Excel to Outlook

[Barb]

In order to import addresses to outlook contacts from an excel spreadsheet
does it have to be saved in a .csv file? Wont an .xls work? I am just
wondering since I am trying to explain how to do this to a client. I have
prepared a spreadsheet of all our her contacts and she wants me to send this
to her so she can import them to her outlook contacts. She is not very
computer literate and I need some instructions to send to her and I also need
to know the best way to save the file. Thanks.

Barb Thornton

 

[Gord Dibben]

With Outlook open, one of the options under File>Import or Export>Import from
another program is MS Excel.

You will have to make sure the data is laid out properly for her to make the
import to Contacts successful.


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

 

[Barb]

Gord,
Thank you for responding. The spreadsheet is laid out as follows: first
name, last name, street address, city, state, zip, phone, cell phone, email
address. Will there be a problem with this layout? Remember she is not very
adept at computers! Thanks,

Barb

 

[Gord Dibben]

Nothing wrong with the layout as you describe.

Outlook will know where to place everything as long as your columns have titles
like First Name, Last Name etc.

You will have to give the range of data in the worksheet a defined name.

Insert>Name>Define.

Try the steps yourself up to but not including the point where you actually
import to your Contacts.

See what she has to maneuver through and you can then give the instructions.


Gord

 

[Gord Dibben]

One more precaution.

Make a backup of her outlook.pst file before the import just in case.


Gord

 

[Barb]

I would try it out, this is what I normally do, however, I do not use Outlook
for myself and when I tried to do it I get an error message that says my
translator is not installed and I cannot find my disk, so, that is why I was
checking here to see if I could find some help. Thank you for all your help!