numbering contacts

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Guest

I need to apply a sequential number to each of my contacts. My ISP has a
new policy of limiting each user to 500 outgoing emails per hour. I have
over 5,000 addresses in my CONTACTS and need to split that it into about 10
DISTRIBUTION LISTS. It is a distribution list made up of first and last names
and email addresses. I want to use an unused field such as FAX NUMBER or
OTHER to number each contact. I would then need to sort by that number
within CONTACTS and the DISTRIBUTION LIST. I can viualize doing all this in
EXCEL and reimporting the data but I also need to teach this system to those
who need it to be simple. Any suggestions?
 
Just some casual observations to your export/import plan......

Can't re-import data using Outlook's standard wizard to update existing
contacts so you would have to export all data for all contacts which also
wouldn't work if data exists in any field(s) not exported by Outlook. You'll
need to write your own code for that or use 3rd party products. That's in
addition to the sorting issue of DL's by whatever field you used (no option
like that that I'm aware of). Even if the Excel scenario was plausible (even
with 3rd party products), it leaves the question of how you're going to deal
with new contacts being added in terms of numbering to make sure that the
numbering sequence is continued from the last number assigned.

Just sounds like the envisioned plan isn't viable for a whole host of
reasons. One crude method, off the top of my head, is to export relevant
contact info to Access or Excel when the broadcast emails are required, add
an autonumber field to each row and do a mail-merge from this file selecting
the number of records you want to email. Since your description also
mentions 500/hr/user - that would imply that the actual number allowed in
any broadcast is reduced by any regular email messages sent within that hour
so actual number would be (500 minus any normal email sent = total allowed
in broadcast).

Karl
___________________________________________________
Karl Timmermans - The Claxton Group
ContactGenie - Importer 1.3 / DataPorter 2.0 / Exporter
"Power contact importers/exporters for MS Outlook '2000/2007"
http://www.contactgenie.com
 
Thanks for the Excel advice. I think I will just store and edit my list in
Excel and copy the addresses to Outlook for the mailing.
 
If the prime list is being maintained in Excel, why not just do a mail merge
to email from MS Word (Outlook step is unnecessary)?

Karl
___________________________________________________
Karl Timmermans - The Claxton Group
ContactGenie - Importer 1.3 / DataPorter 2.0 / Exporter
"Power contact importers/exporters for MS Outlook '2000/2007"
http://www.contactgenie.com
 
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