Address Book will not alphabetize

[Jim Voelzow]

After using Migration Assistant to transfer my data to a new MacBook Pro, my
Address Book within Entourage will not properly alphabetize when composing a
new email. It starts out with the "Ns" and runs to the end of the alphabet,
and then begins with the "As." I have sorted 'til I'm blue in the face,
deleted all views except "by last name," repaired permissions, checked
integrity of database, etc., and still no joy.

Anyone help please?

Jim Voelzow
MacBook Pro, OS X 10.5.6, Entourage 2008 v.12.1.5

 

[Diane Ross]

After using Migration Assistant to transfer my data to a new MacBook Pro, my
Address Book within Entourage will not properly alphabetize when composing a
new email. It starts out with the "Ns" and runs to the end of the alphabet,
and then begins with the "As." I have sorted 'til I'm blue in the face,
deleted all views except "by last name," repaired permissions, checked
integrity of database, etc., and still no joy.

FYI....Entourage 2008 now has a column for First Name and Last Name.

<http://www.entourage.mvps.org/get_started/column_view.html>

Try exporting your contacts as Entourage archive (.rge) file under File -->
Export. Create a new Identity in Entourage and import the file. Does it show
correctly? If yes, you can delete all and import the file back into your
Identity.

Otherwise you could simply copy over your Microsoft User Data folder from
your old computer and use it. You would need to keep your current Identity
to merge messages, notes and tasks.

 

[Jim Voelzow]

Thank you. Addresses now display alpha by last name after I exported to an
archive, deleted all my contacts, then imported. I rebuilt my database
during the process, as it told me it was corrupted (which "verify" did not
prior to that "delete" operation.)

I do notice that any "groups" for email did not export/import and no longer
display in the alpha sort. I guess the grouped email addresses were deleted.
(e.g., I had an "AA Work" group with several contacts in it that still shows
in the Address Book, but with no email addresses now associated with it.) I
presume need to rebuild those groups?

Jim Voelzow

 

[Diane Ross]

I do notice that any "groups" for email did not export/import and no longer
display in the alpha sort. I guess the grouped email addresses were deleted.
(e.g., I had an "AA Work" group with several contacts in it that still shows
in the Address Book, but with no email addresses now associated with it.) I
presume need to rebuild those groups?

Groups don't export. The only way to get those back is to use your original
Identity. Select all members of a group and add them to the Address Book.
Assign a category to them like this:

Group:AA Work

Then export by category the Group:AA Work. Now you can import the group into
your new Entourage Identity. Sort by Category Group:AA Work, select all and
add them to your group.

Because Entourage does not export groups, it's best to always add group
contacts to the Address Book in this manner.

 

[Jim Voelzow]

Thank you.

On another issue, the in-app "help" files evidently did not copy across with
migration assistant. Where are these, and can I just copy them over
manually?

 

[Diane Ross]

Thank you.

On another issue, the in-app "help" files evidently did not copy across with
migration assistant. Where are these, and can I just copy them over
manually?

"/Applications/Microsoft Office 2008/Office/Help"

I have found in other applications like Adobe, to get Help files back that I
had to re-install the software. I've never had to do this with Microsoft
myself so am not sure if copying over will work or not.

Steps to re-install:

* Launch the Microsoft Autoupdater (MAU).To launch MAU, you can open any
Office application and select "Check for Updates" under Help in the Menu
bar. Once MAU is launched, select "Keep in Dock"
* Quit all Microsoft applications (Easy way: log out/in with Shift key down
to disable any startup items.) Be sure all applications are quit before
running updater. IMPORTANT
* Drag the Microsoft Office 2008 folder to the Trash.
* Empty Trash.
* Reinstall Office 2008 from your original installation disk.
* Restart
* Update to 12.1.0 (if you have a newer DVD you might only need the 12.1.5)
* Restart (restarting before you launch any app is important!)
* Update to 12.1.5
* Restart

Note: the AutoUpdater was replaced in the first updater so that should
already be updated. If you used "Remove Office" you would need to download
and install the Microsoft Auto Updater (MAU) for a complete re-install.

The Office 2008 MAU is now hidden away.

/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0