Phone Number Formatting in Office XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter David
  • Start date Start date
D

David

Hi.

Is there a way to switch the phone number autoformating
off? Or at least somehow change the way the outlook
formats the numbers?
I use the Outlook Contacts when I need to phone somebody
as well as for replication with my mobile phone. The
absolutly stupid thing is, when I enter a phone number or
even edit some other information in my contact the Outlook
formats the phone number and puts brackets into the
number, f.e. +41 (79) 555 55 55. My mobile cannot call
such a number.
The only way, I discovered, I am able to use my contacts
for replication with my handy is to enter the number in
the format +41795555555. In turn, that's not providing an
easy survey, when I need to read the number.

Thanks. David.
 
Phone number formatting is hard coded, based on your location setting and
cannot be changed. The only setting available to the end user is whether to
add the country code automatically or not. Some users have been successful
in tricking Outlook by setting a null location setting, but not all OS let
you do that.
 
...well, I've been afraid of this answer!
Thanks anyway.

I just wonder, how MS decided which format to take? What
was the descision base? .. I mean everybody uses his own
one, and not everywhere on the world are the conventions
the same.. And some applications (like my phone
synchroniser) simply need another format.
... I know - I don't need to use it.. Or I can stay by
O2k.. there was the option to switch it off.

Cheers. David.

This is realy nonsense. Some appli
-----Original Message-----
Phone number formatting is hard coded, based on your location setting and
cannot be changed. The only setting available to the end user is whether to
add the country code automatically or not. Some users have been successful
in tricking Outlook by setting a null location setting, but not all OS let
you do that.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
David said:
Hi.

Is there a way to switch the phone number autoformating
off? Or at least somehow change the way the outlook
formats the numbers?
I use the Outlook Contacts when I need to phone somebody
as well as for replication with my mobile phone. The
absolutly stupid thing is, when I enter a phone number or
even edit some other information in my contact the Outlook
formats the phone number and puts brackets into the
number, f.e. +41 (79) 555 55 55. My mobile cannot call
such a number.
The only way, I discovered, I am able to use my contacts
for replication with my handy is to enter the number in
the format +41795555555. In turn, that's not providing an
easy survey, when I need to read the number.

Thanks. David.
Click to expand...


.
Click to expand...
 
Not sure. I imagine it was to keep numbers in canonical or international
format which is the most reliable for working with various dialing rules set
up in the operating system.
Making the phone number format configurable by the user is a frequent
request. You can send Outlook feature requests to (e-mail address removed) with
"Outlook" in the subject and to (e-mail address removed)

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
..well, I've been afraid of this answer!
Thanks anyway.

I just wonder, how MS decided which format to take? What
was the descision base? .. I mean everybody uses his own
one, and not everywhere on the world are the conventions
the same.. And some applications (like my phone
synchroniser) simply need another format.
.. I know - I don't need to use it.. Or I can stay by
O2k.. there was the option to switch it off.

Cheers. David.

This is realy nonsense. Some appli
-----Original Message-----
Phone number formatting is hard coded, based on your location setting and
cannot be changed. The only setting available to the end user is whether to
add the country code automatically or not. Some users have been successful
in tricking Outlook by setting a null location setting, but not all OS let
you do that.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
David said:
Hi.

Is there a way to switch the phone number autoformating
off? Or at least somehow change the way the outlook
formats the numbers?
I use the Outlook Contacts when I need to phone somebody
as well as for replication with my mobile phone. The
absolutly stupid thing is, when I enter a phone number or
even edit some other information in my contact the Outlook
formats the phone number and puts brackets into the
number, f.e. +41 (79) 555 55 55. My mobile cannot call
such a number.
The only way, I discovered, I am able to use my contacts
for replication with my handy is to enter the number in
the format +41795555555. In turn, that's not providing an
easy survey, when I need to read the number.

Thanks. David.
Click to expand...


.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I'm interested in trying this Russ. How have these users changed
their location string? Do you know which particular registry entry
contains the location setting?

I'm running XP Professional. I found one string at
\HKEY_Current_User\Control Panel\International\sCountry with "Canada"
in it that would seem to be my location, but I seriously doubt that
this will do the trick.

...................


In the midst of composing this reply and still searching around in the
background, I actually found the place to be...for XP Professional
anways...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Telephony\Locations

Changed the "AreaCode" and "Country" strings to nonsense and went into
Control Panel->Phone and Modem Options to make sure I only had the one
location.

All works great. Thanks for the nudge in the right direction Russ. I
had a heck of a time manually changing all of my phone numbers, but my
Palm is much happier now.

It should go without saying that users who are not VERY familiar with
the registry editor should not even consider looking at what I'm
talking about. EXPORT the branch in the editor before you give it a
try.


Don't say I didn't warn you.
 
Sorry, I didn't post this information and have never tried it nor seen it
recommended.
 
Well then, thanks for inadvertently giving me a suggestion that
pointed me to the correct solution.

It works just fine, by the way.
 
What part actually worked?
I assume the reg hacks are necessary because Windows XP won't let you use a
null setting in the dialing location.
 
You need to change two strings in the registry and it turns it your
location into a null setting. Outlook won't nag you to set a location
since you have a location set...Windows just doesn't understand what
it is.

You can undo this action by going back into the location settings
under Phone and Modem Options, so you can't really cause any major
damage with this hack.

I've attached a file that just needs to be merged for it to work on
your system. You must only have one location on your system or it
won't work. I know that this works on Windows XP Professional. Other
OS may have this particular key in another area...doubtful, but
possible.

Regards,


Arthur
 
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