Prog-created categories don't appear in the Master Category List...but can't be added because they e

[Alan]

Hello,

We're migrating from another mail system to Exchange and a lot of our
users have distribution lists in their personal address books.

Our own migration utility is migrating the distribution lists using
categories. It works fine; for each group it creates the individual
contacts and a category, then assigns the contacts to the category.

However there's one problem: the new category doesn't appear in the
Master Category List. And when we try to create it manually, Outlook
says that we can't because it already exists.

Anyone know of a solution or workaround please? We're using Outlook XP/
2002 on Exchange 2003.

Thanks,

- Alan.

 

[Patrick Reed]

Out of curiosity, is there a specific need for their categories to be in the
Master Category List? Do they need to be able to assign items in other
folders to that same category, or have the need to backup/distribute their
Master Category List to others?

If it were me, I wouldn't be concerned with the Master Categories List.
Rather, I'd use the method outlined here:
http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/usertips.htm
....to get those DLs recreated for the folks in Outlook from the Categories
collections.

If there is a need to maintain the Master Categories List, this is stored in
the local registry for Outlook 2002 in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Categories. How
exactly are you trying to add a category manually and what is the exact
error message you receive from Outlook?

Speaking for myself, I don't recall Outlook ever complaining about adding
duplicate Categories through the standard interface. It more or less just
ignored you and left the list as-is. Unfortunately, I only have a copy of
Outlook 2003 with which to test this - I don't have Outlook 2002 handy.

 

[Alan]

Thanks Patrick.

The original distribution lists have hundreds of members and Outlook's
limit on the number of members is too low, so we have to use
categories.

We need the categories in the MCL so that users can easily add new
contacts to them.

So we need to find a way to automatically take all the categories
assigned to the contacts and add them to the MCL.

Any ideas?

 

[Patrick Reed]

I have to ask again, how exactly are you trying to add a category manually
and what is the exact error message you receive from Outlook?

If you go into the Master Category List and you select the Reset button,
does it allow you to manually add one of these Categories without an error?

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any programmatic way to build the Master
Category List for a user.

Some comments and third party tools that may be of interest to help deal
with multiple and consistent categories can be found here:
http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/olcat.asp


As a side note, I guess a quick and dirty way to be able to add Contacts to
categories on-the-fly would be to select the By Category view on the
Contacts folder. You can then drag and drop items to additional, existing
categories

--
-Patrick Reed



Thanks Patrick.

The original distribution lists have hundreds of members and Outlook's
limit on the number of members is too low, so we have to use
categories.

We need the categories in the MCL so that users can easily add new
contacts to them.

So we need to find a way to automatically take all the categories
assigned to the contacts and add them to the MCL.

Any ideas?

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

This is a version prior to 2007? Put the categories in a text file and send
them to everyone with instructions on how to add them to the list. It's not
automatic, but its fast and easy.

Short version since its been a long time since I could use this method:
Assuming one system has all the categories that need pushed to the others -
in the categories dialog check all the categories that need added to the
others. Copy the list from the top of the category dialog (belong to these
categories field). Send the list.

If the categories aren't in any computer yet: make a comma delimited list
and send it around.

Users open a new contact, click categories button and paste the delimited
list into the 'belong to category' field, click add to list button. This
adds the categories to the master list as well as to the open item - they
can close without saving the contact form.

This method is a bit more work but unlike pushing out a reg hack, it doesn't
overwrite categories the user added.

There are add-ins that can propagate the categories if you want an automated
method. See http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/olcat.asp#tools

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

 

[Alan]

Thanks but this isn't about moving categories from one user to
another, or giving everyone the same list of categories.

I need to get category names from users' items into their MCLs.

And I need to do that for hundreds of users, each of which have their
own personal category names. There's no standard list. All of their
MCLs are completely empty right now.

So how do I get the categories from users' items into their MCL pls?

It's like this following a migration from another mailsystem...

Thanks.

This is a version prior to 2007? Put the categories in a text file and send
them to everyone with instructions on how to add them to the list. It's not
automatic, but its fast and easy.

Short version since its been a long time since I could use this method:
Assuming one system has all the categories that need pushed to the others-
in the categories dialog check all the categories that need added to the
others. Copy the list from the top of the category dialog (belong to these
categories field). Send the list.

If the categories aren't in any computer yet: make a comma delimited list
and send it around.

Users open a new contact, click categories button and paste the delimited
list into the 'belong to category' field, click add to list button. This
adds the categories to the master list as well as to the open item - they
can close without saving the contact form.

This method is a bit more work but unlike pushing out a reg hack, it doesn't
overwrite categories the user added.

There are add-ins that can propagate the categories if you want an automated
method.  Seehttp://www.slipstick.com/outlook/olcat.asp#tools

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Outlook Tips:http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center:http://www.slipstick.com

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visitinghttp://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspxor point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

Thanks Patrick.

The original distribution lists have hundreds of members and Outlook's
limit on the number of members is too low, so we have to use
categories.

We need the categories in the MCL so that users can easily add new
contacts to them.

So we need to find a way to automatically take all the categories
assigned to the contacts and add them to the MCL.

Any ideas?

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

They will have to add them to the MCL. They are on the items, correct? It's
not a big deal to add them from individual items - just a lot of effort.
(Group by category, open first item in each group and add the category to
the MCL.)

There is no automated, easy method that will magically add them. You can use
VBA to grab all the categories and make a comma delimited list that can be
added to outlook or possibly converted to a reg file that can be installed
by a logon script.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visiting
http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx or point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

Thanks but this isn't about moving categories from one user to
another, or giving everyone the same list of categories.

I need to get category names from users' items into their MCLs.

And I need to do that for hundreds of users, each of which have their
own personal category names. There's no standard list. All of their
MCLs are completely empty right now.

So how do I get the categories from users' items into their MCL pls?

It's like this following a migration from another mailsystem...

Thanks.

This is a version prior to 2007? Put the categories in a text file and
send
them to everyone with instructions on how to add them to the list. It's
not
automatic, but its fast and easy.

Short version since its been a long time since I could use this method:
Assuming one system has all the categories that need pushed to the
others -
in the categories dialog check all the categories that need added to the
others. Copy the list from the top of the category dialog (belong to
these
categories field). Send the list.

If the categories aren't in any computer yet: make a comma delimited list
and send it around.

Users open a new contact, click categories button and paste the delimited
list into the 'belong to category' field, click add to list button. This
adds the categories to the master list as well as to the open item - they
can close without saving the contact form.

This method is a bit more work but unlike pushing out a reg hack, it
doesn't
overwrite categories the user added.

There are add-ins that can propagate the categories if you want an
automated
method. Seehttp://www.slipstick.com/outlook/olcat.asp#tools

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Outlook Tips:http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center:http://www.slipstick.com

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by
visitinghttp://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspxor
point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

Thanks Patrick.

The original distribution lists have hundreds of members and Outlook's
limit on the number of members is too low, so we have to use
categories.

We need the categories in the MCL so that users can easily add new
contacts to them.

So we need to find a way to automatically take all the categories
assigned to the contacts and add them to the MCL.

Any ideas?

On Nov 20, 10:31 pm, "Patrick Reed"
Out of curiosity, is there a specific need for their categories to be
in
the
Master Category List? Do they need to be able to assign items in other
folders to that same category, or have the need to backup/distribute
their
Master Category List to others?

If it were me, I wouldn't be concerned with the Master Categories
List.
Rather, I'd use the method outlined
here:http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/usertips.htm
...to get those DLs recreated for the folks in Outlook from the
Categories
collections.

If there is a need to maintain the Master Categories List, this is
stored
in
the local registry for Outlook 2002 in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Categories.
How
exactly are you trying to add a category manually and what is the
exact
error message you receive from Outlook?

Speaking for myself, I don't recall Outlook ever complaining about
adding
duplicate Categories through the standard interface. It more or less
just
ignored you and left the list as-is. Unfortunately, I only have a copy
of
Outlook 2003 with which to test this - I don't have Outlook 2002
handy.

We're migrating from another mail system to Exchange and a lot of
our
users have distribution lists in their personal address books.

Our own migration utility is migrating the distribution lists using
categories. It works fine; for each group it creates the individual
contacts and a category, then assigns the contacts to the category.

However there's one problem: the new category doesn't appear in the
Master Category List. And when we try to create it manually, Outlook
says that we can't because it already exists.

Anyone know of a solution or workaround please? We're using Outlook
XP/
2002 on Exchange 2003.

- Alan.

 

[Alan]

Ok, thanks Diane. It'll have to be VBA then. Management wants it done
for the users automatically as part of the migration. Just wanted to
make sure there wasn't an easier way first.

They will have to add them to the MCL. They are on the items, correct? It's
not a big deal to add them from individual items - just a lot of effort.
(Group by category, open first item in each group and add the category to
the MCL.)

There is no automated, easy method that will magically add them. You can use
VBA to grab all the categories and make a comma delimited list that can be
added to outlook or possibly converted to a reg file that can be installed
by a logon script.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Outlook Tips:http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center:http://www.slipstick.com

Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)

You can access this newsgroup by visitinghttp://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspxor point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

Thanks but this isn't about moving categories from one user to
another, or giving everyone the same list of categories.

I need to get category names from users' items into their MCLs.

And I need to do that for hundreds of users, each of which have their
own personal category names. There's no standard list. All of their
MCLs are completely empty right now.

So how do I get the categories from users' items into their MCL pls?

It's like this following a migration from another mailsystem...

Thanks.

This is a version prior to 2007? Put the categories in a text file and
send
them to everyone with instructions on how to add them to the list. It's
not
automatic, but its fast and easy.
Short version since its been a long time since I could use this method:
Assuming one system has all the categories that need pushed to the
others -
in the categories dialog check all the categories that need added to the
others. Copy the list from the top of the category dialog (belong to
these
categories field). Send the list.
If the categories aren't in any computer yet: make a comma delimited list
and send it around.
Users open a new contact, click categories button and paste the delimited
list into the 'belong to category' field, click add to list button. This
adds the categories to the master list as well as to the open item - they
can close without saving the contact form.
This method is a bit more work but unlike pushing out a reg hack, it
doesn't
overwrite categories the user added.
There are add-ins that can propagate the categories if you want an
automated
method. Seehttp://www.slipstick.com/outlook/olcat.asp#tools
--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Outlook Tips:http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center:http://www.slipstick.com
Outlook Tips by email:
(e-mail address removed)
EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
(e-mail address removed)
You can access this newsgroup by
visitinghttp://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspxor
point your
newsreader to msnews.microsoft.com.

Thanks Patrick.
The original distribution lists have hundreds of members and Outlook's
limit on the number of members is too low, so we have to use
categories.
We need the categories in the MCL so that users can easily add new
contacts to them.
So we need to find a way to automatically take all the categories
assigned to the contacts and add them to the MCL.
Any ideas?
On Nov 20, 10:31 pm, "Patrick Reed"
Out of curiosity, is there a specific need for their categories to be
in
the
Master Category List? Do they need to be able to assign items in other
folders to that same category, or have the need to backup/distribute
their
Master Category List to others?
If it were me, I wouldn't be concerned with the Master Categories
List.
Rather, I'd use the method outlined
here:http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/usertips.htm
...to get those DLs recreated for the folks in Outlook from the
Categories
collections.
If there is a need to maintain the Master Categories List, this is
stored
in
the local registry for Outlook 2002 in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Categories..
How
exactly are you trying to add a category manually and what is the
exact
error message you receive from Outlook?
Speaking for myself, I don't recall Outlook ever complaining about
adding
duplicate Categories through the standard interface. It more or less
just
ignored you and left the list as-is. Unfortunately, I only have a copy
of
Outlook 2003 with which to test this - I don't have Outlook 2002
handy.
--
-Patrick Reed

Hello,
We're migrating from another mail system to Exchange and a lot of
our
users have distribution lists in their personal address books.
Our own migration utility is migrating the distribution lists using
categories. It works fine; for each group it creates the individual
contacts and a category, then assigns the contacts to the category.
However there's one problem: the new category doesn't appear in the
Master Category List. And when we try to create it manually, Outlook
says that we can't because it already exists.
Anyone know of a solution or workaround please? We're using Outlook
XP/
2002 on Exchange 2003.
Thanks,
- Alan.