Custom Form Frustration

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Frustrated to the MAX! - 14 Feb 2006 16:38 GMT

For many years now Outlook hasnt' supported the ability to create a custom
form and to then import data into that custom form (CLEANLY!)

... if I were Microsoft, I think I'd actually have to be trying to have a
non-solution that ridiculous - how many of us actually create forms before we
have any contact databases??? And the workarounds are herculean efforts for
regular folks who just want what should be a very simple requirement to exist
in the first place...I'm sorry, but I just don't understand microsoft and
their desire to not fix blatant issues that DO have solutions - if this was
rev 1 of outlook i might understand - am i missing something???? why would
they leave this "bastardized" for so long?

This is right up there with not being able to customize business contact
forms (yup, all 10 million small business have the same needs according to
microsoft) --- you really gotta wonder who the heck is running the show with
products like these. Now I know some of you think that these products
shouldn't do everything, and I agree! But these glaring oversights (and I
don't think they actually are oversights, I think MS is breaking these lower
end products for some reason - $$$ ) are akin to Chevy selling cars that you
can change the tires on - but after you do, the vehicle will no longer run on
existing roads...

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Frustrated to the MAX! - 14 Feb 2006 16:48 GMT

One other question/issue - if a contact with custom form fields is used to
create a mail merge, are the new custom fields available to the word
document? i don't think they are but i might be missing something... I know
the financial info in a biz contact can't be merged into a doc (yeah, another
very bright move) ... but please tell me it's not true that NO custom fields
can be used in a merge --

> For many years now Outlook hasnt' supported the ability to create a custom
> form and to then import data into that custom form (CLEANLY!)
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> can change the tires on - but after you do, the vehicle will no longer run on
> existing roads...

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Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook] - 14 Feb 2006 17:25 GMT

Yes, custom fields are available to a Word merge if (a) the fields are defined in the folder, not just in the items or custom form and (b) you start the merge from Outlook, not Word.

Signature

Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

> One other question/issue - if a contact with custom form fields is used to
> create a mail merge, are the new custom fields available to the word
> document?

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Frustrated to the MAX! - 14 Feb 2006 17:51 GMT

thanks for the quick reply - how do i define fields in the folder? open the
folder in contacts and right click then select field chooser and add new
fields that way? in other words, if I can see it in the table view on the
right of my screen, is the field in the folder that is displayed in the table
view?

Also, I've modified forms and instead of a small biz card icon, I'm now
seeing what appears to be a post it note icon - have I made some change to
the contact form that is confusing outlook and having it be reclassified as a
note and not a contact?

I'm thinking this will cause import/export problems down the road, will it?

Sue - I see you post all the time on these forums and you are very
knowledgeable...do you have any idea why this program is so darn difficult to
use for normal people? Heck, i'e a cosci degree from a few years ago and the
lack of logic and intuitivenss is mind-boggling. I'm ready to give up and
pay dearly to use ACT and PeachTree - that's how painful these core MS
programs are to customize and to figure out...

> Yes, custom fields are available to a Word merge if (a) the fields are defined in the folder, not just in the items or custom form and (b) you start the merge from Outlook, not Word.
>
> > One other question/issue - if a contact with custom form fields is used to
> > create a mail merge, are the new custom fields available to the word
> > document?

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Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook] - 14 Feb 2006 18:35 GMT

Yes, that's the right procedure to add fields that aren't already defined in the folder. You can confirm they're working by adding the field to the view and checking to make sure that the data you expect to see from the individual items is actually displayed.

The icon that a custom form uses is controlled by a setting on the (Properties) page of the form, in design mode. If you customized a contact form, then it's still a contact regardless of the icon.

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> thanks for the quick reply - how do i define fields in the folder? open the
> folder in contacts and right click then select field chooser and add new
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>> > create a mail merge, are the new custom fields available to the word
>> > document?

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