Last Name First Name Format in "Select Names" window

[Joyce]

I have done EVERYTHING correctly when setting up my contacts to sort/view in
Last Name / First Name format. All are correct in my contacts list and
"Properties".

HOWEVER, when I open a new mail message and choose "To"...when the "Select
Names" window opens there are a few names that do NOT appear in Last
Name/First Name format (Example: Jones, Art). It is VERY frustrating when I
expect to look for a name under "J" for Last Name but it appears under "A"
for First name.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Then all you need to do is sort your Outlook Address Book correctly.
If you don't know how to do that, post your version so someone can tell you.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I have done EVERYTHING correctly when setting up my contacts to
sort/view in Last Name / First Name format. All are correct in my
contacts list and "Properties".

HOWEVER, when I open a new mail message and choose "To"...when the
"Select Names" window opens there are a few names that do NOT appear
in Last Name/First Name format (Example: Jones, Art). It is VERY
frustrating when I expect to look for a name under "J" for Last Name
but it appears under "A" for First name.

You don't mention your Outlook version. For OL 2002/2003, click
Tools>E-mail Accounts>View or change existing directories or address
books>Next. Select the Outlook Address Book services and click Change. Set
the display order there.

 

[Joyce]

MS Outlook 2003 SP1

You don't mention your Outlook version. For OL 2002/2003, click
Tools>E-mail Accounts>View or change existing directories or address
books>Next. Select the Outlook Address Book services and click Change. Set
the display order there.

 

[Joyce]

It is sorted correctly. As I indicated in my posting, there are only a few
names that do not display in Last Name/First Name format

Then all you need to do is sort your Outlook Address Book correctly.
If you don't know how to do that, post your version so someone can tell you.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I have done EVERYTHING correctly when setting up my contacts to sort/view
in
Last Name / First Name format. All are correct in my contacts list and
"Properties".

HOWEVER, when I open a new mail message and choose "To"...when the "Select
Names" window opens there are a few names that do NOT appear in Last
Name/First Name format (Example: Jones, Art). It is VERY frustrating
when I
expect to look for a name under "J" for Last Name but it appears under "A"
for First name.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

I don't think you understand. You are confusing your Contacts Folder with
the Outlook Address Book. The To: button is your Outlook Address Book.
Convince me you've sorted that correctly. Brian posted how to do it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

It is sorted correctly. As I indicated in my posting, there are only a
few
names that do not display in Last Name/First Name format

Then all you need to do is sort your Outlook Address Book correctly.
If you don't know how to do that, post your version so someone can tell
you.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I have done EVERYTHING correctly when setting up my contacts to
sort/view
in
Last Name / First Name format. All are correct in my contacts list and
"Properties".

HOWEVER, when I open a new mail message and choose "To"...when the
"Select
Names" window opens there are a few names that do NOT appear in Last
Name/First Name format (Example: Jones, Art). It is VERY frustrating
when I
expect to look for a name under "J" for Last Name but it appears under
"A"
for First name.

 

[Joyce]

I'm not sure how you would like me to "convince" you. I followed Brian's
advice and checked my settings. I wish I could paste a "screen shot" of the
"Microsoft Office Outlook Address Book" window...I have selected the "Show
names by" and the radio button next to "File As (Smith, John)". Any other
suggestions?

I don't think you understand. You are confusing your Contacts Folder with
the Outlook Address Book. The To: button is your Outlook Address Book.
Convince me you've sorted that correctly. Brian posted how to do it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

It is sorted correctly. As I indicated in my posting, there are only a
few
names that do not display in Last Name/First Name format

Then all you need to do is sort your Outlook Address Book correctly.
If you don't know how to do that, post your version so someone can tell
you.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I have done EVERYTHING correctly when setting up my contacts to
sort/view
in
Last Name / First Name format. All are correct in my contacts list and
"Properties".

HOWEVER, when I open a new mail message and choose "To"...when the
"Select
Names" window opens there are a few names that do NOT appear in Last
Name/First Name format (Example: Jones, Art). It is VERY frustrating
when I
expect to look for a name under "J" for Last Name but it appears under
"A"
for First name.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

So are you saying that the Outlook Address Book is not sorting by the File
as field even though you told it to?
Remember you won't see changes until you restart.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I'm not sure how you would like me to "convince" you. I followed Brian's
advice and checked my settings. I wish I could paste a "screen shot" of
the
"Microsoft Office Outlook Address Book" window...I have selected the "Show
names by" and the radio button next to "File As (Smith, John)". Any other
suggestions?

I don't think you understand. You are confusing your Contacts Folder with
the Outlook Address Book. The To: button is your Outlook Address Book.
Convince me you've sorted that correctly. Brian posted how to do it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

It is sorted correctly. As I indicated in my posting, there are only a
few
names that do not display in Last Name/First Name format

:

Then all you need to do is sort your Outlook Address Book correctly.
If you don't know how to do that, post your version so someone can
tell
you.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I have done EVERYTHING correctly when setting up my contacts to
sort/view
in
Last Name / First Name format. All are correct in my contacts list
and
"Properties".

HOWEVER, when I open a new mail message and choose "To"...when the
"Select
Names" window opens there are a few names that do NOT appear in Last
Name/First Name format (Example: Jones, Art). It is VERY
frustrating
when I
expect to look for a name under "J" for Last Name but it appears
under
"A"
for First name.

 

[msguirt]

Brian,

Thanks for the info. I had done this once, but couldn't find it again.
Microsoft does not always make it easy to find the answer to your problem.
But you did!!!

Lisa

 

[radcen]

Hi Russ,

I'm having a problem similar to Joyce's. In my Contacts, each one is
entered last name, first name, as are the 'display names' and 'file as'
names. To sort my address book, I've done the >Tools, >Email accounts, >View
or change existing directories... >Change and then selected the correct radio
button.

When I type names into the "To" window of a new email, however, there are
still a few sorting first name first. I've also tried putting the email
address into the "To" window, and then double-clicking it. In the small
dialoge box that opens, the name appears first name first. If I change it
and click 'ok' my change is not saved. Closing and reopening the software
doesn't apply the change, neither does exporting and reimporting my contacts.


Thinking I'll export the whole shebang as comma delimited and check them
that way, but hoping someone can suggest a solution that would require less
effort.

So are you saying that the Outlook Address Book is not sorting by the File
as field even though you told it to?
Remember you won't see changes until you restart.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I'm not sure how you would like me to "convince" you. I followed Brian's
advice and checked my settings. I wish I could paste a "screen shot" of
the
"Microsoft Office Outlook Address Book" window...I have selected the "Show
names by" and the radio button next to "File As (Smith, John)". Any other
suggestions?

I don't think you understand. You are confusing your Contacts Folder with
the Outlook Address Book. The To: button is your Outlook Address Book.
Convince me you've sorted that correctly. Brian posted how to do it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
It is sorted correctly. As I indicated in my posting, there are only a
few
names that do not display in Last Name/First Name format

:

Then all you need to do is sort your Outlook Address Book correctly.
If you don't know how to do that, post your version so someone can
tell
you.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I have done EVERYTHING correctly when setting up my contacts to
sort/view
in
Last Name / First Name format. All are correct in my contacts list
and
"Properties".

HOWEVER, when I open a new mail message and choose "To"...when the
"Select
Names" window opens there are a few names that do NOT appear in Last
Name/First Name format (Example: Jones, Art). It is VERY
frustrating
when I
expect to look for a name under "J" for Last Name but it appears
under
"A"
for First name.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You are confusing the Outlook Address Book (what you see when you click the
To: button) with your autocompletion cache (what you see when you type in
the To: field). They have nothing to do with one another. Only the former
uses your Contact data. The latter uses a cache of names from messages
you've sent. You cannot change the appearance of the entries in your
autocompletion cache. What makes you think you need to?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi Russ,

I'm having a problem similar to Joyce's. In my Contacts, each one is
entered last name, first name, as are the 'display names' and 'file as'
names. To sort my address book, I've done the >Tools, >Email accounts,

View

or change existing directories... >Change and then selected the correct
radio
button.

When I type names into the "To" window of a new email, however, there are
still a few sorting first name first. I've also tried putting the email
address into the "To" window, and then double-clicking it. In the small
dialoge box that opens, the name appears first name first. If I change it
and click 'ok' my change is not saved. Closing and reopening the software
doesn't apply the change, neither does exporting and reimporting my
contacts.


Thinking I'll export the whole shebang as comma delimited and check them
that way, but hoping someone can suggest a solution that would require
less
effort.

So are you saying that the Outlook Address Book is not sorting by the
File
as field even though you told it to?
Remember you won't see changes until you restart.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I'm not sure how you would like me to "convince" you. I followed
Brian's
advice and checked my settings. I wish I could paste a "screen shot"
of
the
"Microsoft Office Outlook Address Book" window...I have selected the
"Show
names by" and the radio button next to "File As (Smith, John)". Any
other
suggestions?

:

I don't think you understand. You are confusing your Contacts Folder
with
the Outlook Address Book. The To: button is your Outlook Address Book.
Convince me you've sorted that correctly. Brian posted how to do it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
It is sorted correctly. As I indicated in my posting, there are
only a
few
names that do not display in Last Name/First Name format

:

Then all you need to do is sort your Outlook Address Book
correctly.
If you don't know how to do that, post your version so someone can
tell
you.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I have done EVERYTHING correctly when setting up my contacts to
sort/view
in
Last Name / First Name format. All are correct in my contacts
list
and
"Properties".

HOWEVER, when I open a new mail message and choose "To"...when
the
"Select
Names" window opens there are a few names that do NOT appear in
Last
Name/First Name format (Example: Jones, Art). It is VERY
frustrating
when I
expect to look for a name under "J" for Last Name but it appears
under
"A"
for First name.

 

[radcen]

Hi Russ,

Thank you for pointing out that the autocompletion cache uses a different
source of information than the Address Book - I hadn't realized that, and now
my difficulty makes more sense.

It's not a question of 'need,' per se, but of convinience. I think of my
contacts by their last names, therefore, when I want to write to someone, it
is their last name that I call to mind, and I find it most convinient to use
the "To" box rather than opening the "To" window. It seems that what I want
isn't a supported feature, however, so I'll get by without for now, unless
someone else has a suggestion...

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You left off the rest of this post so I have no idea to what you are
replying. I don't understand why you think you can't sort your recipients by
Last Name. You most certainly can. We post instructions on how to do so
every day.
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. > Set your sort order there

If you were asking how to sort the autocompletion catch, you can't. You
don't need to. Just use the Outlook Address Book instead.