Outlook 2002 - recipient Auto-Complete problem

[NickM]

I have a user who until yesterday morning, was able to use the auto-complete
function when addressing emails in Outlook 2002. "It suddenly stopped
working" was the message I got.

This is a reasonably mature installation of Outlook 2002 and has been fine

I have checked the setup for the user, and what is happening is that only
after typing the first three characters of the recipient's email address,
only one of several possible addresses that are stored in the .NK2 file
appears in the To: line. The usual list of alternatives is not displayed.
It seems significant that Outlook requires three characters to be typed
before offering anything.

Under Tools > Options > Preferences > Email Options > Advanced Email
Options, the Suggest names while completing To, CC and BCC box is checked as
it should be.

I have tried temporarily renaming the existing Outlook.NK2 file as
Outlook.NK_ thereby forcing the creation of a new NK2 file when Outlook was
restarted, and I have entered a few similarly formatted addresses by sending
some test emails (ie addresses all starting with the letter 'a'). No
change, so it doesn't appear to be a corrupted NK2 file.

The user's Outlook Address Book and Contacts list are also populated and
both can be used OK if selecting addresses from them directly.

Outlook appears to be working properly in all other respects.

My guess is that the user has possibly disabled the feature unintentionally
by pressing a combination of keys accidentally.

Any ideas would be gratefully received. Thanks.

Nick M

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Outlook 2002 always required 3 letters to be typed before invoking
autocompletion.
Sounds like a corrupt profile.
Create a new one.

 

[Judy Gleeson, MVP Outlook]

I think the only solution I have ever seen here is to make a new profile
when the N2K gets corrupted. Have a search - there are many postings.

Judy Gleeson, MVP Outlook
Acorn Training and Consulting
www.acorntraining.com.au

Everyone - turn on your Advanced Toolbars and learn how to use the Field
Chooser and Group by Box!!

 

[NickM]

Thanks for your response.

It doesn't look like a corrupt NK2 as I forced a new one which gave the same
result, but it may well be the profile overall, although I suspect the user
may have inadvertently done something - and when the user doesn't recall
what they did, it gets difficult. :-/

Thanks

Best regards

Nick

 

[Brian Tillman]

I have a user who until yesterday morning, was able to use the
auto-complete function when addressing emails in Outlook 2002. "It
suddenly stopped working" was the message I got.

Try creating a new mail profile, as suggested, and then rename your existing
NK2 file to match the name of the new mail profile. Other posts state that
the NK2 file is reasonably robust and that it may be usable with the new
mail profile.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Correct. Rarely, if ever, is the NK2 file corrupt. Profiles commonly become
corrupt.

 

[NickM]

Thanks to everyone who has responded. A new profile it is then