You can't use the address picker - when i do it (which is not often), i group by category and copy the category then paste in the to field - you need a name only view though. Or select the category, use New message to command them copy the addresses to the forward. Yeah, either method is a PITA but its not something i do much. If i did it much i'd probably make a DL...
Dear Slippy,
Many thanks for this that these and those - very helpful and would have taken a month of Y2Ks for me to sort it out by mice elf.
I have tried doing both methods (at least my variation of them). However, I find the first a bit clunky, because my contact view has many column headings and I could not be bothered having to create another view just with the name only view. But, even if you had just the name field there, then when you copy the category list of contacts and paste it into the "To" field say, then all the heading(s) crap gets posted into the To field and you have to select and delete all the crap to just leave the email and name addresses. However, it is still workable, but a real PITA as you say. Now I will have a different view every time I eat a bit of pita bread. No matter - I prefer chappatis/rotis/Naan anyway.
Re the second method you mention - "select the category, use New message to command then copy the addresses to the forward". This seems to be a lot more workable and easier. It took me a while to work out what you are suggesting, but it is great. So, just to clarify with you, I do a forward from the original message that came to me, go to contacts, sort by category, click on the category header, go to the main menu, select actions/create/new message to menu, go to the new email with all the email addresses of the contacts listed under the category header now in the "To" section of the new email, highlight all of these email addresses, control c (copy them) and then paste directly into the To or cc or bcc field of the "forward" email I started with. Is this what you mean?
If so, it works a treat even though a few extra steps, but IMHO, less clunky (at least for me) than the first method.
Re the DL - yes, this is a good idea it I were to do this a lot, but only if the DL lists remained relatively static (ie not being edited a lot/added to/removed from). The great thing with categories is that if every time you add a new contact and assign a category(ies) to it, then when you sort by category (one click on the category header I have in my contacts columns), the category list is automatically updated just by adding the category to the new contact. Otherwise, if using the DL, not only do you need to create the new contact, but have to then open the DL and add that new contact to it. Ditto if their email address changes, or does it automatically change in the DL list as well? Probably duzz.
Many thanks slippy. Life gets a bit easier every day..
All the best, cheers and enjoy.
Michael