OUTLOOK 2003 on WinXP, Prob: CONTACTS or ADDRESS BOOK not connected or missing

Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Roger O

Member
Outlook version
Email Account
POP3
I used to have a CONTACTS file connected to OUTLOOK 2003 that worked and stored information successfully for some time (but it was several years ago). It's 256KB large, but is that some data or the base empty file?

At this time I have a PAB file that MAY contain information but I can't get it connected to OUTLOOK in a way that I have confidence in the status.

When I attempt to look for the Properties of the CONTACTS listed in OUTLOOK I see the following list:

1. OUTLOOK ADDRESS BOOK

2. ----CONTACTS (indented line)

3. ----CONTACTS (indented line)

4. PERSONAL ADDRESS BOOK

Notice the indent of the two lines above, does this signify that they are both sub files under the title of OUTLOOK ADDRESS BOOK - that is, concatenated as a single functional file of data?

I don't want to bother with segregation of contact type (personal vs business) just one list/file. I want to delete any bad files but I want to connect the PAB files that I have now. I've been able to play with the OPTIONS of the list order or content and ADD a new one. But I can't get it to store new email ID's automatically like I know it can. Except: after entering some test emails I can get suggestions to pop up the next time around - but not saved in the CONTACTS file that is at the top of the list at the time. They are empty! Is this enough info for now?

Thanks
 
Re: OUTLOOK 2003 on WinXP, Prob: CONTACTS or ADDRESS BOOK not connected or mis

256KB is empty. That is not the pst you used before.

The indents mean they are in the address book. Check the folder list - in outlook, press Ctrl+6 to switch to the folder list and you can see where everything is in relation to the other folders.

Outlook doesn't save addresses to the contacts folder automatically, it saves the addresses to the autocomplete list and they'll come up when you start typing a name. See automatically add addresses to contacts for more information.
 
Re: OUTLOOK 2003 on WinXP, Prob: CONTACTS or ADDRESS BOOK not connected or mis

Diane: Thank you very much for this information. I'm going to look it all over very carefully and get back in a couple of days. If this solves these problems, I have more configuration issues to raise. I have been living with problems for a very long time. Thanks again. Roger O
 
Re: OUTLOOK 2003 on WinXP, Prob: CONTACTS or ADDRESS BOOK not connected or mis

OK now..... Items in order... 1) First of all I tried the function you mentioned (several times) of "CTRL+6" and I couldn't get it to do anything. I did it from different locations. Meaning, I put the cursor on the CONTACTS folder in the list of folders, also INBOX folder, also in a NEW MESSAGE, and other places.... I couldn't get a response from pressing that combination. Was it supposed to be something else?

But that answer was related to my question about the PAB file and Address Books in general. In my fiddling around, I found out where I could effect the Address Book list. I pressed the Address Book Icon in the toolbar of the main OUTLOOK window and another window popped up called Address Book. On that window I chose the menu option of TOOLS | OPTIONS and got the ADDRESSING window up. This allowed set some things and allowed me to ADD a new item. In the Properties window I called it Personal Address Book and pointed it to the file that I mentioned of my PAB file in the directory where I keep the PST file too. BTW, I found out how to point OUTLOOK to my own directory for that PST file. I like to keep all my data files in my own Partition and subdirectory structure so I can back them up as desired. Now, on that same little window I made sure that this name was the new item specified as the one to "show first" in the list, and on the next field that it was where I want to "keep personal addresses in". On the last field (which is a listbox) is an item called CONTACTS. The message above is "when sending mail...check names using these address lists in the following order:". But, this is were all the confusion starts. The Properties button of that CONTACTS item shows that the file connected to it is the Personal Folders of my file???? Why doesn't it say the PAB file that I want to point to? I know this is going to be the issue later in this process.

This may explain something that I have just seen.

I began to experiment with your response of "people usually just add a new name to the contacts by using the right-click process". This has merit as you suggest so that not too many addresses get added indiscrimanantly. I thought that was the way it worked many years ago because I didn't know much about the right-click process. And I used OUTLOOK at work for many years too. Now back to the issue with the contacts that I created.

LOOK at next message – it was too long previously….
 
Re: OUTLOOK 2003 on WinXP, Prob: CONTACTS or ADDRESS BOOK not connected or mis

Continuation of previous item.....p2

a) When I press the cursor on the CONTACTS folder in the left hand list of all the Personal Folders in my PST file, I get a window that shows all the entered names that I right-clicked on in new email messages. Just it should.

b) When I type a couple of letters of a name in the "find a contact" field in the toolbar, and press enter key I get a response - either an intermeadiate window called CHOOSE CONTACT that shows if there is multiple hits on those letters - or go directly to the hit in the contacts. Showing all the information for the hit. Just as it should, and it also keeps a list of the hits in this drop down list.

c) But when I left-click on the little Address Book icon next to the entry field, I get a window called "ADDRESS BOOK". It shows a list of names having nothing to do with any letters in the little entry field. In my case, the information that is shown are names that I entered a couple of days earlier when I didn't know how to configure it to this point. I don't know where they are being held (what file) and if I click on one of those names it brings up a completely different set of windows to edit or look at the hit. And these windows DO NOT resemble the previously mentioned address book windows. BTW - When I choose the menu item TOOLS | Address Book I get the same window of names (garbage) that has been showing up.

d) When in a new message window - if I press the Address Book icon in the toolbar of that window I get a new response. It is called "Select Names". This one also shows the same as the bogus window in "C)". It shows the two garbage names also.

Well now - the obvious answer at this point is that the REAL contacts is being kept in the CONTACTS folder in the folders list on the left of the OUTLOOK window. It's being updated either by direct entry or the right-click method. I can see this. But HOW did my configuring process NOT get it into the proper PAB file? During this adding of names I noticed that the date/time of the physical PAB file did not changed in unison with my entering of new names. It hasn't changed in about 3 hours during this process I'm testing.

With a final test of adding a new name - at the point of the SAVE and CLOSE of that new name - the date/time changed on the PST file! And I didn't add the complete new message too. Hooray I found the location of the names. Great their in the PST file and I don't have to back them up separately. But I thought they were in a special file. Confusion.....

2) I'll ask my next question after I do some more testing on the process that is not working.

Thanks for your attention Diane. Roger O
 
Re: OUTLOOK 2003 on WinXP, Prob: CONTACTS or ADDRESS BOOK not connected or mis

Roger O said:
when sending mail...check names using these address lists in the following order:"[/B]. But, this is were all the confusion starts. The Properties button of that CONTACTS item shows that the file connected to it is the Personal Folders of my file???? Why doesn't it say the PAB file that I want to point to? I know this is going to be the issue later in this process.
Click to expand...

This is because the pab is discontinued. It will still open in 2003 but contacts folder is the new default for saving contacts.

Ctrl+6 opens the folder list, it sounds like you were in it already - it makes it easier to see where the folders are, especially if you use subfolders, while the individual navigation panes don't.
 
Re: OUTLOOK 2003 on WinXP, Prob: CONTACTS or ADDRESS BOOK not connected or mis

c) that is the address book and it contains only contacts with electronic addresses, so you won't see all contacts in it.

These two screenshots show the contact options

the first is outlook, the contacts folder and the Address book with one contact - the only contact with an email address.

contact-pab-outlook.png

The second screenshot is of an Outlook contact (billy) and a personal address book contact (mary).

contact-pab.png

d) that is the correct dialog for outlook 2003 - its the address book window and should have the same contacts as you see when you press the Address book icon. (In 2007, it looks more like the Address book window. )

I highly recommend importing the pab into Contacts so you only have one file to back up - you'll be able ot see the contacts in the contacts folder and all will use the same form.

I'm not sure what the garbage contacts are - if the Show names from window says 'contacts' they are in your contacts folder.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
< Outlook address book | could not open attached files, i receive a message with “corrupted file” >
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
D Wishlist How to use 'app password' in Outlook 2003 after Google pulled plug on "less secure apps" Using Outlook 2
J Outlook 2003 .pst Will Not Restore Completely to Outlook 2019 Using Outlook 5
D Outlook 2003 Mail Fails Using Outlook 1
D Wrong email address in Outlook 2003 "From" tab in new outgoing emails Using Outlook 4
V Outlook 2003 and Windows 11 Using Outlook 4
glnz Moving from Outlook 2003 to MS365 Outlook - need basics Using Outlook 4
I Outlook 2003 shows html code when To: field is empty Using Outlook 7
B Outlook 2003 email sending & receiving suddenly stopped working Using Outlook 3
H Outlook 2003 find by "has attachment" Using Outlook 1
glnz How set up new IMAP on Outlook-Office 365 and merge in pst from Outlook 2003 for same two email accounts? Using Outlook 5
P Import Categories from Outlook 2003 Using Outlook 8
V Outlook 2003 problem with Windows 10 Creators Update 1709 Using Outlook 0
M Outlook 2003 pictures - some visible, some not Using Outlook 0
S Outlook 2003 to Outlook 2013 pst file Using Outlook 5
O Memory Leak in Outlook 2003 Using Outlook 3
W Changing looks of emails in Outlook 2003 Using Outlook 0
O Outlook 2003 can't send, but settings seem OK Using Outlook 1
P URL Hyperlink not working correctly in Outlook 2003 Using Outlook 10
O Outlook 2003 can't open contacts. Using Outlook 2
O Promoting Outlook 2003 User Templates Using Outlook 1
O W-a-a-y too many PSTs (Outlook 2003) Using Outlook 0
J Outlook 2003-2010 PST Field Editor Using Outlook 1
P Outlook 2003 - Do I need a new profile? Using Outlook 2
E Want to Import Outlook 2003 pst files to later version Using Outlook 6
A error message outlook 2003 Using Outlook 1
B Seeking advice now Outlook 2003 is unsupported by Exchange Using Outlook 4
O Change Debit to Credit in Outlook 2003? Using Outlook 1
J problems downloading POP3 emails to Outlook 2003 Using Outlook 1
G Outlook 2003 VBA Won't Run In Outlook 2010 Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 4
P Outlook 2003 - possible to recreate corrupt account? Using Outlook 3
Calvyn Outlook 2003 cannot import .vcs subject Using Outlook 1
T Query about one aspect of migrating .pst files from Outlook 2003 to Outlook 2013 Using Outlook 5
C Outlook 2003 contacts Using Outlook 1
G Configuring Outlook 2003 for Gmail with both pop3 & imap4 accounts Using Outlook 1
M HELP--Extract Data from 2003 outlook transfer to excel spreadsheet Using Outlook 1
V Outlook 2003 editing problem Using Outlook 4
X Outlook 2003 not sending all of the new email message Using Outlook 1
2 How to use outlook 2003 calendar in always offline mode Using Outlook 0
G Outlook 2003 I need to move email to folder based on subject, using wild card Using Outlook 0
G outlook 2013 - Open In Outlook 2003 Using Outlook 1
A Exchange 2003 Outlook 2010 64 Bit- AutoDiscover Connection Err - Certificate Exchange Server Administration 9
T Use Outlook 2003 with Office 2013 Using Outlook 1
D Outlook 2003 contact folder opend in scrolled down position Using Outlook 2
O Need advice ASAP! Outlook 2003. Using Outlook 1
H Custom Contact form not working in Outlook 2003 Using Outlook 3
O Outlook 2003 forms problem Using Outlook 3
O Duplicate folders in Outlook 2003 Using Outlook 3
O Moving OUtlook 2003 from bad XP to Win 7 Pro 64 -- URGENT! Using Outlook 8
A File - Save Attachments does nothing in Outlook 2003 with Exchange 2010 ... Using Outlook 3
R Menus in a new\old email not there in Outlook 2003 Using Outlook 2

Similar threads

Back
Top