options...
and
select the option to automatically add the country code to local
numbers
there.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
message
Hi,

I travel a lot and all my stored numbers are in full
international
format -
viz "+<country code><areacode><number>. In that way they work
anywhere
in
the world, home or abroad. Which is good.

However, when I set up a new Contact in Outlook it deletes the
international
access code identifier "+", which stops the numbers from
working
on
other
devices, such as my phone. A number entered as "+44nnnnnnn"
becomes
"44nnnnnnn" and doesn't work when called as it no longer makes
sense
on
every
phone system.

Strangely, numbers originiating on other devices, such as my
phone,
and
synchronised across /keep/ the leading '+' in the Outlook
Contacts
record.
It's only numbers entered into Outlook that lose it.

Does anyone know how I can stop Contacts from editing the
number
and
to
record what I tell it to?

Many thanks,

Evan

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Fair enough - I'm sure you're right that it isn't going to change but
seriously, "+" is a number in telephony and I can't work out why Microsoft
would delete it. IN a complete contradiction it's shown on the article
that
you reference saying that it /should/ be used.

Here's a quote:

"To resolve this issue, type the telephone numbers in the following
format:
+Country/RegionCode (AreaCode) SubscriberNumber
For example, this is the format for a subscriber in the United States of
America in canonical format:
+1 (nnn) nnn-nnnn "

Which is fine. /very/ correct - but when I do that in Outlook, as
Microsft
advise, the leading "+" is deleted by the programme.

Neither Outlook 2003 nor Outlook 2007 deletes the plus sign when I enter
numbers already in canonical format.

 

[Arpad Kiss]

So I had same problem.
I use excel sheet in outlook exported format, write new contact into excel, save as an csv

(I dont know why but my outlook 2007 don't accept ";" among colums so I have to replace all ";" to "," with a text editor (I use notepad++) but it is my problem)

So the problem was same, outlook deleted all "+" before numbers. Then I search a lot and try to write numbers "+44 12345.." format so ONE SPACE after country code. I tried it only the first 5 contacts in my excel sheet (I could manual modified only because I use repalace "+44" to "+44 " cause "44" and I have more than 400 contacts so before manual modify all I would like to see it is working)
And very interesting it is working BUT NOT ONLY THE CHANGED PHONE NUMBERS BUT ALL OF THEM! All of my numbers will be +country code format!

Then I modified only the first contact phone number this format and it is work again.

Then I restart my outlook, delete all contact and import without any any space so it was the original version and IT IS WORk AGAIN!

I think outlook first time in the first contact recognize a country code in "+contrycode " format and use this settings after all.

If it is work send me an email please.
Arpadkiss.com
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Arpad Kiss]

So I had same problem.
I use excel sheet in outlook exported format, write new contact into excel, save as an csv

(I dont know why but my outlook 2007 don't accept ";" among colums so I have to replace all ";" to "," with a text editor (I use notepad++) but it is my problem)

So the problem was same, outlook deleted all "+" before numbers. Then I search a lot and try to write numbers "+44 12345.." format so ONE SPACE after country code. I tried it only the first 5 contacts in my excel sheet (I could manual modified only because I use repalace "+44" to "+44 " cause "44" and I have more than 400 contacts so before manual modify all I would like to see it is working)
And very interesting it is working BUT NOT ONLY THE CHANGED PHONE NUMBERS BUT ALL OF THEM! All of my numbers will be +country code format!

Then I modified only the first contact phone number this format and it is work again.

Then I restart my outlook, delete all contact and import without any any space so it was the original version and IT IS WORk AGAIN!

I think outlook first time in the first contact recognize a country code in "+contrycode " format and use this settings after all.

If it is work send me an email please.
Arpadkiss.com
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Arpad Kiss]

So I had same problem.
I use excel sheet in outlook exported format, write new contact into excel, save as an csv as import to outlook 2007.

(I dont know why but my outlook don't accept ";" among colums so I have to replace all ";" to "," with a text editor (I use notepad++) but it is my problem)

So the problem was same, outlook deleted all "+" before numbers. Then I search a lot, read a lot and try to write numbers "+44 12345.." format so ONE SPACE after country code. I tried it only the first 5 contacts in my excel sheet

(I could manual modified only because I use repalace "+44" to "+44 " cause "44" and I have more than 400 contacts so before manual modify all I would like to see it is working)

And very interesting it is working BUT NOT ONLY THE CHANGED PHONE NUMBERS BUT ALL OF THEM! All of my numbers will be +countrycode format!

Then I modified only the first contact phone number this format and it is work again!

Then I restart my outlook, delete all contact and import without any space so it was the original version and IT IS WORK AGAIN!

I think outlook first time in the first contact recognize a country code in "+contrycode " format and use this settings after all.

If it is work for you too, drop me an email please.

Arpadkiss.com
(e-mail address removed)

 

[M. Abroudi]

Hi, I had the same problem where I import my contacts from Excel to Outlook 2007. From here I sync with my PDA. My phone numbers are stored in the "+country code" format and when importing to Outlook, the "+" gets chopped off !
I spent lots of time looking for a solution and finally I have found that I had disabled the "Telephony" service (to reclaim computer resources since I never use any telephony on my PC). I enabled the service and I entered no country or location information in the Phone/modem settings and now I can import again my contacts the way I want them to be not how Outlook thinks they should be.
I do not understand why I have to enable a Telephony service so that Outlook stores my phone numbers correctly !!! In my opinion, this is VERY POOR design, since to me one is unrelate to the other. I use my phone/PDA to make calls, not Outlook ???!!!
I believe MS should get rid of this ridiculous dependency.

EggHeadCafe - .NET Developer Portal of Choice
http://www.eggheadcafe.com/default.aspx?ref=ng

 

[Alastair M]

I had a similar problem to Evan. Found a kludge to fix it but certainly agree
it's time Microsoft re-thought the design of this feature:

1. In the dialling rules I set myself up as "FAKE LOCATION" in country
Turkmenistan with fake area code 09999.

2. Since (1) I can now type the '+' into Outlook contacts without it
deleting it, and I can add contacts with a '+'.

3. To make my Excel import work properly I exported from Excel into a
tab-delimited file, checked the '+' signs were still there, and with my fake
Turkmenistan settings in place I imported - voila.

In this day and age the software trying to be clever about country and area
codes is not helpful, if people can't type in a phone number accurately and
in the format they want then they shouldn't be surprised if it doesn't work
when they try to dial it - my guess is 1000x more people will be tripped up
by this mad parser than by failing to know which country they are trying to
dial or entering the area code correctly.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Surely by now you've recognized that Outlook's import process is a deeply
dysfunctional process that should never be trusted with anything and used
only as a last resort. If you need to do a lot of importing for Contacts you
would do well to invest in one of the third party utilities that works, such
as
http://www.contactgenie.com/

 

[anubhav harlalka]

Hi,

I figured out how to import from excel using the +1 or +country code ..

Make the field type as General
and just before the number add a single quote (') and press enter. The number comes to the left

This makes it kinda text and outlook exports it. Tried and tested.

Hi,

I travel a lot and all my stored numbers are in full international format -
viz "+<country code><areacode><number>. In that way they work anywhere in
the world, home or abroad. Which is good.

However, when I set up a new Contact in Outlook it deletes the international
access code identifier "+", which stops the numbers from working on other
devices, such as my phone. A number entered as "+44nnnnnnn" becomes
"44nnnnnnn" and doesn't work when called as it no longer makes sense on every
phone system.

Strangely, numbers originiating on other devices, such as my phone, and
synchronised across /keep/ the leading '+' in the Outlook Contacts record.
It's only numbers entered into Outlook that lose it.

Does anyone know how I can stop Contacts from editing the number and to
record what I tell it to?

Many thanks,

Evan

On Wednesday, November 26, 2008 7:35 AM Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] wrote:
We could if you had posted your Outlook version. In some versions you go to
Contacts > Actions > Call Contact > New call... > Dialing Options... and
select the option to automatically add the country code to local numbers
there.

On Wednesday, November 26, 2008 7:46 AM EvanMJone wrote:
Apologies it's Outlook 2003 11.5608.5606

I don't want it ot automatically add hte country code though - that would
mean resynching my phone every time I land in a new country - and when I
tried using that feature it often got it wrong. I just want it to stop
editing my numbers and dial the number I tell it to. It doen't edit numbers
synched from the phone so it must be possible to get it to desist?

Thanks,

Evan



"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

On Wednesday, November 26, 2008 9:47 AM Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] wrote:
The method I posted is the only way to get Outlook to use canonical format.

On Wednesday, November 26, 2008 1:57 PM EvanMJone wrote:
Thanks Russ, that's much apppreciated.

Forgive my having trouble getting my head round this, I'm wondering why
anyone would deliberately look to alter a phone number so it doesn't work.
And it appears the only way I can keep numbers in the definitive format it is
to enter the numbers in my phone contacts then synch accross.... So Outlook
won't accept full-format numbers if I write them in Outlook but will accept
them if I write themwith some other device. Seems weird.

I guess the other reason it seems wierd is in a world where hardly any
international agreements are worth anything the ITU has managed to get 190+
countries to sign up to _and honour_ a standard telephone number format.....
and Microsoft writes a subroutine to actively delete numbers written in that
definitive form? Who gets in to work in the morning and says, "America,
Japan, Britain, (even France) and thousands of telecommunications companies
all over the world have agreed a standard for telephone numbers - we must
write something that corrupts any number written as per that agreement."?
Sounds rather like treason after the effors the USA went to to get it agreed
in the first place! <G>

OK - can anyone here recommend a contacts programme that doesn't self-edit
numbers and synchs with Nokia?

Thanks!

Evan



"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

On Wednesday, November 26, 2008 2:52 PM Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] wrote:
Outlook uses standard international format which includes the country code.
That's what it has to do. If dialing requirements do not include the country
code, it is up to the dialing device to handle that with its dialing rules
or algorithm. Outlook plays no role in dialing. Any device that syncs with
Outlook should know what format Outlook uses and adjust accordingly.

On Wednesday, November 26, 2008 3:07 PM EvanMJone wrote:
Hi Russ,

"Outlook uses standard international format which includes the country code"

Errr... no, because it deletes the international access code, which is "+"
in telephony. Because different countries have many diffeent access codes
that have to go before the country code the number "+" is internationally
agreed shorthand for "international access code". If I put in "0044" in
front of a UK number it'll work from some countries, not all, and be acepted
by Outlook. If I put in "+44" it'll work in all countries but isn't accepted
by Outlook.

The trouble starts if I want to copy my numbers to another device, such as a
phone. All my handset numbers are international format (+nn) so wherever I
am I chose a contact from the menu and it dials. But a contact synched from
Outlook will have a trunkated number (EG just 44, since Outlook has deleted
the "+") and therefore won't work.

Do you know what I mean?

Cheers,

Evan

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

On Wednesday, November 26, 2008 4:00 PM Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] wrote:
No, I don't. I'm no telephony expert. I only know that what Outlook uses is
considered standard international format. It's what Outlook has always used
and is by design:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=318575

I've seen no reports of others having problems with it and it certainly
isn't going to change.

On Wednesday, November 26, 2008 6:20 PM EvanMJone wrote:
Fair enough - I'm sure you're right that it isn't going to change but
seriously, "+" is a number in telephony and I can't work out why Microsoft
would delete it. IN a complete contradiction it's shown on the article that
you reference saying that it /should/ be used.

Here's a quote:

"To resolve this issue, type the telephone numbers in the following format:
+Country/RegionCode (AreaCode) SubscriberNumber
For example, this is the format for a subscriber in the United States of
America in canonical format:
+1 (nnn) nnn-nnnn "

Which is fine. /very/ correct - but when I do that in Outlook, as Microsft
advise, the leading "+" is deleted by the programme.

I can't help but feel I'm missing something really obvious; it must be
something that I'm doing wrong since deliberately deleting the "+" is a) mad;
and b) agains the advice you've kindly referenced in the MS help & support
site.

I'll look at it agin in daylight. Thanks for your help in trying to resolve.

Evan



"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

On Wednesday, November 26, 2008 9:05 PM Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] wrote:
Odd. I have never seen the leading "+" deleted by Outlook when I have
configured it to include the country code with phone numbers.

On Tuesday, December 02, 2008 9:46 AM Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook] wrote:
Neither Outlook 2003 nor Outlook 2007 deletes the plus sign when I enter
numbers already in canonical format.

On Thursday, February 05, 2009 9:58 AM Alastair wrote:
I had a similar problem to Evan. Found a kludge to fix it but certainly agree
it's time Microsoft re-thought the design of this feature:

1. In the dialling rules I set myself up as "FAKE LOCATION" in country
Turkmenistan with fake area code 09999.

2. Since (1) I can now type the '+' into Outlook contacts without it
deleting it, and I can add contacts with a '+'.

3. To make my Excel import work properly I exported from Excel into a
tab-delimited file, checked the '+' signs were still there, and with my fake
Turkmenistan settings in place I imported - voila.

In this day and age the software trying to be clever about country and area
codes is not helpful, if people can't type in a phone number accurately and
in the format they want then they shouldn't be surprised if it doesn't work
when they try to dial it - my guess is 1000x more people will be tripped up
by this mad parser than by failing to know which country they are trying to
dial or entering the area code correctly.


"Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]" wrote:

On Thursday, February 05, 2009 4:13 PM Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] wrote:
Surely by now you've recognized that Outlook's import process is a deeply
dysfunctional process that should never be trusted with anything and used
only as a last resort. If you need to do a lot of importing for Contacts you
would do well to invest in one of the third party utilities that works, such
as
http://www.contactgenie.com/