Add contacts to distribution list.

[HPEJack]

We are using outlook XP. the contact list has been
imported from a txt file that I edited from an AOL address
book. I created a string with only name and email address
and emported it to outlook contact. It looks ok when you
view the contact list. When you create a distribution
list and try to add members, all you get is a ;.

I have printed knowledge base article 284292, and followed
on 2 computers and one will add one name and email
then ;,; and the other only add ;,;,;.

Can anybody help???

Thanks, Jack

 

[Sara Coyle]

This is the kind of task I prefer using excel for.

Open a new excel worksheet.

File - Import your txt file with the AOL info.

Use Data - Text to Columns to run a wizard which will
allow you to separate the parts of your text file into
separate columns. Use the delimiter option. Select
spaces as the delimiter, ie, the character which tells the
wizard to break the line of text into columns. Allow it
to replace the data currently in the cells.

On the row above the data-now-in-columns, create labels
such as firstName, LastName, SMTPAddress. Use Edit-Insert
row if you need to. SMTPAddress should be the email
addresses.

To check if the converted text strings are ok, put your
cursor in the row with the lables, and go to Data-Filter-
Autofilter. Drop down list icons will appear in each of
the column label cells. Click the SMTPAddress drop down
list and scan the list which appears. You should be able
to immediately see any errors. Select the error in the
drop down box - excel will bring up the entire record for
editing.

Save the xls file.

Open Outlook, delete all your failed contact imports.
Then go to File - Import - Import from a different
program, and select Excel as the program type. Browse for
your .xls file. You will be prompted to confirm the
mapping of the fields, ie which columns from the excel
speadsheet should go into which fields in the Contact.
Use caution. You want to import the email address into the
email1 field. The first and last names should be mapped
to the corresponding Outlook fields, not the full name
field.

Best of luck!

 

[Jack@HPE]

I have followed instructions, starting at 2:30pm and as
10:00pm still just get names and 32,616 blank records
imported. After selecting Excell as your file type, it
only let you see one data item at a time and you do not
see all your items as you do with text file.

The only file that show up for distribution list is the
file that are already there, 34, and no more, even with
176 name only.


CAN ANYBODY HELP...
Jack