Recently I purchased a new laptop for a user which came with Outlook 2003. This user had been using 2003 before this laptop, so he was used to some of it's features. In his old version of Outlook, when he would add a phone number to a contact, Outlook would automatically format the number with parantheses around the area code, a space after the area code, and a dash between the 7 numbers, i.e. 5555552525 would become(555) 555-2525. On his new laptop with 2003, Outlook no longer does this. I've spent around 2 hours trying to find any kind of setting that would change this, but cannot find anything. I even played around with making a new form for the contacts, but did not see any kind of formatting for the phone number fields. Is there something I can do to reset the formatting?
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Outlook 2003 Contact Formatting
- Thread starter Myllz
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To achieve this you need to open a Contact and then double click on the number label e.g. Home... or Mobile...
This will open the Check Number dialog. If you now set the country code (it probaly is already set when the dialog opens), type in the Area Code in the appropriate box and then add the phone number to the appropriate box, you will find the number will be displayed as +44 (01792) 73737 format.
Regards: tf1
This will open the Check Number dialog. If you now set the country code (it probaly is already set when the dialog opens), type in the Area Code in the appropriate box and then add the phone number to the appropriate box, you will find the number will be displayed as +44 (01792) 73737 format.
Regards: tf1
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks for the input. I do know about this method, and yes, it does work. However, the user does not want to have to fill in multiple fields when entering numbers, he just wants to type in the 10 digit number and have it formatted automatically.
I know this is possible, because in my own version of Outlook 2003, phone numbers are formatted automatically for me this way. If I enter 5555552525 and click away from the field, Outlook automatically formats it to (555) 555-2525. For one reason or another, it will not do this in his copy of Outlook.
I know this is possible, because in my own version of Outlook 2003, phone numbers are formatted automatically for me this way. If I enter 5555552525 and click away from the field, Outlook automatically formats it to (555) 555-2525. For one reason or another, it will not do this in his copy of Outlook.
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- #6
I had the same problem and searched Microsoft's knowledge base from the Outlook help menu. I came up with the following link written for Outlook 2000 but it also worked for my 2003 version:
In short, your Dialing Properties determine how Outlook 2000/2003 formats your contact phone numbers. If you have not previously set-up your Dialing Properties Location, Outlook will not know how to automatically mask your phone numbers.
Hope this helps.
In short, your Dialing Properties determine how Outlook 2000/2003 formats your contact phone numbers. If you have not previously set-up your Dialing Properties Location, Outlook will not know how to automatically mask your phone numbers.
Hope this helps.
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