outlook distribution list

[Guest]

Can I build an outlook distribution list from a database and keep it in sync?
We have a database which contains details of our customers. If we update any
email addressess it will be updated in the database. Can I parse through that
update somehow (odbc vba, anything really) through to Outlooks distribution
list, without having to manually update the distribution list?

 

[Guest]

Hi Jalz. I just need to confirm whether this is a Distribution List item
stored in a Contatcts folder, or a series of Contact items in a Contacts
folder, or the Global Address List in Exchange. The former can be easily
(somewhat easily) synchronized with a database, but it depends on whether you
want to synch this from Outlook, Access, or have this scheduled.

 

[Guest]

Hi Eric,

Thank you for your reply, my contacts are actually stored in a FileMaker
database, which I would like to sync with outlook exchange somehow. We have
too many places where we store duplicate info, I am just trying to look at
creating bridges where we can sync the data, possibly through schedules?

Jalz

 

[Guest]

The key question is where in Outlook do you want to synch this data? A
Public Folder? The GAL? A DL?

It's possible to run code on a schedule but with some caveats:

The Outlook Object Model is unsuitable to run in a Windows service:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;237913

The above approach would be suited to updating a single location in
Exchange. If you want the synch to happen on a client basis - through an
add-in or macro - one technique is to use the ReminderFire event, looking for
a named recurring Task that you detect to run your synch code.

--
Eric Legault - Outlook MVP, MCDBA, MCTS (SharePoint programming, etc.)
Try Picture Attachments Wizard for Outlook:
http://www.collaborativeinnovations.ca
Blog: http://blogs.officezealot.com/legault/