Linking e-mails to contacts

[Mark_R]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Power PC
Email Client: pop

When I recieve an e-mail I link it to the contact using link to existing contact, with my previous edition of office i could search by first name, surname etc. It seems that with 2008 I can only search by the first letter of the surname then scroll down contacts. With over 5000 contacts this takes a long time can I search as per the old versions?

 

[Diane Ross]

When I recieve an e-mail I link it to the contact using link to existing
contact, with my previous edition of office i could search by first name,
surname etc. It seems that with 2008 I can only search by the first letter of
the surname then scroll down contacts. With over 5000 contacts this takes a
long time can I search as per the old versions?

Do you have in the Address Book Preferences, the automatically link options
selected?

Are you linking after you receive a message to a separate contact? Can you
give an example of exactly what you are entering into a search? Are you
using the top search box or are you using command-F?