Auto-fill only shows 1 choice

[LurfysMa]

Suppose I have three contacts named "Joe":

Joe Brown
Joe Jones
Joe Smith

In Outlook 2000, I used to get "suggestions" when I clicked on Send if
an entry I typed in the To... field was ambiguous. In the example, it
would show me the three joe's and I could pick the one I wanted for
that email.

Just upgraded to Outlook 2007. Now when I type "joe" the first time,
it works like it did on Outlook 2000. Let's say I select Joe Jones.
Now the next time I type "joe" in the To... field, it automaticlaly
fills in "Joe Jones" and does not offer me the other choices. I can't
see how to get it to offer me all three choices.

What would be really helpful is for it to show all matching contacts,
but with the most common ones at the top.

How can I at least get it to show me all of the alternatives?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

After Outlook 2000, autocompletion replaced autoresolution as the first line
feature for automating recipient entry. The autocompletion cache has nothing
to do with your Contacts and uses a separate cache that becomes populated as
you send messages.
Decide which feature you prefer. You can disable either if you want to use
only one of these two features. Most people prefer autocompletion after they
populate their cache. You can always invoke autoresolution at any time by
clicking on "Check Names" or hitting CTRL-K.
If you don't understand, read this:
http://home.indy.rr.com/russval/autocompletion.htm

 

[LurfysMa]

After Outlook 2000, autocompletion replaced autoresolution as the first line
feature for automating recipient entry. The autocompletion cache has nothing
to do with your Contacts and uses a separate cache that becomes populated as
you send messages.
Decide which feature you prefer. You can disable either if you want to use
only one of these two features. Most people prefer autocompletion after they
populate their cache. You can always invoke autoresolution at any time by
clicking on "Check Names" or hitting CTRL-K.
If you don't understand, read this:
http://home.indy.rr.com/russval/autocompletion.htm

Very helpful tutorial. Thanks

What I would really like, and apparently is not available, is an
option in the autoresolution feature to use the contact list either in
addition to or instead of the separate cache. It is very annoying that
I type "joe" and I am offered only one choice when I know there is
another "joe' in my contact list. I hope the genius who devised this
ill-designed feature didn't get a huge award.

PS: There is a typo in the first autoresolution paragraph: CTRK+K.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

The autoresolution feature has not changed. What makes you think it has? If
you invoke autoresolution, all valid matches in your Contacts Folder will be
displayed.

 

[LurfysMa]

The autoresolution feature has not changed. What makes you think it has? If
you invoke autoresolution, all valid matches in your Contacts Folder will be
displayed.

I didn't say it had changed -- except that it gets preempted by the
autocompetion feature with is very badly designed.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

As I said, you can turn off autocompletion and just use autoresolution.

 

[LurfysMa]

As I said, you can turn off autocompletion and just use autoresolution.

And as I said, that's a poor solution for a crappy design.

Autocompletion is needed. It should have been in the product from day
1. Now that they have added it, they botched the design. As a result,
my choices are use it badly or not use it at all. Worse, it has
crippled the autoresolution feature, which was working pretty well
except for the insane feature of including fax numbers in teh choices
for email recipients.

In case any of the geniuses at M$FT are listening, here's some free
product design:

Implement autocompletion with three options: Contacts, Cache, Both:

1. Contacts: Use the contents of the Contacts folder.

2. Cache: Use the Cache (current implementation).

3. Both: Use both the Contacts and the Cache. Show the cache entries
first and identify with

Give the lists in 1 and 2 a unique look so that when they are merged,
it is clear which is which.

Provide an optional pop-up to add any contacts to the cache.

I'd bet that no one would choose option 2, the current implementation.
So, I'd also bet that that would be the installation default.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You are in a very small minority. Almost no one has any problems with the
way autocompletion and autoresolution work. I would not be expecting any
changes in this area.
Most users simply invoke autoresolution to select an entry that is not yet
in their autocompletion cache. From then on, that entry is in their cache.
Once the cache is robust, it obviates the need for autoresolution.
For those who are impatient to build their cache, they can simply populate
their cache all at once by resolving their entire address book.

 

[LurfysMa]

You are in a very small minority. Almost no one has any problems with the
way autocompletion and autoresolution work.

You mean you don't agree with me. ;-)

I would not be expecting any changes in this area.

Nor do I. Not sure that says much, though.

Most users simply invoke autoresolution to select an entry that is not yet
in their autocompletion cache.

Oh, yeah? How do they do that? How do they get autocompletion to leave
a string alone that matches something already in the cache?

Suppose I have 3 Russ's. The first time I type "russ", autocompletion
will leave it for autoresolution to complete. Say I choose Russ1. The
next time, it will give me Russ1 and not allow me to choose any other
Russ. It will NOT leave "russ" in the field for autoresolution to
handle. Autocompletion interferes with autoresolution.

From then on, that entry is in their cache.
Once the cache is robust, it obviates the need for autoresolution.
For those who are impatient to build their cache, they can simply populate
their cache all at once by resolving their entire address book.

How can I "populate" the cache with my entire address book?

But even then, if I add a 4th Russ, I will have the same problem
described above. Autocompletion will force me to choose one of the
first three or go to the address book manually.

Or are you suggesting that I should repopulate the cache every time I
add a contact?

Bottom line, this is a poor design.

 

[F.H. Muffman]

Oh, yeah? How do they do that? How do they get autocompletion to leave
a string alone that matches something already in the cache?

By not hitting Enter or Tab.

Hit control-k and pick the right person...
or hit ; and continue adding names...
or continue typing until you have unique information to match the person you
want to mail.

There, three ways to get autocomplete to leave a string alone.

Suppose I have 3 Russ's. The first time I type "russ", autocompletion
will leave it for autoresolution to complete. Say I choose Russ1. The
next time, it will give me Russ1 and not allow me to choose any other
Russ. It will NOT leave "russ" in the field for autoresolution to
handle. Autocompletion interferes with autoresolution.

It can, sort of, but now you know how to make it work for you.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

It has nothing to do with "agreeing" with you. It has everything to do with
seeing thousands of posts in these groups and seeing that most people learn
how to make this work and have no problem with it.