Phone Number Formatting in Office XP

[David]

Hi.

Is there a way to switch the phone number autoformating
off? Or at least somehow change the way the outlook
formats the numbers?
I use the Outlook Contacts when I need to phone somebody
as well as for replication with my mobile phone. The
absolutly stupid thing is, when I enter a phone number or
even edit some other information in my contact the Outlook
formats the phone number and puts brackets into the
number, f.e. +41 (79) 555 55 55. My mobile cannot call
such a number.
The only way, I discovered, I am able to use my contacts
for replication with my handy is to enter the number in
the format +41795555555. In turn, that's not providing an
easy survey, when I need to read the number.

Thanks. David.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Phone number formatting is hard coded, based on your location setting and
cannot be changed. The only setting available to the end user is whether to
add the country code automatically or not. Some users have been successful
in tricking Outlook by setting a null location setting, but not all OS let
you do that.

 

[Guest]

...well, I've been afraid of this answer!
Thanks anyway.

I just wonder, how MS decided which format to take? What
was the descision base? .. I mean everybody uses his own
one, and not everywhere on the world are the conventions
the same.. And some applications (like my phone
synchroniser) simply need another format.
... I know - I don't need to use it.. Or I can stay by
O2k.. there was the option to switch it off.

Cheers. David.

This is realy nonsense. Some appli

-----Original Message-----
Phone number formatting is hard coded, based on your location setting and
cannot be changed. The only setting available to the end user is whether to
add the country code automatically or not. Some users have been successful
in tricking Outlook by setting a null location setting, but not all OS let
you do that.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi.

Is there a way to switch the phone number autoformating
off? Or at least somehow change the way the outlook
formats the numbers?
I use the Outlook Contacts when I need to phone somebody
as well as for replication with my mobile phone. The
absolutly stupid thing is, when I enter a phone number or
even edit some other information in my contact the Outlook
formats the phone number and puts brackets into the
number, f.e. +41 (79) 555 55 55. My mobile cannot call
such a number.
The only way, I discovered, I am able to use my contacts
for replication with my handy is to enter the number in
the format +41795555555. In turn, that's not providing an
easy survey, when I need to read the number.

Thanks. David.

.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Not sure. I imagine it was to keep numbers in canonical or international
format which is the most reliable for working with various dialing rules set
up in the operating system.
Making the phone number format configurable by the user is a frequent
request. You can send Outlook feature requests to (e-mail address removed) with
"Outlook" in the subject and to (e-mail address removed)

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

..well, I've been afraid of this answer!
Thanks anyway.

I just wonder, how MS decided which format to take? What
was the descision base? .. I mean everybody uses his own
one, and not everywhere on the world are the conventions
the same.. And some applications (like my phone
synchroniser) simply need another format.
.. I know - I don't need to use it.. Or I can stay by
O2k.. there was the option to switch it off.

Cheers. David.

This is realy nonsense. Some appli

-----Original Message-----
Phone number formatting is hard coded, based on your location setting and
cannot be changed. The only setting available to the end user is whether to
add the country code automatically or not. Some users have been successful
in tricking Outlook by setting a null location setting, but not all OS let
you do that.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Hi.

Is there a way to switch the phone number autoformating
off? Or at least somehow change the way the outlook
formats the numbers?
I use the Outlook Contacts when I need to phone somebody
as well as for replication with my mobile phone. The
absolutly stupid thing is, when I enter a phone number or
even edit some other information in my contact the Outlook
formats the phone number and puts brackets into the
number, f.e. +41 (79) 555 55 55. My mobile cannot call
such a number.
The only way, I discovered, I am able to use my contacts
for replication with my handy is to enter the number in
the format +41795555555. In turn, that's not providing an
easy survey, when I need to read the number.

Thanks. David.

.