OUTLOOK 2002 - Address Book Problem :(

[Tuz76]

Hi Guys,

I have a problem. I backup my outlook contacts by "exporting" my contacts.pst file to another partition. Then when I am ready to re-install outlook, I just import the contacts.pst file and presto....they come back.

HERES THE PROBLEM -- > When I go to compose an email, and I click in the "To" Button, outlook cant find anything. The 'select names' box is empty!

So If I then click on Address Book, it too is empty and when I try to add an entry it says " A new entry could not be added. You must have a personal address book (PAB) to create an entry. Add a PAB to your profile using the E-mail accounts command on the Tools Menu."

I am quite lost as to how to do this.

Ine essence my question is "How can I get all the contacts in outlook to also be in my address book" And for the future, how do I backup BOTH the contacts AS WELl as the Address Book files?

Thanks!

-Tuz

[cyberskye]

I have to do this a lot for work.

Open Outlook. Right-click on your contacts folder. Outlookaddressbook tab. Check the "show this folder as addressbook" and save.

In future you can go Tools>AddressBook>Tools>prpoerties and pick the order and content of your mail directory service. I use a combination of PAB and Contact from two separate pst files (work and personal)

Why don't you back up your whole outlook.pst (assuming you use contacts rather than a PAB)? That will contain all folders and you can easily restore the whole thing (mail, contacts, etc). That, or export your addressbook (PAB file) first.

This is all in the help files btw.


Skye

[Tuz76]

FYI - Im using outlook 2002

Thanks so much.

I right clicked on my contacts folder, clicked on 'Properties', then 'Outlook address book' tab.

The option 'show this folder as an email address book' is blanked out and not available for me to check or uncheck.

[Tuz76]

No worries I fixed it.

I just did a repair of Office, started again.

Then just imported my Outlook.pst file again using the import wizard.

So is that the easiest way for me to backup? To copy my outlook.pst file somewhere else and then whenever I format PC or something and reinstall Outlook, I just import the outlook.pst file?

Cheers

[Brk]

Originally posted by Tuz76
So is that the easiest way for me to backup? To copy my outlook.pst file somewhere else and then whenever I format PC or something and reinstall Outlook, I just import the outlook.pst file?

Cheers

You got it.

[Tuz76]

Ok cool! While were on the topic. How to I go about backing up all emails, folders and ADDRESS BOOK of Outlook EXPRESS. Is there a PST FIle?

I think I know the address book is simply "file, export, and then address book as a PST file?

The reason I ask is because Currently I do it the dodgy way. I go into user/localsettings/application data/identities/f24...../ and copy EVERY file thats in there into a backup directory. THen I just copy everything back into that folder when I reinstall outlook express.

Can some one please confirm what it is in that folder that I need to backup?

Thanks again

[Brk]

Outlook Express exports the address book in a .wab format, not .pst. I'm not sure but you can likely import it into Outlook too.

As for your mail storage folder, I'd just copy the entire folder to a separate partition, then in Outlook Express go to Tools > Options > Maintenance > Store Folder and point to the partition where you copied all your mail. Save drilling through tons of folders and if you ever format the C: drive, you won't have to worry about whether or not you backed up your mail beforehand.

[Tuz76]

Fantastic!!! IT works!

Ok so is there any reason why I cant do the same with OUTLOOK?

I mean cant I go to control panel, mail, then data files.....and point that path to an external folder like the process u just mentioned for Outlook Express?

Thanks (If only I asked this earlier hehe)

[Tuz76]

LAST QUESTION I PROMISE! :P

Are you -SURE- that after I change the store folder in outlook express the way you mentioned, it wont be removed/erased if I ever uninstalled outlook express? I mean normally applications take away all the data associated with them. If it doesnt know where the files are isnt it a surer way of guaranteeing that Outlook cant delete them as part of its removal process?

Thanks!

[Brk]

Originally posted by Tuz76
LAST QUESTION I PROMISE! :P

Are you -SURE- that after I change the store folder in outlook express the way you mentioned, it wont be removed/erased if I ever uninstalled outlook express? I mean normally applications take away all the data associated with them. If it doesnt know where the files are isnt it a surer way of guaranteeing that Outlook cant delete them as part of its removal process?

Thanks!

I'm sure. I've been doing it for a couple of years. But you should always make backups on a regular basis nonetheless.

[Brk]

Originally posted by Tuz76
Fantastic!!! IT works!

Ok so is there any reason why I cant do the same with OUTLOOK?

I mean cant I go to control panel, mail, then data files.....and point that path to an external folder like the process u just mentioned for Outlook Express?

Thanks (If only I asked this earlier hehe)

I'm only familiar with Outlook Express, so I can't be sure...

[gvac]

I am having a sort of seperate issue. I have a bunch of address's in my address book. When I go to compose an email and hit the "to" button. I do NOT see the name of the people but if I scroll to the right I can see the email address's .. How do I change the view so that I see the contact name and I can chose who to send to from there ??