Export Distribution List: Full Contact Info Won't Export

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sbp - 26 Mar 2008 15:33 GMT

I have a thousand names in Contact List. I have several hundred in a
distribution list created from Contact list. I want to export the
Distribution List info to Excel. I tried saving as .txt, but only the name
and email address is saved in the text file. If I click on a name in the
distribution list, I get the full contact info -- but it won't export.

Is there any way to export full info from a distribution list? Or is the
only resort to go into contact list and pick out one at a time?

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Karl Timmermans - 26 Mar 2008 20:05 GMT

Short answer: no - there is no function available to export "PDL (Personal
Dist List) "contact details". Technically, PDL contact details include only
name and email address.

Some background trivia re: PDL info

In simplistic terms, the DL only maintains name and email address along with
a pointer to either a contact record in any contact folder (if applicable)
or to the Exch GAL (Global Address List) (also if applicable) which is why
you are able to see the details when clicking on a DL entry. However, if the
underlying contact info is deleted in the contact folder or GAL - this info
is no longer available but the DL entry remains. The contact details for a
contact record in a regular contact folder differs from the contact details
found in the Exch GAL and both may be present in any given PDL. In addition,
if a DL entry pointed to contact in a folder using a custom form - the
contact info would be displayed using that form. In essence, the "lowest
common denominator" definition of "full contact info" for entries in a PDL
would be the fields that are common between a contact record and a GAL entry
(assuming of course that either of these exist for the actual PDL entry).

Karl
___________________________________________________
Karl Timmermans - The Claxton Group
ContactGenie - Importer 1.3 / DataPorter 2.0 / Exporter
"Power contact importers/exporters for MS Outlook '2000/2007"
http://www.contactgenie.com

>I have a thousand names in Contact List. I have several hundred in a
> distribution list created from Contact list. I want to export the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Is there any way to export full info from a distribution list? Or is the
> only resort to go into contact list and pick out one at a time?

Reply to this Message

sbp - 26 Mar 2008 20:23 GMT

Ugh. That's a shame. Since the PDL obviously links to the contact folder, you
would think someone would have written a routine which "fetches" the
associated contact data and adds it as columns to the excel export.

Since distribution lists were created to help manage smaller "bites" of huge
contact lists, it would make sense to be able to work within them more
readily.

> Short answer: no - there is no function available to export "PDL (Personal
> Dist List) "contact details". Technically, PDL contact details include only
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
> > Is there any way to export full info from a distribution list? Or is the
> > only resort to go into contact list and pick out one at a time?

Reply to this Message

Brian Tillman - 26 Mar 2008 20:38 GMT

> Since distribution lists were created to help manage smaller "bites"
> of huge contact lists, it would make sense to be able to work within
> them more readily.

Use categories instead.

Signature

Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

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Brian Tillman - 26 Mar 2008 20:38 GMT

> I have a thousand names in Contact List. I have several hundred in a
> distribution list created from Contact list. I want to export the
> Distribution List info to Excel. I tried saving as .txt, but only
> the name and email address is saved in the text file. If I click on
> a name in the distribution list, I get the full contact info -- but
> it won't export.

That's because Distribution Lists don't contain contact information. They
contain only the name and the address. You can't export what doesn't exist.

Signature

Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

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