My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.

When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is appearing in
the contacts list showing the first name first and last name last (Alan
Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as" parameters. (Alan Smith or
Smith, Alan)

If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan Smith)
it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in alphabetical
order.

If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear in the
contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even though it
still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).

Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name then
first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the record -
after saving it the name appears in the contact list as (Alan Smith) but
filed in last name alphabetical order.

I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous XP
computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.

We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has no
meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set its sort
order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact Record abides by
your settings.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:AA4DEF67-EE69-4752-AA25-(E-Mail Removed)...
> My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.
>
> When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is appearing
> in the contacts list showing the first name first and last name last (Alan
> Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as" parameters. (Alan Smith or
> Smith, Alan)
>
> If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
> Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
> alphabetical order.
>
> If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear in
> the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even though
> it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).
>
> Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name then
> first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
> alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the record -
> after saving it the name appears in the contact list as (Alan Smith) but
> filed in last name alphabetical order.
>
> I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous XP
> computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.

Sorry about the lack of clarity.

I refer to the window which is possibly called the current view - it is
where you see all the contacts listed in alphabetical order.

You can select how the contacts appear by selecting in the menu bar :-
'View'
Then 'Current View'
Then you can choose the appearance by selecting from :-
Business cards
Address cards
Detailed address cards etc.

I normally use the Business Cards view - where I have the problem.

I have the "File as" field set as last name, first name (Smith, Alan). The
problem is that the business card appears in last name alphabetical order -
but the name is shown as Alan Smith.


I just tried the other views and have found that the contacts appear
correctly when I select the view as Address cards or Detailed Address cards.
It appears that the problem is confined to when I select Business card view.


The result is that all the records in Business card view - both old and
new - appear in the view window in last name alphabetical order - but the
new and amended contacts show the first name first (Alan Smith) which makes
scanning down the names to find a particular record more complicated.

I hope this has made things a bit clearer.




"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:778DB8D9-7D09-41E7-92DB-(E-Mail Removed)...
> We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has no
> meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set its sort
> order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact Record abides by
> your settings.
> --
> Russ Valentine
> [MVP-Outlook]
> "AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:AA4DEF67-EE69-4752-AA25-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.
>>
>> When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is appearing
>> in the contacts list showing the first name first and last name last
>> (Alan Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as" parameters. (Alan Smith
>> or Smith, Alan)
>>
>> If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
>> Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
>> alphabetical order.
>>
>> If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear in
>> the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even though
>> it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).
>>
>> Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name then
>> first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
>> alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the record -
>> after saving it the name appears in the contact list as (Alan Smith) but
>> filed in last name alphabetical order.
>>
>> I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous XP
>> computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.
>

You next step, then, would be to answer the rest of my question. What sort
order is specified for your Business Card View?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3EA65D4E-24BB-49F8-939C-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Sorry about the lack of clarity.
>
> I refer to the window which is possibly called the current view - it is
> where you see all the contacts listed in alphabetical order.
>
> You can select how the contacts appear by selecting in the menu bar :-
> 'View'
> Then 'Current View'
> Then you can choose the appearance by selecting from :-
> Business cards
> Address cards
> Detailed address cards etc.
>
> I normally use the Business Cards view - where I have the problem.
>
> I have the "File as" field set as last name, first name (Smith, Alan). The
> problem is that the business card appears in last name alphabetical
> order - but the name is shown as Alan Smith.
>
>
> I just tried the other views and have found that the contacts appear
> correctly when I select the view as Address cards or Detailed Address
> cards. It appears that the problem is confined to when I select Business
> card view.
>
>
> The result is that all the records in Business card view - both old and
> new - appear in the view window in last name alphabetical order - but the
> new and amended contacts show the first name first (Alan Smith) which
> makes scanning down the names to find a particular record more
> complicated.
>
> I hope this has made things a bit clearer.
>
>
>
>
> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:778DB8D9-7D09-41E7-92DB-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has no
>> meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set its sort
>> order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact Record abides by
>> your settings.
>> --
>> Russ Valentine
>> [MVP-Outlook]
>> "AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:AA4DEF67-EE69-4752-AA25-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.
>>>
>>> When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is appearing
>>> in the contacts list showing the first name first and last name last
>>> (Alan Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as" parameters. (Alan
>>> Smith or Smith, Alan)
>>>
>>> If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
>>> Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
>>> alphabetical order.
>>>
>>> If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear in
>>> the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even though
>>> it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).
>>>
>>> Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name then
>>> first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
>>> alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the record -
>>> after saving it the name appears in the contact list as (Alan Smith) but
>>> filed in last name alphabetical order.
>>>
>>> I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous XP
>>> computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.
>>
>

All records are set to last name first. (Smith, Alan)

The sort order is "last name ascending"

To further clarify matters I switched the Current View to Phone List

This is a small section of the list which includes a new contact named Alan
Smith - I have shown the two names before and after the new contact (which
are old contacts not edited) to illustrate what I mean

FULL NAME FILE AS
Shields Ron Shields, Ron
Skitt Hazel Skitt, Hazel
Alan Smith Smith, Alan
Stevens Mike Stevens, Mike
Suckley Martin Suckley, Martin







"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> You next step, then, would be to answer the rest of my question. What sort
> order is specified for your Business Card View?
> --
> Russ Valentine
> [MVP-Outlook]
> "AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:3EA65D4E-24BB-49F8-939C-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Sorry about the lack of clarity.
>>
>> I refer to the window which is possibly called the current view - it is
>> where you see all the contacts listed in alphabetical order.
>>
>> You can select how the contacts appear by selecting in the menu bar :-
>> 'View'
>> Then 'Current View'
>> Then you can choose the appearance by selecting from :-
>> Business cards
>> Address cards
>> Detailed address cards etc.
>>
>> I normally use the Business Cards view - where I have the problem.
>>
>> I have the "File as" field set as last name, first name (Smith, Alan).
>> The problem is that the business card appears in last name alphabetical
>> order - but the name is shown as Alan Smith.
>>
>>
>> I just tried the other views and have found that the contacts appear
>> correctly when I select the view as Address cards or Detailed Address
>> cards. It appears that the problem is confined to when I select Business
>> card view.
>>
>>
>> The result is that all the records in Business card view - both old and
>> new - appear in the view window in last name alphabetical order - but the
>> new and amended contacts show the first name first (Alan Smith) which
>> makes scanning down the names to find a particular record more
>> complicated.
>>
>> I hope this has made things a bit clearer.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:778DB8D9-7D09-41E7-92DB-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has no
>>> meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set its sort
>>> order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact Record abides
>>> by your settings.
>>> --
>>> Russ Valentine
>>> [MVP-Outlook]
>>> "AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:AA4DEF67-EE69-4752-AA25-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.
>>>>
>>>> When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is
>>>> appearing in the contacts list showing the first name first and last
>>>> name last (Alan Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as" parameters.
>>>> (Alan Smith or Smith, Alan)
>>>>
>>>> If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
>>>> Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
>>>> alphabetical order.
>>>>
>>>> If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear in
>>>> the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even
>>>> though it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).
>>>>
>>>> Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name
>>>> then first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
>>>> alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the
>>>> record - after saving it the name appears in the contact list as (Alan
>>>> Smith) but filed in last name alphabetical order.
>>>>
>>>> I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous XP
>>>> computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.
>>>
>>
>

Look at your post. You already answered your own question. If you want the
view to sort by the File As field, then set it to sort by the File As field,
not Last name ascending.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:0A4DE58E-250A-4395-A7F9-(E-Mail Removed)...
> All records are set to last name first. (Smith, Alan)
>
> The sort order is "last name ascending"
>
> To further clarify matters I switched the Current View to Phone List
>
> This is a small section of the list which includes a new contact named
> Alan Smith - I have shown the two names before and after the new contact
> (which are old contacts not edited) to illustrate what I mean
>
> FULL NAME FILE AS
> Shields Ron Shields, Ron
> Skitt Hazel Skitt, Hazel
> Alan Smith Smith, Alan
> Stevens Mike Stevens, Mike
> Suckley Martin Suckley, Martin
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> You next step, then, would be to answer the rest of my question. What
>> sort order is specified for your Business Card View?
>> --
>> Russ Valentine
>> [MVP-Outlook]
>> "AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:3EA65D4E-24BB-49F8-939C-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> Sorry about the lack of clarity.
>>>
>>> I refer to the window which is possibly called the current view - it is
>>> where you see all the contacts listed in alphabetical order.
>>>
>>> You can select how the contacts appear by selecting in the menu bar :-
>>> 'View'
>>> Then 'Current View'
>>> Then you can choose the appearance by selecting from :-
>>> Business cards
>>> Address cards
>>> Detailed address cards etc.
>>>
>>> I normally use the Business Cards view - where I have the problem.
>>>
>>> I have the "File as" field set as last name, first name (Smith, Alan).
>>> The problem is that the business card appears in last name alphabetical
>>> order - but the name is shown as Alan Smith.
>>>
>>>
>>> I just tried the other views and have found that the contacts appear
>>> correctly when I select the view as Address cards or Detailed Address
>>> cards. It appears that the problem is confined to when I select Business
>>> card view.
>>>
>>>
>>> The result is that all the records in Business card view - both old and
>>> new - appear in the view window in last name alphabetical order - but
>>> the new and amended contacts show the first name first (Alan Smith)
>>> which makes scanning down the names to find a particular record more
>>> complicated.
>>>
>>> I hope this has made things a bit clearer.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:778DB8D9-7D09-41E7-92DB-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has no
>>>> meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set its
>>>> sort order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact Record
>>>> abides by your settings.
>>>> --
>>>> Russ Valentine
>>>> [MVP-Outlook]
>>>> "AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:AA4DEF67-EE69-4752-AA25-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.
>>>>>
>>>>> When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is
>>>>> appearing in the contacts list showing the first name first and last
>>>>> name last (Alan Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as"
>>>>> parameters. (Alan Smith or Smith, Alan)
>>>>>
>>>>> If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
>>>>> Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
>>>>> alphabetical order.
>>>>>
>>>>> If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear
>>>>> in the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even
>>>>> though it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).
>>>>>
>>>>> Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name
>>>>> then first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
>>>>> alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the
>>>>> record - after saving it the name appears in the contact list as (Alan
>>>>> Smith) but filed in last name alphabetical order.
>>>>>
>>>>> I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous XP
>>>>> computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

I have evidently not explained the problem with clarity.

You will see in my previous post that a new contact - although set in File
As to last name first (Smith Alan) appears in the Current view - when set to
Business cards or Address cards in correct alphabetical order by last name
but the name shown is in the form First name first (Alan Smith)

I just tried setting the sort order to 'File as' field - but it makes no
difference. New contacts still appear in Current view with the first name
first but in last name alphabetical order.

I wondered whether Outlook had somehow become corrupted and just did a MS
Office repair using the installation disc - but it has made no difference.


"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news7803147-BD28-4122-8831-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Look at your post. You already answered your own question. If you want the
> view to sort by the File As field, then set it to sort by the File As
> field, not Last name ascending.
> --
> Russ Valentine
> [MVP-Outlook]
> "AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:0A4DE58E-250A-4395-A7F9-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> All records are set to last name first. (Smith, Alan)
>>
>> The sort order is "last name ascending"
>>
>> To further clarify matters I switched the Current View to Phone List
>>
>> This is a small section of the list which includes a new contact named
>> Alan Smith - I have shown the two names before and after the new contact
>> (which are old contacts not edited) to illustrate what I mean
>>
>> FULL NAME FILE AS
>> Shields Ron Shields, Ron
>> Skitt Hazel Skitt, Hazel
>> Alan Smith Smith, Alan
>> Stevens Mike Stevens, Mike
>> Suckley Martin Suckley, Martin
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> You next step, then, would be to answer the rest of my question. What
>>> sort order is specified for your Business Card View?
>>> --
>>> Russ Valentine
>>> [MVP-Outlook]
>>> "AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:3EA65D4E-24BB-49F8-939C-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> Sorry about the lack of clarity.
>>>>
>>>> I refer to the window which is possibly called the current view - it is
>>>> where you see all the contacts listed in alphabetical order.
>>>>
>>>> You can select how the contacts appear by selecting in the menu bar :-
>>>> 'View'
>>>> Then 'Current View'
>>>> Then you can choose the appearance by selecting from :-
>>>> Business cards
>>>> Address cards
>>>> Detailed address cards etc.
>>>>
>>>> I normally use the Business Cards view - where I have the problem.
>>>>
>>>> I have the "File as" field set as last name, first name (Smith, Alan).
>>>> The problem is that the business card appears in last name alphabetical
>>>> order - but the name is shown as Alan Smith.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I just tried the other views and have found that the contacts appear
>>>> correctly when I select the view as Address cards or Detailed Address
>>>> cards. It appears that the problem is confined to when I select
>>>> Business card view.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The result is that all the records in Business card view - both old and
>>>> new - appear in the view window in last name alphabetical order - but
>>>> the new and amended contacts show the first name first (Alan Smith)
>>>> which makes scanning down the names to find a particular record more
>>>> complicated.
>>>>
>>>> I hope this has made things a bit clearer.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:778DB8D9-7D09-41E7-92DB-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has
>>>>> no meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set its
>>>>> sort order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact Record
>>>>> abides by your settings.
>>>>> --
>>>>> Russ Valentine
>>>>> [MVP-Outlook]
>>>>> "AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>>> news:AA4DEF67-EE69-4752-AA25-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>>> My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is
>>>>>> appearing in the contacts list showing the first name first and last
>>>>>> name last (Alan Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as"
>>>>>> parameters. (Alan Smith or Smith, Alan)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
>>>>>> Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
>>>>>> alphabetical order.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear
>>>>>> in the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even
>>>>>> though it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name
>>>>>> then first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name in
>>>>>> alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the
>>>>>> record - after saving it the name appears in the contact list as
>>>>>> (Alan Smith) but filed in last name alphabetical order.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous
>>>>>> XP computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

Works just fine here. Check your settings again. Make sure you are setting
the _view_ correctly and state the steps you use.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:637A2320-B510-423F-A9C1-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have evidently not explained the problem with clarity.
>
> You will see in my previous post that a new contact - although set in File
> As to last name first (Smith Alan) appears in the Current view - when set
> to Business cards or Address cards in correct alphabetical order by last
> name but the name shown is in the form First name first (Alan Smith)
>
> I just tried setting the sort order to 'File as' field - but it makes no
> difference. New contacts still appear in Current view with the first name
> first but in last name alphabetical order.
>
> I wondered whether Outlook had somehow become corrupted and just did a MS
> Office repair using the installation disc - but it has made no difference.
>
>
> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news7803147-BD28-4122-8831-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Look at your post. You already answered your own question. If you want
>> the view to sort by the File As field, then set it to sort by the File As
>> field, not Last name ascending.
>> --
>> Russ Valentine
>> [MVP-Outlook]
>> "AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:0A4DE58E-250A-4395-A7F9-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> All records are set to last name first. (Smith, Alan)
>>>
>>> The sort order is "last name ascending"
>>>
>>> To further clarify matters I switched the Current View to Phone List
>>>
>>> This is a small section of the list which includes a new contact named
>>> Alan Smith - I have shown the two names before and after the new contact
>>> (which are old contacts not edited) to illustrate what I mean
>>>
>>> FULL NAME FILE AS
>>> Shields Ron Shields, Ron
>>> Skitt Hazel Skitt, Hazel
>>> Alan Smith Smith, Alan
>>> Stevens Mike Stevens, Mike
>>> Suckley Martin Suckley, Martin
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> You next step, then, would be to answer the rest of my question. What
>>>> sort order is specified for your Business Card View?
>>>> --
>>>> Russ Valentine
>>>> [MVP-Outlook]
>>>> "AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:3EA65D4E-24BB-49F8-939C-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> Sorry about the lack of clarity.
>>>>>
>>>>> I refer to the window which is possibly called the current view - it
>>>>> is where you see all the contacts listed in alphabetical order.
>>>>>
>>>>> You can select how the contacts appear by selecting in the menu bar :-
>>>>> 'View'
>>>>> Then 'Current View'
>>>>> Then you can choose the appearance by selecting from :-
>>>>> Business cards
>>>>> Address cards
>>>>> Detailed address cards etc.
>>>>>
>>>>> I normally use the Business Cards view - where I have the problem.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have the "File as" field set as last name, first name (Smith, Alan).
>>>>> The problem is that the business card appears in last name
>>>>> alphabetical order - but the name is shown as Alan Smith.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I just tried the other views and have found that the contacts appear
>>>>> correctly when I select the view as Address cards or Detailed Address
>>>>> cards. It appears that the problem is confined to when I select
>>>>> Business card view.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> The result is that all the records in Business card view - both old
>>>>> and new - appear in the view window in last name alphabetical order -
>>>>> but the new and amended contacts show the first name first (Alan
>>>>> Smith) which makes scanning down the names to find a particular record
>>>>> more complicated.
>>>>>
>>>>> I hope this has made things a bit clearer.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>>> news:778DB8D9-7D09-41E7-92DB-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>>> We have no idea what you might mean by "contact list." That term has
>>>>>> no meaning. Clearly define the view you are using and how you set
>>>>>> its sort order. State whether the File As... field in the Contact
>>>>>> Record abides by your settings.
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Russ Valentine
>>>>>> [MVP-Outlook]
>>>>>> "AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:AA4DEF67-EE69-4752-AA25-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>>>> My Vista / Outlook 2007 has suddenly started to behave abnormally.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> When I create a new contact - or amend an existing one - it is
>>>>>>> appearing in the contacts list showing the first name first and last
>>>>>>> name last (Alan Smith) irrespective how I set the "file as"
>>>>>>> parameters. (Alan Smith or Smith, Alan)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If I set the "file as" parameter to first name then last name (Alan
>>>>>>> Smith) it will appear in the contacts list with the first name in
>>>>>>> alphabetical order.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If I set it to last name then first name (Smith Alan) it will appear
>>>>>>> in the contacts list with the last name in alphabetical order - even
>>>>>>> though it still shows as first name last name (Alan Smith).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Old records remain correct - they are set in "File as" to last name
>>>>>>> then first name and appear in the contacts list with the last name
>>>>>>> in alphabetical order (Smith Alan). However - if I edit any of the
>>>>>>> record - after saving it the name appears in the contact list as
>>>>>>> (Alan Smith) but filed in last name alphabetical order.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I recall having the same problem about 18 months ago on my previous
>>>>>>> XP computer with Outlook 2003 - but cannot remember how I cured it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

Here is a summary of my procedure for Outlook 2007 on a Vista 32 computer

To set the required Current View
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts (Ctrl + 3)
View
Current View
Business cards (or Address cards, Phone List etc)

To create a new contact
Open Outlook
Go
Contacts
Actions
New contact (Ctrl + N)
Full name - opens small window to enter first and last names (Fred Jones)
File as - select last first - Jones, Fred
Then enter remaining contact info - then save and close

To select the sort order
View
Customise current view
Sort - select desired sort order.
OK

Hope this helps.


"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
newsE23873C-B1D3-449E-ACA0-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Works just fine here. Check your settings again. Make sure you are setting
> the _view_ correctly and state the steps you use.
> --

Can't tell what you're doing wrong. When I set the File As field to be Last,
First and Business Card view to sort by File As, all Contacts are sorted by
Last, First and appear as Last, First.
Perhaps your problem is that these settings only apply to new Contacts you
create. It will not reset existing Contacts you may have created
incorrectly.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"AlanHo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:68A82591-523C-4A46-8BE1-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Here is a summary of my procedure for Outlook 2007 on a Vista 32 computer
>
> To set the required Current View
> Open Outlook
> Go
> Contacts (Ctrl + 3)
> View
> Current View
> Business cards (or Address cards, Phone List etc)
>
> To create a new contact
> Open Outlook
> Go
> Contacts
> Actions
> New contact (Ctrl + N)
> Full name - opens small window to enter first and last names (Fred Jones)
> File as - select last first - Jones, Fred
> Then enter remaining contact info - then save and close
>
> To select the sort order
> View
> Customise current view
> Sort - select desired sort order.
> OK
>
> Hope this helps.
>
>
> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> newsE23873C-B1D3-449E-ACA0-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Works just fine here. Check your settings again. Make sure you are
>> setting the _view_ correctly and state the steps you use.
>> --
>