Outlook 2007 - are there distribution-list-only and by-member viewsfor the Contacts folder?

[Alan]

Hello,

In Outlook 2007 with an Exchange-server mailbox :

- is it possible to open the Contacts folder and configure the view to
only show distribution lists?
- can we also show the name of each distribution list, followed by its
members (like the by By Category view)?

Thanks,

- Alan.

 

[Russ Valentine]

No. DL's are a deprecated feature that never did work well. Most users
abandoned them long ago and use Categories instead.

 

[Alan]

Thanks. We've been using categories with little success. Users don't
like them. And Outlook 2007 now has unlimited DLs.

 

[Gordon]

Thanks. We've been using categories with little success.
Eh?

Users don't like them.

Wonder why? They are FAR easier to use and maintain than D/Ls...or is it
just a case of "that's how we've always done it..."

 

[Alan]

Try forwarding a message to a category list vs a DL.

Then try to simply change the name of a category and see how many
steps you need to do that vs a DL.

And worst of all, moving the MCL from one PC to another, at least pre-
Outlook 2007.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

And worst of all, moving the MCL from one PC to another, at least pre-

Outlook 2007.

It's no better in Outlook 2007/2010.

Contacts Groups/Distribution lists serve a need and I expect to see them
around as long as Outlook exists.

- is it possible to open the Contacts folder and configure the view to
only show distribution lists?

Yes. Create a custom view with a filter that is based on Message class is
IPM.DistList
http://slipstick.me/jing/showdl.png

- can we also show the name of each distribution list, followed by its
members (like the by By Category view)?

No, not that I know of.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

New Poll: What type of email account is your main account?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=42402

 

[Alan]

But at least the categories are stored in the mailbox in 2007, not a
registry key.

Can anyone suggest the best way to add contacts who have the same
category to a new distribution list? Drag and drop of contacts into a
list doesn't seem to work in 2007 ...

And worst of all, moving the MCL from one PC to another, at least pre-
Outlook 2007.

It's no better in Outlook 2007/2010.

Contacts Groups/Distribution lists serve a need and I expect to see them
around as long as Outlook exists.

- is it possible to open the Contacts folder and configure the view to
only show distribution lists?

Yes. Create a custom view with a filter that is based on Message class is
IPM.DistListhttp://slipstick.me/jing/showdl.png

- can we also show the name of each distribution list, followed by its
members (like the by By Category view)?

No, not that I know of.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Outlook Tips:http://www.outlook-tips.net/
Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center:http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

New Poll: What type of email account is your main account?http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=42402

Try forwarding a message to a category list vs a DL.

Then try to simply change the name of a category and see how many
steps you need to do that vs a DL.

And worst of all, moving the MCL from one PC to another, at least pre-
Outlook 2007.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

Can anyone suggest the best way to add contacts who have the same
category to a new distribution list? Drag and drop of contacts into a
list doesn't seem to work in 2007 ...

Since you get most of the benefits of DLs by using categories, it may not be
necessary. However, if you create a By Category view that filters all but the
names and addresses, you should be able to use copy/paste to create a DL from
the view.

 

[Alan]

No unfortunately that doesn't work.

We have users who want to go back to "real" DLs from many, many
category-based DLs.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

No unfortunately that doesn't work.

Where does it fail? See this:
http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/usertips.htm#catdl

 

[Alan]

Gulp. I'm never gonna be able to sell this. We got hundreds to
convert...