show this folder as an email address book

[twospoons]

hello, i have several users on a win2k3 sbs with exchange 2k3 that are primarily using exchange to share contacts and calendars (no real emails).

i shared the contacts and calendar under the administrator outlook account (administator@domain.local). then i opened the shared contacts and calendar on each of the users outlook accounts... however... when they want to create a new mail message and add someone from the contact list into the "to:" field the administrator shared contacts does not show up in the choices of the address book... i logged back in as administrator and right click -> properties on the "contacts in mailbox - administrator" inside outlook... there is a tab there that says "outlook address book" with a checkbox that says "show this folder as an email address book"...

why does this tab not show up when i check the properties logged in as a user? what is the point of having shared contacts if the users can't access them the same as their local contact?

i have set the default permissions to owner on the "contacts in mailbox - administrator" but the outlook tab doesn't show up.

 

[PScottC]

On your outlook client open the Tools menu and choose E-mail Accounts. Select the "Add new directory or address boot" radio button and hit next. Select the "Additional Address Books" radio button and hit next. Select "Outlook Address Book" from the list and hit next. Click Finish. Close and re-open Outlook. Open the properties of the Contacts folder and choose the Outlook Address Book Tab. Check "Show this folder as an e-mail address book". Hit OK.

Create a new email using the "Contacts" address list.

PSC

Governments and corporations need people like you and me. We are samurai. The keyboard cowboys. And all those other people out there who have no idea what's going on are the cattle. Mooo! --Mr. The Plague, from the movie "Hackers

 

[twospoons]

thanks for the response...

but when i follow the steps you just gave i get the following error:

"This account or directory type already exists and cannot be specified twice.

 

[PScottC]

I just re-read your original post... Are your users attempting to use contacts that are in the shared contact list?

If that's the case, then I don't beleive that you can do what you are attempting. Users would have to open the contact list before creating the mail, right click on the contact and select "New Message to Contact" from the context menu.

PSC

Governments and corporations need people like you and me. We are samurai. The keyboard cowboys. And all those other people out there who have no idea what's going on are the cattle. Mooo! --Mr. The Plague, from the movie "Hackers

 

[twospoons]

yes i'm trying to use a shared contact list. what is the point of sharing a contact list if you can't use the functionality of it as a contact list?

why can't i add the shared contact list to the local address book? if that isn't possible then how about listing it in a public folder or something? i just need a way for users to click on the "to" button and see a list of the shared contacts.

 

[MoobyCow]

Having the shared contacts as a public folder works. I have my system setup that way.

I never tried using another users contact list, so I don't have any good info on why that wouldn't work.

If you're going to be doing a lot of this sort of thing you can buy software that syncs two or more contact folders.

http://www.diditbetter.com/Solutions/ContactXchange/overview.asp

 

[twospoons]

any info on setting up a public folder?

 

[MoobyCow]

Simply right click the Public Folders from Outlook and select new. Give the approriate permissions under properties (access for the users who need it) and you're done.

Under the user accounts you'll be able to check the box for "show this folder as an e-mail address book".