How do I link to Outlook Contacts in Visio?

[Vishelplease]

I'm creating and organisational chart in Visio 2007. I want to embed links to
the relevant contact details I have stored in my Outlook Contacts database.
How do I do this?
Thanks

 

[Barb Way]

You can connect to an Exchange server from Visio to import data stored on
it, but not to the local Contacts list directly.

Your best best would be to export your Contacts from Outlook to a CSV file,
and use that for your import. It may take some editing, as there are no
inherent Reporting structures in the local contacts.

Barb Way
Product Support - Visio
Microsoft Corporation
[This posting is provided "As Is" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.]
--------------------

I'm creating and organisational chart in Visio 2007. I want to embed links
to
the relevant contact details I have stored in my Outlook Contacts database.
How do I do this?
Thanks

 

[Vishelplease]

Thanks Barb! Surely this is something which needs further development? I'm
creating and organisation chart and now have to enter contacts manually or
link it the roundabout way via a spreadsheet.

Actually, I'm creating a cross-linkaage chart amongst organisations (to
highlight their associations and responsibilities, some of which are
overlapping). Any advice you can give is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Shan.

 

[Barb Way]

I understand your thinking, but note that the selection is labeled
"Microsoft Exchange Server Directory", rather than "Contacts list". We
will use the local cached copy of the address book in cached mode, but
actually are connecting directly to Exchange when users are not in Exchange
Cached mode. It really does expect only an Exchange list, and needs the
reporting structures to generate the diagram.

You can manually create as many levels of structure as you like if you
create an Excel (or Access/SQL, etc) data source. The hierarchy structure
requires a top person, with one or more reports, each of which can have one
or more reports, etc. There isn't any practical limit I'm aware of for
levels. So you could create an entity called "Holding company" and create
each company as an entity 'reporting' to the Holding Company, and so on.

Take a look at the Excel sample file in the Samples folder of your Visio
installation folder. That gives you the basic layout, and you can use it
as a template.

Barb Way
Product Support - Visio
Microsoft Corporation
[This posting is provided "As Is" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.]
--------------------

Thanks Barb! Surely this is something which needs further development? I'm
creating and organisation chart and now have to enter contacts manually or
link it the roundabout way via a spreadsheet.

Actually, I'm creating a cross-linkaage chart amongst organisations (to
highlight their associations and responsibilities, some of which are
overlapping). Any advice you can give is much appreciated.

Cheers,
Shan.