Contacts has too many names. How to only see contacts I want to se

[CoachMitch]

I have almost all contacts in DL's and Categories. When looking at the
Contacts List is there a way to only see the contacts I want to view and also
a listing of DL's. When I open a particular DL or Category the the contacts
will be available?

For example: When looking through the Contact List trying to find a client,
I don't need to see vendors. The vendors could be in a DL or a Category which
is not visible until I open the DL or Category.

Thank you for your time.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You need to organize your Contacts in a more meaningful fashion. DL's are
always a poor choice for doing so. Both separate Contact subfolders and
Categories work fine when you create them in a way that suits your needs.
Only you know what those are.

 

[CoachMitch]

Russ,

Thanks for the input. I know that I can eliminate Dl's and only use
Categories.

I'm trying to not have to scroll through hundreds of contacts just to find
those few that I'm using on a constant basis.

For example: I would like it if I could have Contacts only showing the most
used contacts, let's say 50, and also list the 30 Category names. So on my
Contact list, it shows only 80 lines. If I want a Customer, I will open the
Customer Category, etc.

By the way, is there a way to choose ANY color to associate with a Category
or are we limited to only the default color set?

Thanks,
Coach Mitch

You need to organize your Contacts in a more meaningful fashion. DL's are
always a poor choice for doing so. Both separate Contact subfolders and
Categories work fine when you create them in a way that suits your needs.
Only you know what those are.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I have almost all contacts in DL's and Categories. When looking at the
Contacts List is there a way to only see the contacts I want to view and
also
a listing of DL's. When I open a particular DL or Category the the
contacts
will be available?

For example: When looking through the Contact List trying to find a
client,
I don't need to see vendors. The vendors could be in a DL or a Category
which
is not visible until I open the DL or Category.

Thank you for your time.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Here's a good comparison of your options for organizing Contacts:
http://www.slipstick.com/contacts/oloabcat.htm

The other thing you can need to determine is what your preferred method for
selecting recipients. That will determine how best to organize your Contacts
so that you can limit your choices when creating a message (which I assume
is when you are trying to limit your choices). Most users use filtered views
of Contacts Folders, the Outlook Address Book, autoresolution, or
autocompletion or a combination thereof for that task. Compare those options
here:
http://home.indy.rr.com/russval/autocompletion.htm
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Russ,

Thanks for the input. I know that I can eliminate Dl's and only use
Categories.

I'm trying to not have to scroll through hundreds of contacts just to find
those few that I'm using on a constant basis.

For example: I would like it if I could have Contacts only showing the
most
used contacts, let's say 50, and also list the 30 Category names. So on my
Contact list, it shows only 80 lines. If I want a Customer, I will open
the
Customer Category, etc.

By the way, is there a way to choose ANY color to associate with a
Category
or are we limited to only the default color set?

Thanks,
Coach Mitch

You need to organize your Contacts in a more meaningful fashion. DL's are
always a poor choice for doing so. Both separate Contact subfolders and
Categories work fine when you create them in a way that suits your needs.
Only you know what those are.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I have almost all contacts in DL's and Categories. When looking at the
Contacts List is there a way to only see the contacts I want to view
and
also
a listing of DL's. When I open a particular DL or Category the the
contacts
will be available?

For example: When looking through the Contact List trying to find a
client,
I don't need to see vendors. The vendors could be in a DL or a Category
which
is not visible until I open the DL or Category.

Thank you for your time.