Contacts Folders

[Guest]

I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still appear in the "Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty but the folder name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can anybody help?

Thanks!
Jackie

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

 

[Guest]

Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention with no luck.

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still appear in the
"Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty but the folder
name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can anybody help?

Thanks!
Jackie

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Then you didn't do what I posted.
It works for everyone else.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention with no luck.

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still appear in the
"Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty but the folder
name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can anybody help?

Thanks!
Jackie

 

[Guest]

I've tried those steps on and off for the past few months, and sometimes it
works and sometimes it doesn't. Just now it removed the wrong folder from
the list - it happened more than once, so it not my imagination.

Outlook has some serious holes in it that need to be fixed!

Thanks for you reply.

Then you didn't do what I posted.
It works for everyone else.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention with no luck.

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still appear in the
"Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty but the folder
name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can anybody help?

Thanks!
Jackie

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

"Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't" sounds more like PEBKAC than
an Outlook "hole."

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. All
unsolicited mail sent to my personal account will be deleted without
reading.

After furious head scratching, Jackie asked:

| I've tried those steps on and off for the past few months, and
| sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Just now it removed the
| wrong folder from the list - it happened more than once, so it not my
| imagination.
|
| Outlook has some serious holes in it that need to be fixed!
|
| Thanks for you reply.
|
| "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
|
|| Then you didn't do what I posted.
|| It works for everyone else.
|| --
|| Russ Valentine
|| [MVP-Outlook]
|| ||| Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention with no
||| luck.
|||
||| "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
|||
|||| Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
|||| In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders here:
|||| Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing
|||| directories or address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >
||||
|||| --
|||| Russ Valentine
|||| [MVP-Outlook]
|||| ||||| I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still appear
||||| in the "Show
||||| names from the list" in the address book. They are empty but the
||||| folder name
||||| is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can anybody
||||| help?
|||||
||||| Thanks!
||||| Jackie

 

[Guest]

Do you work for Microsoft? If so, your response explains why Apple can get
away with making the commercials they do.

Don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else is an idiot. I'd be the
first to admit a mistake on my part, but I've been doing this long enough to
recognize a bug when I see one.

Just FYI - the other holes I'm talking about is the uselesness of
"categories" in creating distribution lists. I spent hours trying to find
the best way to set up over 500 contacts and easily categorize them and
creating distribution lists from that without creating duplicates, but had to
resort to using folders and deal with the duplication. Having all the
contacts in one place and manually maintaining distribution lists was a poor
second choice.

I've tried those steps on and off for the past few months, and sometimes it
works and sometimes it doesn't. Just now it removed the wrong folder from
the list - it happened more than once, so it not my imagination.

Outlook has some serious holes in it that need to be fixed!

Thanks for you reply.

Then you didn't do what I posted.
It works for everyone else.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention with no luck.

:

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still appear in the
"Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty but the folder
name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can anybody help?

Thanks!
Jackie

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

I don't understand your second question.
If you have created categories, you have no need for DL's.
DL's are poor choice for grouping Contacts and have largely been abandoned.
Categories have replaced them.
http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2003/20030730.htm

On the first issue, there is no such "bug." The method for removing outdated
references to Contacts Folders from the Outlook Address Book works
consistently, not sporadically.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Do you work for Microsoft? If so, your response explains why Apple can
get
away with making the commercials they do.

Don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else is an idiot. I'd be the
first to admit a mistake on my part, but I've been doing this long enough
to
recognize a bug when I see one.

Just FYI - the other holes I'm talking about is the uselesness of
"categories" in creating distribution lists. I spent hours trying to find
the best way to set up over 500 contacts and easily categorize them and
creating distribution lists from that without creating duplicates, but had
to
resort to using folders and deal with the duplication. Having all the
contacts in one place and manually maintaining distribution lists was a
poor
second choice.

I've tried those steps on and off for the past few months, and sometimes
it
works and sometimes it doesn't. Just now it removed the wrong folder
from
the list - it happened more than once, so it not my imagination.

Outlook has some serious holes in it that need to be fixed!

Thanks for you reply.

Then you didn't do what I posted.
It works for everyone else.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention with no
luck.

:

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories
or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still appear in
the
"Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty but the
folder
name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can anybody
help?

Thanks!
Jackie

 

[Laura Rooke]

Why have DLs been abandoned ? I can see that it's neater to assign
categories, but how do you bcc a category and doesn't it take a few more
steps to send an email message to a category rather than a DL ?

--
Laura Rooke (MVP - Mobile Devices)

I don't understand your second question.
If you have created categories, you have no need for DL's.
DL's are poor choice for grouping Contacts and have largely been
abandoned. Categories have replaced them.
http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2003/20030730.htm

On the first issue, there is no such "bug." The method for removing
outdated references to Contacts Folders from the Outlook Address Book
works consistently, not sporadically.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Do you work for Microsoft? If so, your response explains why Apple can
get
away with making the commercials they do.

Don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else is an idiot. I'd be the
first to admit a mistake on my part, but I've been doing this long enough
to
recognize a bug when I see one.

Just FYI - the other holes I'm talking about is the uselesness of
"categories" in creating distribution lists. I spent hours trying to
find
the best way to set up over 500 contacts and easily categorize them and
creating distribution lists from that without creating duplicates, but
had to
resort to using folders and deal with the duplication. Having all the
contacts in one place and manually maintaining distribution lists was a
poor
second choice.

I've tried those steps on and off for the past few months, and sometimes
it
works and sometimes it doesn't. Just now it removed the wrong folder
from
the list - it happened more than once, so it not my imagination.

Outlook has some serious holes in it that need to be fixed!

Thanks for you reply.

:

Then you didn't do what I posted.
It works for everyone else.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention with no
luck.

:

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing directories
or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still appear
in the
"Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty but the
folder
name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can anybody
help?

Thanks!
Jackie

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

DL's have been abandoned only by users who are so frustrated by them they
look for better alternatives. DL's in Outlook are an afterthought. They have
no features and are notoriously unreliable. They are very difficult to
maintain, become corrupt easily and will not update automatically. Microsoft
has done nothing to improve DL's or make them more reliable or functional.
You are perfectly free to use them.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Why have DLs been abandoned ? I can see that it's neater to assign
categories, but how do you bcc a category and doesn't it take a few more
steps to send an email message to a category rather than a DL ?

--
Laura Rooke (MVP - Mobile Devices)

I don't understand your second question.
If you have created categories, you have no need for DL's.
DL's are poor choice for grouping Contacts and have largely been
abandoned. Categories have replaced them.
http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2003/20030730.htm

On the first issue, there is no such "bug." The method for removing
outdated references to Contacts Folders from the Outlook Address Book
works consistently, not sporadically.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Do you work for Microsoft? If so, your response explains why Apple can
get
away with making the commercials they do.

Don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else is an idiot. I'd be
the
first to admit a mistake on my part, but I've been doing this long
enough to
recognize a bug when I see one.

Just FYI - the other holes I'm talking about is the uselesness of
"categories" in creating distribution lists. I spent hours trying to
find
the best way to set up over 500 contacts and easily categorize them and
creating distribution lists from that without creating duplicates, but
had to
resort to using folders and deal with the duplication. Having all the
contacts in one place and manually maintaining distribution lists was a
poor
second choice.

:

I've tried those steps on and off for the past few months, and
sometimes it
works and sometimes it doesn't. Just now it removed the wrong folder
from
the list - it happened more than once, so it not my imagination.

Outlook has some serious holes in it that need to be fixed!

Thanks for you reply.

:

Then you didn't do what I posted.
It works for everyone else.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention with no
luck.

:

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing
directories or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still appear
in the
"Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty but the
folder
name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can anybody
help?

Thanks!
Jackie

 

[Laura Rooke]

but I like your idea of doing it by category , because as you say - it is a
neater way of maintaning your distribution list - just seems that it hasn't
been thought all the way through , because I usually bcc a DL list. Just my
thoughts on this

--
Laura Rooke (MVP - Mobile Devices)

DL's have been abandoned only by users who are so frustrated by them they
look for better alternatives. DL's in Outlook are an afterthought. They
have no features and are notoriously unreliable. They are very difficult
to maintain, become corrupt easily and will not update automatically.
Microsoft has done nothing to improve DL's or make them more reliable or
functional.
You are perfectly free to use them.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Why have DLs been abandoned ? I can see that it's neater to assign
categories, but how do you bcc a category and doesn't it take a few more
steps to send an email message to a category rather than a DL ?

--
Laura Rooke (MVP - Mobile Devices)

I don't understand your second question.
If you have created categories, you have no need for DL's.
DL's are poor choice for grouping Contacts and have largely been
abandoned. Categories have replaced them.
http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2003/20030730.htm

On the first issue, there is no such "bug." The method for removing
outdated references to Contacts Folders from the Outlook Address Book
works consistently, not sporadically.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Do you work for Microsoft? If so, your response explains why Apple can
get
away with making the commercials they do.

Don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else is an idiot. I'd be
the
first to admit a mistake on my part, but I've been doing this long
enough to
recognize a bug when I see one.

Just FYI - the other holes I'm talking about is the uselesness of
"categories" in creating distribution lists. I spent hours trying to
find
the best way to set up over 500 contacts and easily categorize them and
creating distribution lists from that without creating duplicates, but
had to
resort to using folders and deal with the duplication. Having all the
contacts in one place and manually maintaining distribution lists was a
poor
second choice.

:

I've tried those steps on and off for the past few months, and
sometimes it
works and sometimes it doesn't. Just now it removed the wrong folder
from
the list - it happened more than once, so it not my imagination.

Outlook has some serious holes in it that need to be fixed!

Thanks for you reply.

:

Then you didn't do what I posted.
It works for everyone else.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention with
no luck.

:

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing
directories or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still appear
in the
"Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty but
the folder
name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can anybody
help?

Thanks!
Jackie

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Agreed. For anyone who wants to BCC a group, using categories requires an
extra step to get the recipients into the BCC field. You would think that if
they want us to use categories instead of DL's, they would have addressed
this need. It's not like they haven't been told.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

but I like your idea of doing it by category , because as you say - it is
a neater way of maintaning your distribution list - just seems that it
hasn't been thought all the way through , because I usually bcc a DL list.
Just my thoughts on this

--
Laura Rooke (MVP - Mobile Devices)

DL's have been abandoned only by users who are so frustrated by them they
look for better alternatives. DL's in Outlook are an afterthought. They
have no features and are notoriously unreliable. They are very difficult
to maintain, become corrupt easily and will not update automatically.
Microsoft has done nothing to improve DL's or make them more reliable or
functional.
You are perfectly free to use them.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Why have DLs been abandoned ? I can see that it's neater to assign
categories, but how do you bcc a category and doesn't it take a few more
steps to send an email message to a category rather than a DL ?

--
Laura Rooke (MVP - Mobile Devices)
I don't understand your second question.
If you have created categories, you have no need for DL's.
DL's are poor choice for grouping Contacts and have largely been
abandoned. Categories have replaced them.
http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2003/20030730.htm

On the first issue, there is no such "bug." The method for removing
outdated references to Contacts Folders from the Outlook Address Book
works consistently, not sporadically.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Do you work for Microsoft? If so, your response explains why Apple
can get
away with making the commercials they do.

Don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else is an idiot. I'd be
the
first to admit a mistake on my part, but I've been doing this long
enough to
recognize a bug when I see one.

Just FYI - the other holes I'm talking about is the uselesness of
"categories" in creating distribution lists. I spent hours trying to
find
the best way to set up over 500 contacts and easily categorize them
and
creating distribution lists from that without creating duplicates, but
had to
resort to using folders and deal with the duplication. Having all the
contacts in one place and manually maintaining distribution lists was
a poor
second choice.

:

I've tried those steps on and off for the past few months, and
sometimes it
works and sometimes it doesn't. Just now it removed the wrong folder
from
the list - it happened more than once, so it not my imagination.

Outlook has some serious holes in it that need to be fixed!

Thanks for you reply.

:

Then you didn't do what I posted.
It works for everyone else.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention with
no luck.

:

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing
directories or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still
appear in the
"Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty but
the folder
name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can
anybody help?

Thanks!
Jackie

 

[Guest]

Russ,
We will agree to disagree on the sporadicness of the delete function but
thanks for your help on the categories issue - would be great if we could
access the categories from the email screen via the address book. Thanks for
your help.

Jackie

Agreed. For anyone who wants to BCC a group, using categories requires an
extra step to get the recipients into the BCC field. You would think that if
they want us to use categories instead of DL's, they would have addressed
this need. It's not like they haven't been told.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

but I like your idea of doing it by category , because as you say - it is
a neater way of maintaning your distribution list - just seems that it
hasn't been thought all the way through , because I usually bcc a DL list.
Just my thoughts on this

--
Laura Rooke (MVP - Mobile Devices)

DL's have been abandoned only by users who are so frustrated by them they
look for better alternatives. DL's in Outlook are an afterthought. They
have no features and are notoriously unreliable. They are very difficult
to maintain, become corrupt easily and will not update automatically.
Microsoft has done nothing to improve DL's or make them more reliable or
functional.
You are perfectly free to use them.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Why have DLs been abandoned ? I can see that it's neater to assign
categories, but how do you bcc a category and doesn't it take a few more
steps to send an email message to a category rather than a DL ?

--
Laura Rooke (MVP - Mobile Devices)
I don't understand your second question.
If you have created categories, you have no need for DL's.
DL's are poor choice for grouping Contacts and have largely been
abandoned. Categories have replaced them.
http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2003/20030730.htm

On the first issue, there is no such "bug." The method for removing
outdated references to Contacts Folders from the Outlook Address Book
works consistently, not sporadically.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Do you work for Microsoft? If so, your response explains why Apple
can get
away with making the commercials they do.

Don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else is an idiot. I'd be
the
first to admit a mistake on my part, but I've been doing this long
enough to
recognize a bug when I see one.

Just FYI - the other holes I'm talking about is the uselesness of
"categories" in creating distribution lists. I spent hours trying to
find
the best way to set up over 500 contacts and easily categorize them
and
creating distribution lists from that without creating duplicates, but
had to
resort to using folders and deal with the duplication. Having all the
contacts in one place and manually maintaining distribution lists was
a poor
second choice.

:

I've tried those steps on and off for the past few months, and
sometimes it
works and sometimes it doesn't. Just now it removed the wrong folder
from
the list - it happened more than once, so it not my imagination.

Outlook has some serious holes in it that need to be fixed!

Thanks for you reply.

:

Then you didn't do what I posted.
It works for everyone else.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention with
no luck.

:

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing
directories or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still
appear in the
"Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty but
the folder
name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can
anybody help?

Thanks!
Jackie

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

The only way to have Contacts sorted in the Address Book view is to use
separate Contact subfolders, which is another way you can group Contacts. To
see a comparison of Categories VS Subfolders, look here:
http://www.slipstick.com/contacts/oloabcat.htm

If you can send steps to repro a situation where removing an invalid
reference to a Contacts Folder does not work, I'd be happy to look into it.
This method requires a complete restart of Outlook, so I suspect that's
where the problem lies. You may think you are restarting Outlook but you
aren't because some add-in or synch software may be holding it open.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ,
We will agree to disagree on the sporadicness of the delete function but
thanks for your help on the categories issue - would be great if we could
access the categories from the email screen via the address book. Thanks
for
your help.

Jackie

Agreed. For anyone who wants to BCC a group, using categories requires an
extra step to get the recipients into the BCC field. You would think that
if
they want us to use categories instead of DL's, they would have addressed
this need. It's not like they haven't been told.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

but I like your idea of doing it by category , because as you say - it
is
a neater way of maintaning your distribution list - just seems that it
hasn't been thought all the way through , because I usually bcc a DL
list.
Just my thoughts on this

--
Laura Rooke (MVP - Mobile Devices)
DL's have been abandoned only by users who are so frustrated by them
they
look for better alternatives. DL's in Outlook are an afterthought.
They
have no features and are notoriously unreliable. They are very
difficult
to maintain, become corrupt easily and will not update automatically.
Microsoft has done nothing to improve DL's or make them more reliable
or
functional.
You are perfectly free to use them.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Why have DLs been abandoned ? I can see that it's neater to assign
categories, but how do you bcc a category and doesn't it take a few
more
steps to send an email message to a category rather than a DL ?

--
Laura Rooke (MVP - Mobile Devices)
I don't understand your second question.
If you have created categories, you have no need for DL's.
DL's are poor choice for grouping Contacts and have largely been
abandoned. Categories have replaced them.
http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2003/20030730.htm

On the first issue, there is no such "bug." The method for removing
outdated references to Contacts Folders from the Outlook Address
Book
works consistently, not sporadically.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Do you work for Microsoft? If so, your response explains why Apple
can get
away with making the commercials they do.

Don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else is an idiot. I'd
be
the
first to admit a mistake on my part, but I've been doing this long
enough to
recognize a bug when I see one.

Just FYI - the other holes I'm talking about is the uselesness of
"categories" in creating distribution lists. I spent hours trying
to
find
the best way to set up over 500 contacts and easily categorize them
and
creating distribution lists from that without creating duplicates,
but
had to
resort to using folders and deal with the duplication. Having all
the
contacts in one place and manually maintaining distribution lists
was
a poor
second choice.

:

I've tried those steps on and off for the past few months, and
sometimes it
works and sometimes it doesn't. Just now it removed the wrong
folder
from
the list - it happened more than once, so it not my imagination.

Outlook has some serious holes in it that need to be fixed!

Thanks for you reply.

:

Then you didn't do what I posted.
It works for everyone else.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention
with
no luck.

:

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders
here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing
directories or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still
appear in the
"Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty
but
the folder
name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can
anybody help?

Thanks!
Jackie

 

[Guest]

Thanks. I do have it set up as subfolders and thats where I encountered the
delete problem. Just find maintaining the DL's an unneccessary duplication &
pain so categories would work great if we could access directly from the new
message screen. Maybe one day......!

I have managed to clear out all the deleted folders for now so next time I
have the same issue I will be sure to restart outlook after each file deleted
instead of deleting a few at a time and monitor that way.

The only way to have Contacts sorted in the Address Book view is to use
separate Contact subfolders, which is another way you can group Contacts. To
see a comparison of Categories VS Subfolders, look here:
http://www.slipstick.com/contacts/oloabcat.htm

If you can send steps to repro a situation where removing an invalid
reference to a Contacts Folder does not work, I'd be happy to look into it.
This method requires a complete restart of Outlook, so I suspect that's
where the problem lies. You may think you are restarting Outlook but you
aren't because some add-in or synch software may be holding it open.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ,
We will agree to disagree on the sporadicness of the delete function but
thanks for your help on the categories issue - would be great if we could
access the categories from the email screen via the address book. Thanks
for
your help.

Jackie

Agreed. For anyone who wants to BCC a group, using categories requires an
extra step to get the recipients into the BCC field. You would think that
if
they want us to use categories instead of DL's, they would have addressed
this need. It's not like they haven't been told.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
but I like your idea of doing it by category , because as you say - it
is
a neater way of maintaning your distribution list - just seems that it
hasn't been thought all the way through , because I usually bcc a DL
list.
Just my thoughts on this

--
Laura Rooke (MVP - Mobile Devices)
DL's have been abandoned only by users who are so frustrated by them
they
look for better alternatives. DL's in Outlook are an afterthought.
They
have no features and are notoriously unreliable. They are very
difficult
to maintain, become corrupt easily and will not update automatically.
Microsoft has done nothing to improve DL's or make them more reliable
or
functional.
You are perfectly free to use them.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Why have DLs been abandoned ? I can see that it's neater to assign
categories, but how do you bcc a category and doesn't it take a few
more
steps to send an email message to a category rather than a DL ?

--
Laura Rooke (MVP - Mobile Devices)
I don't understand your second question.
If you have created categories, you have no need for DL's.
DL's are poor choice for grouping Contacts and have largely been
abandoned. Categories have replaced them.
http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2003/20030730.htm

On the first issue, there is no such "bug." The method for removing
outdated references to Contacts Folders from the Outlook Address
Book
works consistently, not sporadically.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Do you work for Microsoft? If so, your response explains why Apple
can get
away with making the commercials they do.

Don't make the mistake of assuming everyone else is an idiot. I'd
be
the
first to admit a mistake on my part, but I've been doing this long
enough to
recognize a bug when I see one.

Just FYI - the other holes I'm talking about is the uselesness of
"categories" in creating distribution lists. I spent hours trying
to
find
the best way to set up over 500 contacts and easily categorize them
and
creating distribution lists from that without creating duplicates,
but
had to
resort to using folders and deal with the duplication. Having all
the
contacts in one place and manually maintaining distribution lists
was
a poor
second choice.

:

I've tried those steps on and off for the past few months, and
sometimes it
works and sometimes it doesn't. Just now it removed the wrong
folder
from
the list - it happened more than once, so it not my imagination.

Outlook has some serious holes in it that need to be fixed!

Thanks for you reply.

:

Then you didn't do what I posted.
It works for everyone else.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Sorry, it is 2003. I did already try the option you mention
with
no luck.

:

Your Outlook version is in play. You neglected to post it.
In some, you remove outdated references to Contact Folders
here:
Go to Tools > E-mail accounts > View or change existing
directories or
address books > Outlook Address Book > Change. >

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I deleted a number of contacts folders however they still
appear in the
"Show
names from the list" in the address book. They are empty
but
the folder
name
is still there. I have tried everything I can find. Can
anybody help?

Thanks!
Jackie