How can I get Outlook 2003 to automatically add area codes?

[Guest]

In Outlook 2000, phone numbers in contacts would automatically insert the
area code and format the phone number in traditional format: (530) 757-2293.
Outlook 2003 doesn't do this. How can I set it up?

 

[Milly Staples - MVP Outlook]

Did you set your dialing rules and area code correctly?

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
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After furious head scratching, George Galamba asked:

| In Outlook 2000, phone numbers in contacts would automatically insert
| the area code and format the phone number in traditional format:
| (530) 757-2293. Outlook 2003 doesn't do this. How can I set it up?

 

[Guest]

Probably not, as I don't know how to. I searched "dialing rules" in help,
but the links were not helpful. How do I set these up in 2003?

 

[Brian Tillman]

Probably not, as I don't know how to.

Start>Control Panel>Printers and Other hardware>Phone and Modem Options in
Windows XP.

 

[Guest]

Brian, thanks for the info. I entered the info in the "Phone and
ModemOptions" in the control panel, but it seems that Outlook isn't getting
the message -- the problem persists. Not a big deal - I can manually enter
new area codes and format, but it was nice when Outlook did it automatically.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Brian, thanks for the info. I entered the info in the "Phone and
ModemOptions" in the control panel, but it seems that Outlook isn't
getting the message -- the problem persists. Not a big deal - I can
manually enter new area codes and format, but it was nice when
Outlook did it automatically.

I don't think that Outlook will reformat the contacts already entered, but
new ones should have the correct formatting. Take a look at this tool to
see if it might help:
http://www.slovaktech.com/phonechanger.htm . It's free and it does work
with Outlook 2003 because I've tried it.