How do I create my own default contact template?

[racjstevens]

I have made some changes to the contact card template in Outlook, and I want
to save it and either make it the default or make it an option when I upload
new contacts into outlook. This is a dance studio contact database, and we
are switching to Outlook, and I am trying to avoid creating the entire
database from scrath. Or, importing them as is, then changing/editing every
single contact card through 'design form'.

Anyone get what I am trying to do and have an answer for me? Thanks!

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

See http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?ID=39

 

[racjstevens]

I am not on an exchange server...and I don't understand what 'folder' I am
supposed to 'publish' my form to.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Publish the form to the folder that contains the contacts with which you want
to use the form. If you keep your dance studio contacts in a separate folder,
it would be that folder. If you keep them in your default Contacts folder,
publish the form there.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54

 

[racjstevens]

Ok. I've published the folder to the studio contact address book, and i can
now enter new contacts with the new template, which is great. Now how do I
import my contact list of 200 into Outlook and have it put them in that form
rather than the default outlook contact form? Everytime I try, I do not get
an option to choose which one. I've tried to understand what they are saying
about this is in the link you gave me, but I'm not that kind of a techy. I'm
good with computers, but I'm not a programmer.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

You're importing from some external source? Perform the import first then use
Contact Genie or one of the other tools listed under Convert Existing Items
in the article I originally cited --
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?ID=39 -- to change the value of the
MessageClass property on each item so that it points to the newly published
custom form.