Address Books Show Up In Wrong Order

[auerbach]

I'm using Outlook 2002 with Windows XP Pro. A few weeks ago my Outlook
address books started showing up in the wrong order. Here's what I mean.

In the past, when I clicked on the "To" button to select a recipient, I got
the "Select Names" dialog box with the "Show Names From the:" dropdown list.
In that dropdown were my various address books. I had Contacts, and under
that were my other sub-folder address books, such as "Ajax Co," "Delta
Inc.," "Rivers Ltd." etc. in alphabetical order -- but with Contacts above
all the sub-folders.

Now all the address book folders appear in straight alphabetical order.
Using my fictitious examples above, it would be Ajax Co., Contacts, Delta
Inc., etc.

I've deleted all my address books (after copying them to individual .PST
files, run the various PST repair utilities, compacted the Outlook PST file,
re-imported the address books individually -- and it still shows up the same
way.

Any idea why this is happening, and how to fix it?

Alex

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

What do you mean you "deleted all my address books?"
What is the hierarchy that shows in Folder List in your PST?

 

[auerbach]

Russ,

Assuming the problem might be in the various address books, I deleted all
the address book folders under Contacts, and then deleted all the entries in
Contacts. (This was after exporting each folder to its individual PST file.)
The result was an Outlook.PST file that had the usual array of folders
(under Personal Folders there were Calendar, Contacts, Deleted Items,
Drafts, Inbox, Journal, etc.) but there no longer were any entries in the
Contacts folder.

After doing the various repair options, I re-imported the Contacts
addresses, and each of the sub-folders with groups of contacts. (I use
several, one for each client I work with.) After I did that, the folders
again came up in straight ABC order, with Contacts showing up as just one of
several address folders. Typically, of course, it shows up at the top of the
list.

The problem isn't aesthetic. My most important contacts are, of course, in
Contacts, so I want that to be the default address book that shows up when I
hit "To".

Thanks for your question. I hope this is clear.

Alex

What do you mean you "deleted all my address books?"
What is the hierarchy that shows in Folder List in your PST?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I'm using Outlook 2002 with Windows XP Pro. A few weeks ago my Outlook
address books started showing up in the wrong order. Here's what I mean.

In the past, when I clicked on the "To" button to select a recipient, I got
the "Select Names" dialog box with the "Show Names From the:" dropdown list.
In that dropdown were my various address books. I had Contacts, and under
that were my other sub-folder address books, such as "Ajax Co," "Delta
Inc.," "Rivers Ltd." etc. in alphabetical order -- but with Contacts above
all the sub-folders.

Now all the address book folders appear in straight alphabetical order.
Using my fictitious examples above, it would be Ajax Co., Contacts, Delta
Inc., etc.

I've deleted all my address books (after copying them to individual .PST
files, run the various PST repair utilities, compacted the Outlook PST file,
re-imported the address books individually -- and it still shows up the same
way.

Any idea why this is happening, and how to fix it?

Alex

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Address book folders has no meaning to me. I assume you mean Contacts
Folders.
Importing and exporting from a PST is a good way to corrupt data or alter
the normal hierarchy.
Why did you not create these Contacts folders as subfolders of your default
Contacts Folder?
What are the steps that produced your problem in the first place?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ,

Assuming the problem might be in the various address books, I deleted all
the address book folders under Contacts, and then deleted all the entries in
Contacts. (This was after exporting each folder to its individual PST file.)
The result was an Outlook.PST file that had the usual array of folders
(under Personal Folders there were Calendar, Contacts, Deleted Items,
Drafts, Inbox, Journal, etc.) but there no longer were any entries in the
Contacts folder.

After doing the various repair options, I re-imported the Contacts
addresses, and each of the sub-folders with groups of contacts. (I use
several, one for each client I work with.) After I did that, the folders
again came up in straight ABC order, with Contacts showing up as just one of
several address folders. Typically, of course, it shows up at the top of the
list.

The problem isn't aesthetic. My most important contacts are, of course, in
Contacts, so I want that to be the default address book that shows up when I
hit "To".

Thanks for your question. I hope this is clear.

Alex

What do you mean you "deleted all my address books?"
What is the hierarchy that shows in Folder List in your PST?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I'm using Outlook 2002 with Windows XP Pro. A few weeks ago my Outlook
address books started showing up in the wrong order. Here's what I mean.

In the past, when I clicked on the "To" button to select a recipient,

I
got

the "Select Names" dialog box with the "Show Names From the:" dropdown list.
In that dropdown were my various address books. I had Contacts, and under
that were my other sub-folder address books, such as "Ajax Co," "Delta
Inc.," "Rivers Ltd." etc. in alphabetical order -- but with Contacts above
all the sub-folders.

Now all the address book folders appear in straight alphabetical order.
Using my fictitious examples above, it would be Ajax Co., Contacts, Delta
Inc., etc.

I've deleted all my address books (after copying them to individual ..PST
files, run the various PST repair utilities, compacted the Outlook PST file,
re-imported the address books individually -- and it still shows up

the
same

way.

Any idea why this is happening, and how to fix it?

Alex

 

[auerbach]

Russ,

Sorry I was unclear.

Under the Contacts folder, in the past I created sub-folder, each holding a
bunch of related addresses -- those linked to a specific client, for
example. There were (and are) five of these, each a subfolder under
Contacts.

I don't know what caused the problem. I've been it with the usual assortment
of viruses and worms, but these have all been caught by anti-virus programs
or quickly cleaned up by anti-Trojan utilities, with no real harm done
(other than to my temper.) I suspect that the Outlook.pst file has somehow
been corrupted, and that my fairly extensive efforts to repair it have not
been successful.

My next option is to export everything, not to PST files but to
comma-delimited files, archive the Outlook.pst file, create a new one,
import the data and see if that helps.

Thanks for your willingness to help.

Alex

Address book folders has no meaning to me. I assume you mean Contacts
Folders.
Importing and exporting from a PST is a good way to corrupt data or alter
the normal hierarchy.
Why did you not create these Contacts folders as subfolders of your default
Contacts Folder?
What are the steps that produced your problem in the first place?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ,

Assuming the problem might be in the various address books, I deleted all
the address book folders under Contacts, and then deleted all the

entries

in
Contacts. (This was after exporting each folder to its individual PST file.)
The result was an Outlook.PST file that had the usual array of folders
(under Personal Folders there were Calendar, Contacts, Deleted Items,
Drafts, Inbox, Journal, etc.) but there no longer were any entries in the
Contacts folder.

After doing the various repair options, I re-imported the Contacts
addresses, and each of the sub-folders with groups of contacts. (I use
several, one for each client I work with.) After I did that, the folders
again came up in straight ABC order, with Contacts showing up as just

one

of
several address folders. Typically, of course, it shows up at the top of the
list.

The problem isn't aesthetic. My most important contacts are, of course, in
Contacts, so I want that to be the default address book that shows up

when

I
hit "To".

Thanks for your question. I hope this is clear.

Alex

What do you mean you "deleted all my address books?"
What is the hierarchy that shows in Folder List in your PST?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I'm using Outlook 2002 with Windows XP Pro. A few weeks ago my Outlook
address books started showing up in the wrong order. Here's what I mean.

In the past, when I clicked on the "To" button to select a

recipient,

I

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

No. I do not think exporting will help anything. It will (and has) made
things worse.

If the order of the appearance of these folders in the Outlook Address Book
is that important, you would be far better off creating a brand new PST file
in a new profile. Then create your subfolders in exactly the order you want
them to appear. Then open your current PST in this new profile and copy its
contents into these new folders. Close the old PST. As the last step, add
and configure the Outlook Address Book Service.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ,

Sorry I was unclear.

Under the Contacts folder, in the past I created sub-folder, each holding a
bunch of related addresses -- those linked to a specific client, for
example. There were (and are) five of these, each a subfolder under
Contacts.

I don't know what caused the problem. I've been it with the usual assortment
of viruses and worms, but these have all been caught by anti-virus programs
or quickly cleaned up by anti-Trojan utilities, with no real harm done
(other than to my temper.) I suspect that the Outlook.pst file has somehow
been corrupted, and that my fairly extensive efforts to repair it have not
been successful.

My next option is to export everything, not to PST files but to
comma-delimited files, archive the Outlook.pst file, create a new one,
import the data and see if that helps.

Thanks for your willingness to help.

Alex

Address book folders has no meaning to me. I assume you mean Contacts
Folders.
Importing and exporting from a PST is a good way to corrupt data or alter
the normal hierarchy.
Why did you not create these Contacts folders as subfolders of your default
Contacts Folder?
What are the steps that produced your problem in the first place?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ,

Assuming the problem might be in the various address books, I deleted all
the address book folders under Contacts, and then deleted all the

entries

in
Contacts. (This was after exporting each folder to its individual PST file.)
The result was an Outlook.PST file that had the usual array of folders
(under Personal Folders there were Calendar, Contacts, Deleted Items,
Drafts, Inbox, Journal, etc.) but there no longer were any entries in the
Contacts folder.

After doing the various repair options, I re-imported the Contacts
addresses, and each of the sub-folders with groups of contacts. (I use
several, one for each client I work with.) After I did that, the folders
again came up in straight ABC order, with Contacts showing up as just

one

of
several address folders. Typically, of course, it shows up at the top

of
the

list.

The problem isn't aesthetic. My most important contacts are, of

course,

in

Contacts, so I want that to be the default address book that shows up

when

I
hit "To".

Thanks for your question. I hope this is clear.

Alex

What do you mean you "deleted all my address books?"
What is the hierarchy that shows in Folder List in your PST?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I'm using Outlook 2002 with Windows XP Pro. A few weeks ago my Outlook
address books started showing up in the wrong order. Here's what I mean.

In the past, when I clicked on the "To" button to select a

recipient,

I
got
the "Select Names" dialog box with the "Show Names From the:" dropdown
list.
In that dropdown were my various address books. I had Contacts, and
under
that were my other sub-folder address books, such as "Ajax Co," "Delta
Inc.," "Rivers Ltd." etc. in alphabetical order -- but with Contacts
above
all the sub-folders.

Now all the address book folders appear in straight alphabetical order.
Using my fictitious examples above, it would be Ajax Co., Contacts,
Delta
Inc., etc.

I've deleted all my address books (after copying them to

individual
.PST

files, run the various PST repair utilities, compacted the Outlook PST
file,
re-imported the address books individually -- and it still shows

up
the

same
way.

Any idea why this is happening, and how to fix it?

Alex

 

[auerbach]

Thanks. Will do.

No. I do not think exporting will help anything. It will (and has) made
things worse.

If the order of the appearance of these folders in the Outlook Address Book
is that important, you would be far better off creating a brand new PST file
in a new profile. Then create your subfolders in exactly the order you want
them to appear. Then open your current PST in this new profile and copy its
contents into these new folders. Close the old PST. As the last step, add
and configure the Outlook Address Book Service.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ,

Sorry I was unclear.

Under the Contacts folder, in the past I created sub-folder, each

holding

a
bunch of related addresses -- those linked to a specific client, for
example. There were (and are) five of these, each a subfolder under
Contacts.

I don't know what caused the problem. I've been it with the usual assortment
of viruses and worms, but these have all been caught by anti-virus programs
or quickly cleaned up by anti-Trojan utilities, with no real harm done
(other than to my temper.) I suspect that the Outlook.pst file has somehow
been corrupted, and that my fairly extensive efforts to repair it have not
been successful.

My next option is to export everything, not to PST files but to
comma-delimited files, archive the Outlook.pst file, create a new one,
import the data and see if that helps.

Thanks for your willingness to help.

Alex

Address book folders has no meaning to me. I assume you mean Contacts
Folders.
Importing and exporting from a PST is a good way to corrupt data or alter
the normal hierarchy.
Why did you not create these Contacts folders as subfolders of your default
Contacts Folder?
What are the steps that produced your problem in the first place?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Russ,

Assuming the problem might be in the various address books, I

deleted
all

the address book folders under Contacts, and then deleted all the entries
in
Contacts. (This was after exporting each folder to its individual PST
file.)
The result was an Outlook.PST file that had the usual array of folders
(under Personal Folders there were Calendar, Contacts, Deleted Items,
Drafts, Inbox, Journal, etc.) but there no longer were any entries

in
the

Contacts folder.

After doing the various repair options, I re-imported the Contacts
addresses, and each of the sub-folders with groups of contacts. (I use
several, one for each client I work with.) After I did that, the folders
again came up in straight ABC order, with Contacts showing up as

just
one

of
several address folders. Typically, of course, it shows up at the

top

of

the
list.

The problem isn't aesthetic. My most important contacts are, of

course,

in
Contacts, so I want that to be the default address book that shows

up
when

I
hit "To".

Thanks for your question. I hope this is clear.

Alex

What do you mean you "deleted all my address books?"
What is the hierarchy that shows in Folder List in your PST?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I'm using Outlook 2002 with Windows XP Pro. A few weeks ago my Outlook
address books started showing up in the wrong order. Here's what I
mean.

In the past, when I clicked on the "To" button to select a recipient,
I
got
the "Select Names" dialog box with the "Show Names From the:" dropdown
list.
In that dropdown were my various address books. I had Contacts, and
under
that were my other sub-folder address books, such as "Ajax Co," "Delta
Inc.," "Rivers Ltd." etc. in alphabetical order -- but with Contacts
above
all the sub-folders.

Now all the address book folders appear in straight alphabetical
order.
Using my fictitious examples above, it would be Ajax Co., Contacts,
Delta
Inc., etc.

I've deleted all my address books (after copying them to individual
.PST
files, run the various PST repair utilities, compacted the

Outlook
PST

file,
re-imported the address books individually -- and it still shows up
the
same
way.

Any idea why this is happening, and how to fix it?

Alex