Outlook should take contacts and convert them to Business Contact.

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Guest

When Outlook 2003 users get Outlook with Business Contact edition they should
be able to convert the contacts with some type of automation wizard.
 
Why add a wizard, when all the user has to do is Ctrl+drag the contacts they
want to turn into business contacts.
 
NO, NO, NO
Sue, you work for Microsoft correct? The issue is that BCM should be
using the same contacts that are in the default Contact database. We
should only have to Categorize our existing (and new contacts) as
"Business". That's all very simple. Then they should show up in BCM.

What is this Drag and drop stuff. Then you have to maintain them in
both databases. Why do you ask? Because ActiveSync can only Sync to the
default contact database. So now if I have two databases I cant get
them all on my phone.

Please stop giving bad workarounds and have someone from Microsoft
address the real issue.
 
You are mistaken about how these forums work. Like all the other MVPs, I do
not work for Microsoft and volunteer my time in these forums to try to help
people use the products as they exist.

You will see some Microsoft staffers in this forum answering a few
questions, largely on troubleshooting issues, but that's not the norm. They
are generally support people, not employees involved in product design.

If you have suggestions, you can send them to (e-mail address removed) or use
the other feedback mechanisms on Microsoft's web site.
 
Sue,

Sorry I thought you worked for MS.

I have tried to find a way to voice my issues/enhancements on the MS
site but can not find one.

You have to agree though that this design is really poor. What do you
think?
 
What is this Drag and drop stuff. Then you have to maintain them in
both databases.
Click to expand...

You can drag and _move_ your business Contacts to Business Contacts,
and use Outlook Contacts for your friends and family Contacts.
 
Luther,

I need all my contacts on one portable device (my smartphone).
ActiveSync (a Microsoft SW product) can only sync to the main contact
folder in OutLook. The correct design of BCM should have taken
advantage of the categories in Outlook Contacts to use the contacts as
marked as "Business".
Do you understand what I am saying?

Thanks for your reply.
 
The correct design for Microsoft is to satisfy as many users as
possible and not design a product for BigDog.

Merely using categories to mark business contacts would have made
popular features impossible in BCM.

ActiveSync support didn't meet the bar for BCM v1. I expect it'll show
up in later versions as BCM supports more user requests.
 
Oh really.

You mean to say that Microsoft did not see the value in creating an
integrated solution?

That is just tipicle BS product planning and design.

You should not have to maintain two databases. What are the features
that could not be supported if using the same contacts in Outlook
marked as "Business"?

Your first statement in your reply says volumns about where Micrsoft
stands about their customer base.

I would have expected a reply like.... MS is awhere of this issue and
is working to fix it. In the mean time you can copy or move your
etc........ not the reply you posted.
 
Your first statement in your reply says volumns about where Micrsoft
stands about their customer base.

I would have expected a reply like.... MS is awhere of this issue and
is working to fix it.
Click to expand...

Only someone who works for Microsoft would be able to say what Microsoft is
or is not working on. I don't believe Luther does.

You still seem to be laboring under the misimpression that these forums
provide a dialog with the Microsoft development teams. They don't, although
I'm sure the BCM team lurks here. If you want your comments to go directly
to Microsoft, see http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=114491 for details on
feedback mechanisms. However, I imagine nothing you have said will be news
to anyone there. The limitations of BCM are quite apparent.

In the meantime, the rest of us will go back to trying to help people get
the most out of the product as it exists today. If you find any good
shortcuts or workarounds, I'm sure folks would appreciate your sharing them.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
 
Sue,

You are correct and I apologies for my behavior.

It's just that I consult on the design of software for large fortune
500 companies for a living. I would never create software without
regard to integration and reusability the way the BCM was designed and
developed. When I first heard about BCM I was really excited about its
capabilities but when I tried to use it I was surprised (disappointed)
in its usability. I truly thought it was an extension to Outlook and
would make me (my company) more productive. I was wrong. I like the
concept but the implementation is weak.
I will investigate the link that you posted.

Thanks

Mark
 
Hi and I hope someone can advise me on a performance question?

BCM seems really slow in the accounts area, (searching, saving etc).

I have under 500 accounts and under700 contacts. My machine is well spec'd
and I get the same issue on a laptop as the desktop, so the spec makes no
difference. Also I have no other applications open that could be eating the
memory.

I have de-fragged the disk with only a tiny improvement.

I have tried installing 'look out' to speed up searches etc and whilst this
works well for email and contact folders, it doesn't appear to work with
accounts etc.

Please let me know of any answers or experiences?

Thanks.

Ian
 
BCM installs and uses SQL Server for its database. It was using over 28
meg of mem on my PC where I have a total of 1 gig of mem. This slowed
down my performance of Outlook as well so I uninstalled BCM becuase of
this issue and other issues.

look for sqlmanager.exe (something like that) in task manger window
under processes.

Good Luck.
 
Hi,

Yep, same issue, although outlook is working fine and quickly. It would be
good to know if this is an aknowledged performance 'bug' or if there is a
configuration change in the machine I can make to improve it.

Any ideas or thoughts appreciated.

Thanks.

Ian
 
If you have have enough memory to keep Outlook and SQL Server in RAM
and you still have performance problems (with those numbers of Contacts
and Accounts), then I would look for anti-virus software that
intercepts all disk accesses. SQL Server uses the disk more
aggressively than regular Outlook PST files to record transactions and
such. If you have anti-virus software, trying turning it off and see if
your performance improves.
 
I have installed Outlook and BCM out of the box onto a clean machine, no anti
virus software, no network connections i.e. single user and no other apps
open.

I backed up the data from the desktop and loaded to the laptop via the
restore feature in BCM.

The laptop spec is:
Pentium (1.6GHz) processor
512MB RAM, 60GB Hard Drive
Running: XP Pro

The performance is equally bad. It has only been this bad since I imported
data from Excel to the desktop originally. Could it be that it is the way in
which the data is stored and referenced that slows it down so much?
 
Hello Bob, BigDog, others and of course Sue:

I talked with one of the PMs over in BCM and he's read this thread. Believe me, they are "aware of the issue and looking at options."

In the meantime, he sent me these steps:

Select the contacts they want to place into BCM
Use of the Ctrl key is the best method (Ctrl-a, holding down the Ctrl key and select multiples with the mouse)

After selecting, Click on Edit: Copy to Folder or Move to Folder

Select Business Contacts Folder, hit ok

Note: Contacts with attachments will yield errors and only the contact information will be moved / copied to the BCM folder.

Hope this helps,

-Steve Anderson
PM, Office

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

<Bob> wrote:


When Outlook 2003 users get Outlook with Business Contact edition they should
be able to convert the contacts with some type of automation wizard.
 
Steve,

You say that PMs over in BCM are reading this thread is a real good
sign.

What we need is an integrated solution. As I stated in other threads, I
have removed BCM from my computer because I refuse to use a badly
designed and therefore inefficient software application. I will
reevaluate the SW once it is redesigned to embrace a fully integrated
solution.

Mark
 
BCM is a crap product -- would expect MS to be issuing fixes daily -- see no
point im paying for such a crap product
 
Interesting to see that this thread started over 2 years ago and right on
through to the current v.3 the same old issues linger .....

-THP


BCM is a crap product -- would expect MS to be issuing fixes daily -- see no
point im paying for such a crap product
Hi BigDog,
Click to expand...
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
Click to expand...
 
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