Contacts Name Order

[AlanHo]

My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.

When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is appearing in
the contacts list showing the first name first and last name last (Alan
Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as" parameters. (Alan Smith or
Smith, Alan)

If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan Smith)
it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in alphabetical
order.

If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear in the
contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even though it
still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).

Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name then
first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the record -
after saving it the name appears in the contact list as (Alan Smith) but
filed in last name alphabetical order.

I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous XP
computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has no
meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set its sort
order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact Record abides by
your settings.

 

[AlanHo]

Sorry about the lack of clarity.

I refer to the window which is possibly called the current view - it is
where you see all the contacts listed in alphabetical order.

You can select how the contacts appear by selecting in the menu bar :-
'View'
Then 'Current View'
Then you can choose the appearance by selecting from :-
Business cards
Address cards
Detailed address cards etc.

I normally use the Business Cards view - where I have the problem.

I have the "File as" field set as last name, first name (Smith, Alan). The
problem is that the business card appears in last name alphabetical order -
but the name is shown as Alan Smith.


I just tried the other views and have found that the contacts appear
correctly when I select the view as Address cards or Detailed Address cards.
It appears that the problem is confined to when I select Business card view.


The result is that all the records in Business card view - both old and
new - appear in the view window in last name alphabetical order - but the
new and amended contacts show the first name first (Alan Smith) which makes
scanning down the names to find a particular record more complicated.

I hope this has made things a bit clearer.

We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has no
meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set its sort
order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact Record abides by
your settings.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.

When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is appearing
in the contacts list showing the first name first and last name last
(Alan Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as" parameters. (Alan Smith
or Smith, Alan)

If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
alphabetical order.

If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear in
the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even though
it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).

Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name then
first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the record -
after saving it the name appears in the contact list as (Alan Smith) but
filed in last name alphabetical order.

I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous XP
computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You next step, then, would be to answer the rest of my question. What sort
order is specified for your Business Card View?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Sorry about the lack of clarity.

I refer to the window which is possibly called the current view - it is
where you see all the contacts listed in alphabetical order.

You can select how the contacts appear by selecting in the menu bar :-
'View'
Then 'Current View'
Then you can choose the appearance by selecting from :-
Business cards
Address cards
Detailed address cards etc.

I normally use the Business Cards view - where I have the problem.

I have the "File as" field set as last name, first name (Smith, Alan). The
problem is that the business card appears in last name alphabetical
order - but the name is shown as Alan Smith.


I just tried the other views and have found that the contacts appear
correctly when I select the view as Address cards or Detailed Address
cards. It appears that the problem is confined to when I select Business
card view.


The result is that all the records in Business card view - both old and
new - appear in the view window in last name alphabetical order - but the
new and amended contacts show the first name first (Alan Smith) which
makes scanning down the names to find a particular record more
complicated.

I hope this has made things a bit clearer.

We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has no
meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set its sort
order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact Record abides by
your settings.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.

When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is appearing
in the contacts list showing the first name first and last name last
(Alan Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as" parameters. (Alan
Smith or Smith, Alan)

If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
alphabetical order.

If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear in
the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even though
it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).

Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name then
first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the record -
after saving it the name appears in the contact list as (Alan Smith) but
filed in last name alphabetical order.

I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous XP
computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.

 

[AlanHo]

All records are set to last name first. (Smith, Alan)

The sort order is "last name ascending"

To further clarify matters I switched the Current View to Phone List

This is a small section of the list which includes a new contact named Alan
Smith - I have shown the two names before and after the new contact (which
are old contacts not edited) to illustrate what I mean

FULL NAME FILE AS
Shields Ron Shields, Ron
Skitt Hazel Skitt, Hazel
Alan Smith Smith, Alan
Stevens Mike Stevens, Mike
Suckley Martin Suckley, Martin

You next step, then, would be to answer the rest of my question. What sort
order is specified for your Business Card View?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Sorry about the lack of clarity.

I refer to the window which is possibly called the current view - it is
where you see all the contacts listed in alphabetical order.

You can select how the contacts appear by selecting in the menu bar :-
'View'
Then 'Current View'
Then you can choose the appearance by selecting from :-
Business cards
Address cards
Detailed address cards etc.

I normally use the Business Cards view - where I have the problem.

I have the "File as" field set as last name, first name (Smith, Alan).
The problem is that the business card appears in last name alphabetical
order - but the name is shown as Alan Smith.


I just tried the other views and have found that the contacts appear
correctly when I select the view as Address cards or Detailed Address
cards. It appears that the problem is confined to when I select Business
card view.


The result is that all the records in Business card view - both old and
new - appear in the view window in last name alphabetical order - but the
new and amended contacts show the first name first (Alan Smith) which
makes scanning down the names to find a particular record more
complicated.

I hope this has made things a bit clearer.

We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has no
meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set its sort
order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact Record abides
by your settings.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.

When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is
appearing in the contacts list showing the first name first and last
name last (Alan Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as" parameters.
(Alan Smith or Smith, Alan)

If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
alphabetical order.

If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear in
the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even
though it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).

Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name
then first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the
record - after saving it the name appears in the contact list as (Alan
Smith) but filed in last name alphabetical order.

I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous XP
computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Look at your post. You already answered your own question. If you want the
view to sort by the File As field, then set it to sort by the File As field,
not Last name ascending.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

All records are set to last name first. (Smith, Alan)

The sort order is "last name ascending"

To further clarify matters I switched the Current View to Phone List

This is a small section of the list which includes a new contact named
Alan Smith - I have shown the two names before and after the new contact
(which are old contacts not edited) to illustrate what I mean

FULL NAME FILE AS
Shields Ron Shields, Ron
Skitt Hazel Skitt, Hazel
Alan Smith Smith, Alan
Stevens Mike Stevens, Mike
Suckley Martin Suckley, Martin

You next step, then, would be to answer the rest of my question. What
sort order is specified for your Business Card View?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Sorry about the lack of clarity.

I refer to the window which is possibly called the current view - it is
where you see all the contacts listed in alphabetical order.

You can select how the contacts appear by selecting in the menu bar :-
'View'
Then 'Current View'
Then you can choose the appearance by selecting from :-
Business cards
Address cards
Detailed address cards etc.

I normally use the Business Cards view - where I have the problem.

I have the "File as" field set as last name, first name (Smith, Alan).
The problem is that the business card appears in last name alphabetical
order - but the name is shown as Alan Smith.


I just tried the other views and have found that the contacts appear
correctly when I select the view as Address cards or Detailed Address
cards. It appears that the problem is confined to when I select Business
card view.


The result is that all the records in Business card view - both old and
new - appear in the view window in last name alphabetical order - but
the new and amended contacts show the first name first (Alan Smith)
which makes scanning down the names to find a particular record more
complicated.

I hope this has made things a bit clearer.




We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has no
meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set its
sort order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact Record
abides by your settings.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.

When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is
appearing in the contacts list showing the first name first and last
name last (Alan Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as"
parameters. (Alan Smith or Smith, Alan)

If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
alphabetical order.

If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear
in the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even
though it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).

Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name
then first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the
record - after saving it the name appears in the contact list as (Alan
Smith) but filed in last name alphabetical order.

I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous XP
computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.

 

[AlanHo]

I have evidently not explained the problem with clarity.

You will see in my previous post that a new contact - although set in File
As to last name first (Smith Alan) appears in the Current view - when set to
Business cards or Address cards in correct alphabetical order by last name
but the name shown is in the form First name first (Alan Smith)

I just tried setting the sort order to 'File as' field - but it makes no
difference. New contacts still appear in Current view with the first name
first but in last name alphabetical order.

I wondered whether Outlook had somehow become corrupted and just did a MS
Office repair using the installation disc - but it has made no difference.

Look at your post. You already answered your own question. If you want the
view to sort by the File As field, then set it to sort by the File As
field, not Last name ascending.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

All records are set to last name first. (Smith, Alan)

The sort order is "last name ascending"

To further clarify matters I switched the Current View to Phone List

This is a small section of the list which includes a new contact named
Alan Smith - I have shown the two names before and after the new contact
(which are old contacts not edited) to illustrate what I mean

FULL NAME FILE AS
Shields Ron Shields, Ron
Skitt Hazel Skitt, Hazel
Alan Smith Smith, Alan
Stevens Mike Stevens, Mike
Suckley Martin Suckley, Martin

You next step, then, would be to answer the rest of my question. What
sort order is specified for your Business Card View?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Sorry about the lack of clarity.

I refer to the window which is possibly called the current view - it is
where you see all the contacts listed in alphabetical order.

You can select how the contacts appear by selecting in the menu bar :-
'View'
Then 'Current View'
Then you can choose the appearance by selecting from :-
Business cards
Address cards
Detailed address cards etc.

I normally use the Business Cards view - where I have the problem.

I have the "File as" field set as last name, first name (Smith, Alan).
The problem is that the business card appears in last name alphabetical
order - but the name is shown as Alan Smith.


I just tried the other views and have found that the contacts appear
correctly when I select the view as Address cards or Detailed Address
cards. It appears that the problem is confined to when I select
Business card view.


The result is that all the records in Business card view - both old and
new - appear in the view window in last name alphabetical order - but
the new and amended contacts show the first name first (Alan Smith)
which makes scanning down the names to find a particular record more
complicated.

I hope this has made things a bit clearer.




We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has
no meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set its
sort order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact Record
abides by your settings.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.

When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is
appearing in the contacts list showing the first name first and last
name last (Alan Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as"
parameters. (Alan Smith or Smith, Alan)

If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
alphabetical order.

If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear
in the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even
though it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).

Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name
then first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the
record - after saving it the name appears in the contact list as
(Alan Smith) but filed in last name alphabetical order.

I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous
XP computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Works just fine here. Check your settings again. Make sure you are setting
the _view_ correctly and state the steps you use.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I have evidently not explained the problem with clarity.

You will see in my previous post that a new contact - although set in File
As to last name first (Smith Alan) appears in the Current view - when set
to Business cards or Address cards in correct alphabetical order by last
name but the name shown is in the form First name first (Alan Smith)

I just tried setting the sort order to 'File as' field - but it makes no
difference. New contacts still appear in Current view with the first name
first but in last name alphabetical order.

I wondered whether Outlook had somehow become corrupted and just did a MS
Office repair using the installation disc - but it has made no difference.

Look at your post. You already answered your own question. If you want
the view to sort by the File As field, then set it to sort by the File As
field, not Last name ascending.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

All records are set to last name first. (Smith, Alan)

The sort order is "last name ascending"

To further clarify matters I switched the Current View to Phone List

This is a small section of the list which includes a new contact named
Alan Smith - I have shown the two names before and after the new contact
(which are old contacts not edited) to illustrate what I mean

FULL NAME FILE AS
Shields Ron Shields, Ron
Skitt Hazel Skitt, Hazel
Alan Smith Smith, Alan
Stevens Mike Stevens, Mike
Suckley Martin Suckley, Martin







You next step, then, would be to answer the rest of my question. What
sort order is specified for your Business Card View?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Sorry about the lack of clarity.

I refer to the window which is possibly called the current view - it
is where you see all the contacts listed in alphabetical order.

You can select how the contacts appear by selecting in the menu bar :-
'View'
Then 'Current View'
Then you can choose the appearance by selecting from :-
Business cards
Address cards
Detailed address cards etc.

I normally use the Business Cards view - where I have the problem.

I have the "File as" field set as last name, first name (Smith, Alan).
The problem is that the business card appears in last name
alphabetical order - but the name is shown as Alan Smith.


I just tried the other views and have found that the contacts appear
correctly when I select the view as Address cards or Detailed Address
cards. It appears that the problem is confined to when I select
Business card view.


The result is that all the records in Business card view - both old
and new - appear in the view window in last name alphabetical order -
but the new and amended contacts show the first name first (Alan
Smith) which makes scanning down the names to find a particular record
more complicated.

I hope this has made things a bit clearer.




We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has
no meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set
its sort order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact
Record abides by your settings.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.

When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is
appearing in the contacts list showing the first name first and last
name last (Alan Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as"
parameters. (Alan Smith or Smith, Alan)

If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
alphabetical order.

If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear
in the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even
though it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).

Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name
then first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name
in alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the
record - after saving it the name appears in the contact list as
(Alan Smith) but filed in last name alphabetical order.

I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous
XP computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.

 

[AlanHo]

Here is a summary of my procedure for Outlook 2007 on a Vista 32 computer

To set the required Current View
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts (Ctrl + 3)
View
Current View
Business cards (or Address cards, Phone List etc)

To create a new contact
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts
Actions
New contact (Ctrl + N)
Full name - opens small window to enter first and last names (Fred Jones)
File as - select last first - Jones, Fred
Then enter remaining contact info - then save and close

To select the sort order
View
Customise current view
Sort - select desired sort order.
OK

Hope this helps.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Can't tell what you're doing wrong. When I set the File As field to be Last,
First and Business Card view to sort by File As, all Contacts are sorted by
Last, First and appear as Last, First.
Perhaps your problem is that these settings only apply to new Contacts you
create. It will not reset existing Contacts you may have created
incorrectly.

 

[AlanHo]

You suggest that I am doing something wrong - but I can assure you that I am
being very careful about following the procedure correctly.

You will be aware that when you create a new contact, there is a small
window to the right of the names field which shows the contact information
as it is entered. I just created a new contact and noticed that after
entering the names - and selecting "file as" to last name first (Smith,
Alan) - the name appears in the small window as Alan Smith. It stays that
way even if you toggle the the "File as" setting between the two options.

I then opened an older contact - the name showed in this small window
correctly as Jones, Albert. I changed the "File as " setting to first name,
last name - and the name order changed in the window correctly as Albert
Jones. I then changed the setting back to last name, first name - and the
name in the small window reflected this change correctly as Jones, Albert.
Just as an experiment I then deleted the last name (Jones) and re-typed it
(leaving the "File as" setting to last name, first name) - whereupon the
name in the small window immediately changed incorrectly to Albert Jones and
I am quite unable to change it back even after toggling the "file as "
setting between the two options.

I have tried a Vista restore back a month to when I am sure the system was
OK - but it made no difference.

Are you able to pinpoint what I might be doing wrong ?

Can't tell what you're doing wrong. When I set the File As field to be
Last, First and Business Card view to sort by File As, all Contacts are
sorted by Last, First and appear as Last, First.
Perhaps your problem is that these settings only apply to new Contacts you
create. It will not reset existing Contacts you may have created
incorrectly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Here is a summary of my procedure for Outlook 2007 on a Vista 32 computer

To set the required Current View
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts (Ctrl + 3)
View
Current View
Business cards (or Address cards, Phone List etc)

To create a new contact
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts
Actions
New contact (Ctrl + N)
Full name - opens small window to enter first and last names (Fred Jones)
File as - select last first - Jones, Fred
Then enter remaining contact info - then save and close

To select the sort order
View
Customise current view
Sort - select desired sort order.
OK

Hope this helps.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

"Names" field? What is the "names" field?
Parse the name elements yourself when you enter them.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

You suggest that I am doing something wrong - but I can assure you that I
am being very careful about following the procedure correctly.

You will be aware that when you create a new contact, there is a small
window to the right of the names field which shows the contact information
as it is entered. I just created a new contact and noticed that after
entering the names - and selecting "file as" to last name first (Smith,
Alan) - the name appears in the small window as Alan Smith. It stays that
way even if you toggle the the "File as" setting between the two options.

I then opened an older contact - the name showed in this small window
correctly as Jones, Albert. I changed the "File as " setting to first
name, last name - and the name order changed in the window correctly as
Albert Jones. I then changed the setting back to last name, first name -
and the name in the small window reflected this change correctly as Jones,
Albert. Just as an experiment I then deleted the last name (Jones) and
re-typed it (leaving the "File as" setting to last name, first name) -
whereupon the name in the small window immediately changed incorrectly to
Albert Jones and I am quite unable to change it back even after toggling
the "file as " setting between the two options.

I have tried a Vista restore back a month to when I am sure the system was
OK - but it made no difference.

Are you able to pinpoint what I might be doing wrong ?

Can't tell what you're doing wrong. When I set the File As field to be
Last, First and Business Card view to sort by File As, all Contacts are
sorted by Last, First and appear as Last, First.
Perhaps your problem is that these settings only apply to new Contacts
you create. It will not reset existing Contacts you may have created
incorrectly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Here is a summary of my procedure for Outlook 2007 on a Vista 32
computer

To set the required Current View
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts (Ctrl + 3)
View
Current View
Business cards (or Address cards, Phone List etc)

To create a new contact
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts
Actions
New contact (Ctrl + N)
Full name - opens small window to enter first and last names (Fred
Jones)
File as - select last first - Jones, Fred
Then enter remaining contact info - then save and close

To select the sort order
View
Customise current view
Sort - select desired sort order.
OK

Hope this helps.


Works just fine here. Check your settings again. Make sure you are
setting the _view_ correctly and state the steps you use.

 

[AlanHo]

When I click on "New Contact" a page appears that has empty boxes for
filling in the various contact data.

On the left hand side of this page is an area (or field) where you enter the
contact's names and the "File as" setting. Immediately to the right of this
is a box for entering a contact's picture - and to the right of that is a
box in which appears the contact data as you enter it. It is this box that I
referred to.

I am not clear what you mean by Parse the elements etc. I looked up the term
'parse' and got this definition :-
Parse = To break (a sentence) down into its component parts of speech with
an explanation of the form, function, and syntactical relationship of each
part.
I hope an exact description of how I enter names will satisfy your request.

To enter names I click on the "Full Name" button which opens a window where
I enter, as appropriate, the contact's Title, First name, Middle name, Last
name and Suffix. I then click OK and the name appears in the full name box
and in the small window to the right which I referred to. The "file as"
option is set to last name, first name by default - but the name in the
small window always shows as first name last name.

I have discovered that whatever appears in this small window is how the name
will appear in the Business cards and Phone list current view. If the name
shows in the wrong order in this small window - then the name will display
wrongly in the Business cards and Phone list - but will be correct (Jones,
Fred) in the Address Cards current view.

To further my grief, thinking that some Outlook files may be corrupt, I have
just uninstalled Office 2007, then used CCleaner to remove any traces left
in the registry, carried out a clean install of Office 2007 and installed
updates from the Microsoft update site . I opened my Outlook.pst file (not
imported it) and found that the problem still exists.

Short of reformatting my computer and starting all over again with a clean
Vista and Office installation I am at a loss what to do.

"Names" field? What is the "names" field?
Parse the name elements yourself when you enter them.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

You suggest that I am doing something wrong - but I can assure you that I
am being very careful about following the procedure correctly.

You will be aware that when you create a new contact, there is a small
window to the right of the names field which shows the contact
information as it is entered. I just created a new contact and noticed
that after entering the names - and selecting "file as" to last name
first (Smith, Alan) - the name appears in the small window as Alan Smith.
It stays that way even if you toggle the the "File as" setting between
the two options.

I then opened an older contact - the name showed in this small window
correctly as Jones, Albert. I changed the "File as " setting to first
name, last name - and the name order changed in the window correctly as
Albert Jones. I then changed the setting back to last name, first name -
and the name in the small window reflected this change correctly as
Jones, Albert. Just as an experiment I then deleted the last name (Jones)
and re-typed it (leaving the "File as" setting to last name, first
name) - whereupon the name in the small window immediately changed
incorrectly to Albert Jones and I am quite unable to change it back even
after toggling the "file as " setting between the two options.

I have tried a Vista restore back a month to when I am sure the system
was OK - but it made no difference.

Are you able to pinpoint what I might be doing wrong ?

Can't tell what you're doing wrong. When I set the File As field to be
Last, First and Business Card view to sort by File As, all Contacts are
sorted by Last, First and appear as Last, First.
Perhaps your problem is that these settings only apply to new Contacts
you create. It will not reset existing Contacts you may have created
incorrectly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Here is a summary of my procedure for Outlook 2007 on a Vista 32
computer

To set the required Current View
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts (Ctrl + 3)
View
Current View
Business cards (or Address cards, Phone List etc)

To create a new contact
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts
Actions
New contact (Ctrl + N)
Full name - opens small window to enter first and last names (Fred
Jones)
File as - select last first - Jones, Fred
Then enter remaining contact info - then save and close

To select the sort order
View
Customise current view
Sort - select desired sort order.
OK

Hope this helps.


Works just fine here. Check your settings again. Make sure you are
setting the _view_ correctly and state the steps you use.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You said some Contacts work and some don't. State the differences between
the Contacts that work and those that don't.
BTW, you do not enter a "setting" in the "File As" field of the Contact
Record, nor should you try. It is a derived field. Let Outlook create it
using the settings you specified in Tools > Options > Preferences >
Contacts. Otherwise, you will confuse Outlook. That is the setting I have
kept asking you to specify because I still think you have configured Outlook
incorrectly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

When I click on "New Contact" a page appears that has empty boxes for
filling in the various contact data.

On the left hand side of this page is an area (or field) where you enter
the contact's names and the "File as" setting. Immediately to the right of
this is a box for entering a contact's picture - and to the right of that
is a box in which appears the contact data as you enter it. It is this box
that I referred to.

I am not clear what you mean by Parse the elements etc. I looked up the
term 'parse' and got this definition :-
Parse = To break (a sentence) down into its component parts of speech with
an explanation of the form, function, and syntactical relationship of each
part.
I hope an exact description of how I enter names will satisfy your
request.

To enter names I click on the "Full Name" button which opens a window
where I enter, as appropriate, the contact's Title, First name, Middle
name, Last name and Suffix. I then click OK and the name appears in the
full name box and in the small window to the right which I referred to.
The "file as" option is set to last name, first name by default - but the
name in the small window always shows as first name last name.

I have discovered that whatever appears in this small window is how the
name will appear in the Business cards and Phone list current view. If the
name shows in the wrong order in this small window - then the name will
display wrongly in the Business cards and Phone list - but will be correct
(Jones, Fred) in the Address Cards current view.

To further my grief, thinking that some Outlook files may be corrupt, I
have just uninstalled Office 2007, then used CCleaner to remove any traces
left in the registry, carried out a clean install of Office 2007 and
installed updates from the Microsoft update site . I opened my Outlook.pst
file (not imported it) and found that the problem still exists.

Short of reformatting my computer and starting all over again with a clean
Vista and Office installation I am at a loss what to do.

"Names" field? What is the "names" field?
Parse the name elements yourself when you enter them.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

You suggest that I am doing something wrong - but I can assure you that
I am being very careful about following the procedure correctly.

You will be aware that when you create a new contact, there is a small
window to the right of the names field which shows the contact
information as it is entered. I just created a new contact and noticed
that after entering the names - and selecting "file as" to last name
first (Smith, Alan) - the name appears in the small window as Alan
Smith. It stays that way even if you toggle the the "File as" setting
between the two options.

I then opened an older contact - the name showed in this small window
correctly as Jones, Albert. I changed the "File as " setting to first
name, last name - and the name order changed in the window correctly as
Albert Jones. I then changed the setting back to last name, first name -
and the name in the small window reflected this change correctly as
Jones, Albert. Just as an experiment I then deleted the last name
(Jones) and re-typed it (leaving the "File as" setting to last name,
first name) - whereupon the name in the small window immediately changed
incorrectly to Albert Jones and I am quite unable to change it back even
after toggling the "file as " setting between the two options.

I have tried a Vista restore back a month to when I am sure the system
was OK - but it made no difference.

Are you able to pinpoint what I might be doing wrong ?



Can't tell what you're doing wrong. When I set the File As field to be
Last, First and Business Card view to sort by File As, all Contacts are
sorted by Last, First and appear as Last, First.
Perhaps your problem is that these settings only apply to new Contacts
you create. It will not reset existing Contacts you may have created
incorrectly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Here is a summary of my procedure for Outlook 2007 on a Vista 32
computer

To set the required Current View
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts (Ctrl + 3)
View
Current View
Business cards (or Address cards, Phone List etc)

To create a new contact
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts
Actions
New contact (Ctrl + N)
Full name - opens small window to enter first and last names (Fred
Jones)
File as - select last first - Jones, Fred
Then enter remaining contact info - then save and close

To select the sort order
View
Customise current view
Sort - select desired sort order.
OK

Hope this helps.


Works just fine here. Check your settings again. Make sure you are
setting the _view_ correctly and state the steps you use.

 

[AlanHo]

Russ

I have to thank you for your patience and tenacity - I think you have just
solved it.

I have been using the "File as" feature which offers a pair of drop down
options to choose the name order. You are right - this is fooling Outlook
and leaves me to wonder why it is there at all. It is obscure and
confusing - much like the "import" feature which once got me into trouble
with a pst file.

I have just set things up from the Tools menu as you described and the
problem is resolved.

Thanks again.

You said some Contacts work and some don't. State the differences between
the Contacts that work and those that don't.
BTW, you do not enter a "setting" in the "File As" field of the Contact
Record, nor should you try. It is a derived field. Let Outlook create it
using the settings you specified in Tools > Options > Preferences >
Contacts. Otherwise, you will confuse Outlook. That is the setting I have
kept asking you to specify because I still think you have configured
Outlook incorrectly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

When I click on "New Contact" a page appears that has empty boxes for
filling in the various contact data.

On the left hand side of this page is an area (or field) where you enter
the contact's names and the "File as" setting. Immediately to the right
of this is a box for entering a contact's picture - and to the right of
that is a box in which appears the contact data as you enter it. It is
this box that I referred to.

I am not clear what you mean by Parse the elements etc. I looked up the
term 'parse' and got this definition :-
Parse = To break (a sentence) down into its component parts of speech
with an explanation of the form, function, and syntactical relationship
of each part.
I hope an exact description of how I enter names will satisfy your
request.

To enter names I click on the "Full Name" button which opens a window
where I enter, as appropriate, the contact's Title, First name, Middle
name, Last name and Suffix. I then click OK and the name appears in the
full name box and in the small window to the right which I referred to.
The "file as" option is set to last name, first name by default - but the
name in the small window always shows as first name last name.

I have discovered that whatever appears in this small window is how the
name will appear in the Business cards and Phone list current view. If
the name shows in the wrong order in this small window - then the name
will display wrongly in the Business cards and Phone list - but will be
correct (Jones, Fred) in the Address Cards current view.

To further my grief, thinking that some Outlook files may be corrupt, I
have just uninstalled Office 2007, then used CCleaner to remove any
traces left in the registry, carried out a clean install of Office 2007
and installed updates from the Microsoft update site . I opened my
Outlook.pst file (not imported it) and found that the problem still
exists.

Short of reformatting my computer and starting all over again with a
clean Vista and Office installation I am at a loss what to do.

"Names" field? What is the "names" field?
Parse the name elements yourself when you enter them.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
You suggest that I am doing something wrong - but I can assure you that
I am being very careful about following the procedure correctly.

You will be aware that when you create a new contact, there is a small
window to the right of the names field which shows the contact
information as it is entered. I just created a new contact and noticed
that after entering the names - and selecting "file as" to last name
first (Smith, Alan) - the name appears in the small window as Alan
Smith. It stays that way even if you toggle the the "File as" setting
between the two options.

I then opened an older contact - the name showed in this small window
correctly as Jones, Albert. I changed the "File as " setting to first
name, last name - and the name order changed in the window correctly as
Albert Jones. I then changed the setting back to last name, first
name - and the name in the small window reflected this change correctly
as Jones, Albert. Just as an experiment I then deleted the last name
(Jones) and re-typed it (leaving the "File as" setting to last name,
first name) - whereupon the name in the small window immediately
changed incorrectly to Albert Jones and I am quite unable to change it
back even after toggling the "file as " setting between the two
options.

I have tried a Vista restore back a month to when I am sure the system
was OK - but it made no difference.

Are you able to pinpoint what I might be doing wrong ?



Can't tell what you're doing wrong. When I set the File As field to be
Last, First and Business Card view to sort by File As, all Contacts
are sorted by Last, First and appear as Last, First.
Perhaps your problem is that these settings only apply to new Contacts
you create. It will not reset existing Contacts you may have created
incorrectly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Here is a summary of my procedure for Outlook 2007 on a Vista 32
computer

To set the required Current View
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts (Ctrl + 3)
View
Current View
Business cards (or Address cards, Phone List etc)

To create a new contact
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts
Actions
New contact (Ctrl + N)
Full name - opens small window to enter first and last names (Fred
Jones)
File as - select last first - Jones, Fred
Then enter remaining contact info - then save and close

To select the sort order
View
Customise current view
Sort - select desired sort order.
OK

Hope this helps.


Works just fine here. Check your settings again. Make sure you are
setting the _view_ correctly and state the steps you use.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Glad to hear it. I don't know why they have the File As... field in the
Contact Record. It theory, I suspect it is supposed to let you override your
global setting on a per Contact basis. That would be fine if it worked, but
it doesn't always. I've always found it more reliable to just set the global
setting and use it consistently.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ

I have to thank you for your patience and tenacity - I think you have just
solved it.

I have been using the "File as" feature which offers a pair of drop down
options to choose the name order. You are right - this is fooling Outlook
and leaves me to wonder why it is there at all. It is obscure and
confusing - much like the "import" feature which once got me into trouble
with a pst file.

I have just set things up from the Tools menu as you described and the
problem is resolved.

Thanks again.

You said some Contacts work and some don't. State the differences between
the Contacts that work and those that don't.
BTW, you do not enter a "setting" in the "File As" field of the Contact
Record, nor should you try. It is a derived field. Let Outlook create it
using the settings you specified in Tools > Options > Preferences >
Contacts. Otherwise, you will confuse Outlook. That is the setting I have
kept asking you to specify because I still think you have configured
Outlook incorrectly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

When I click on "New Contact" a page appears that has empty boxes for
filling in the various contact data.

On the left hand side of this page is an area (or field) where you enter
the contact's names and the "File as" setting. Immediately to the right
of this is a box for entering a contact's picture - and to the right of
that is a box in which appears the contact data as you enter it. It is
this box that I referred to.

I am not clear what you mean by Parse the elements etc. I looked up the
term 'parse' and got this definition :-
Parse = To break (a sentence) down into its component parts of speech
with an explanation of the form, function, and syntactical relationship
of each part.
I hope an exact description of how I enter names will satisfy your
request.

To enter names I click on the "Full Name" button which opens a window
where I enter, as appropriate, the contact's Title, First name, Middle
name, Last name and Suffix. I then click OK and the name appears in the
full name box and in the small window to the right which I referred to.
The "file as" option is set to last name, first name by default - but
the name in the small window always shows as first name last name.

I have discovered that whatever appears in this small window is how the
name will appear in the Business cards and Phone list current view. If
the name shows in the wrong order in this small window - then the name
will display wrongly in the Business cards and Phone list - but will be
correct (Jones, Fred) in the Address Cards current view.

To further my grief, thinking that some Outlook files may be corrupt, I
have just uninstalled Office 2007, then used CCleaner to remove any
traces left in the registry, carried out a clean install of Office 2007
and installed updates from the Microsoft update site . I opened my
Outlook.pst file (not imported it) and found that the problem still
exists.

Short of reformatting my computer and starting all over again with a
clean Vista and Office installation I am at a loss what to do.





"Names" field? What is the "names" field?
Parse the name elements yourself when you enter them.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
You suggest that I am doing something wrong - but I can assure you
that I am being very careful about following the procedure correctly.

You will be aware that when you create a new contact, there is a small
window to the right of the names field which shows the contact
information as it is entered. I just created a new contact and noticed
that after entering the names - and selecting "file as" to last name
first (Smith, Alan) - the name appears in the small window as Alan
Smith. It stays that way even if you toggle the the "File as" setting
between the two options.

I then opened an older contact - the name showed in this small window
correctly as Jones, Albert. I changed the "File as " setting to first
name, last name - and the name order changed in the window correctly
as Albert Jones. I then changed the setting back to last name, first
name - and the name in the small window reflected this change
correctly as Jones, Albert. Just as an experiment I then deleted the
last name (Jones) and re-typed it (leaving the "File as" setting to
last name, first name) - whereupon the name in the small window
immediately changed incorrectly to Albert Jones and I am quite unable
to change it back even after toggling the "file as " setting between
the two options.

I have tried a Vista restore back a month to when I am sure the system
was OK - but it made no difference.

Are you able to pinpoint what I might be doing wrong ?



Can't tell what you're doing wrong. When I set the File As field to
be Last, First and Business Card view to sort by File As, all
Contacts are sorted by Last, First and appear as Last, First.
Perhaps your problem is that these settings only apply to new
Contacts you create. It will not reset existing Contacts you may have
created incorrectly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Here is a summary of my procedure for Outlook 2007 on a Vista 32
computer

To set the required Current View
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts (Ctrl + 3)
View
Current View
Business cards (or Address cards, Phone List etc)

To create a new contact
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts
Actions
New contact (Ctrl + N)
Full name - opens small window to enter first and last names (Fred
Jones)
File as - select last first - Jones, Fred
Then enter remaining contact info - then save and close

To select the sort order
View
Customise current view
Sort - select desired sort order.
OK

Hope this helps.


Works just fine here. Check your settings again. Make sure you are
setting the _view_ correctly and state the steps you use.