Outlook 2007: Contacts & Address Book. Unable to create Address B

[Guest]

Trying to add a contacts folder to the address book I do the following:
1 Right-click the folder
2 Choose "properties"
3 Choose "Outlook Address Book"

I want to tick the box "Show this folder as an e-mail Address Book" but it
is greyed-out/dimmed.

Or, if I go to Files>Data File Management>Address Books
The option "Remove" is dimmed.

It feels as though I am denied Administrative privileges but I am the
Administrator. What's going on? Incidentally, I bought a laptop and desktop
on the same day from DELL. The laptop gives me access to these dimmed-out
options. The desktop doesn't.

 

[Gordon]

Trying to add a contacts folder to the address book I do the following:
1 Right-click the folder
2 Choose "properties"
3 Choose "Outlook Address Book"

Why do you want to do this? The Outlook Address Book is just a view of your
Contacts Folder.

 

[Guest]

1 In the main toolbar the Search toolbar requires that there be address
books to search. I found the Search routine invaluable within Office XP as I
have a reasonably large number of contacts.
2 When creating a New e-mail Message, clicking on the "To.. " button fails
to bring up a list. In fact the "Select Names" dialog is conspicuously
vacant.

 

[Gordon]

1 In the main toolbar the Search toolbar requires that there be address
books to search. I found the Search routine invaluable within Office XP
as I
have a reasonably large number of contacts.
2 When creating a New e-mail Message, clicking on the "To.. " button
fails
to bring up a list. In fact the "Select Names" dialog is conspicuously
vacant.

Ah. a slightly different scenario.
Have a look here.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/287563

 

[Guest]

I had already seen this article actually. It says (in part):

Step 2: Mark your contact folder for use with your address book
1. On the File menu, point to Folder, and then click Properties for your
folder name.
2. On the Outlook Address Book tab, click to select the Show this folder as
an e-mail address book check box, type a descriptive name, and then click OK.

As mentioned in my original post when I go to step 2 (2.) the "Show this
folder as an e-mail address book" check box is dimmed/greyed-out and
therefore unclickable. This is my problem!

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

We know. So you've said. Did you read the instructions Gordon posted and
follow them? If so, then state what you did and what happenened instead of
just reposting the same question.

 

[Guest]

Yes, I followed the instructions. When I get to the step 2 (2.) of the
instructions the "Show this folder as an e-mail address book" check box is
dimmed/greyed-out and therefore unclickable.

At this point in the intructions I cannot proceed because the instructions
at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/287563 assume that I CAN click on this
check box. I can't.

We know. So you've said. Did you read the instructions Gordon posted and
follow them? If so, then state what you did and what happenened instead of
just reposting the same question.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I had already seen this article actually. It says (in part):

Step 2: Mark your contact folder for use with your address book
1. On the File menu, point to Folder, and then click Properties for your
folder name.
2. On the Outlook Address Book tab, click to select the Show this folder
as
an e-mail address book check box, type a descriptive name, and then click
OK.

As mentioned in my original post when I go to step 2 (2.) the "Show this
folder as an e-mail address book" check box is dimmed/greyed-out and
therefore unclickable. This is my problem!

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

I know. You've said that.
You've still provided no information.
State how you did Step 1 and what happened. Step 2 cannot be done until you
do Step 1.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Yes, I followed the instructions. When I get to the step 2 (2.) of the
instructions the "Show this folder as an e-mail address book" check box is
dimmed/greyed-out and therefore unclickable.

At this point in the intructions I cannot proceed because the instructions
at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/287563 assume that I CAN click on this
check box. I can't.

We know. So you've said. Did you read the instructions Gordon posted and
follow them? If so, then state what you did and what happenened instead
of
just reposting the same question.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I had already seen this article actually. It says (in part):

Step 2: Mark your contact folder for use with your address book
1. On the File menu, point to Folder, and then click Properties for
your
folder name.
2. On the Outlook Address Book tab, click to select the Show this
folder
as
an e-mail address book check box, type a descriptive name, and then
click
OK.

As mentioned in my original post when I go to step 2 (2.) the "Show
this
folder as an e-mail address book" check box is dimmed/greyed-out and
therefore unclickable. This is my problem!

:

message
1 In the main toolbar the Search toolbar requires that there be
address
books to search. I found the Search routine invaluable within
Office
XP
as I
have a reasonably large number of contacts.
2 When creating a New e-mail Message, clicking on the "To.. "
button
fails
to bring up a list. In fact the "Select Names" dialog is
conspicuously
vacant.


Ah. a slightly different scenario.
Have a look here.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/287563

 

[Guest]

I have inserted my comments IN CAPITALS to differentiate my comments from
the original instructions. I am not SHOUTING, my apologies in advance if
that's what it looks like:

These are the instructions AT http://support.microsoft.com/kb/287563 and
what I did.

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
1. On the Tools menu, click Accout Settings . EASY
2. Click the Address Books tab. EASY
3. If your Outlook Address Book is listed, YES IT IS
click Close, and then go to "Step 2: Mark your contact folder for use with
your address book." SO, AT THIS POINT I GO TO STEP 2

If your Outlook Address Book is not listed, (I SKIP THIS SECTION AS PER STEP
1 (3.) ABOVE) click New.
4. Select Additional Address Books, and then click Next.
5. Select Outlook Address Book, and then click Next.
6. You receive a message that states that the address book that you added
will not start until you click Exit on the File menu. Click OK.
7. Click Finish.
8. Click Close, and then restart Outlook.


Step 2: Mark your contact folder for use with your address book

1. On the File menu, point to Folder, and then click Properties for your
folder name. EASY. I DID THIS
2. On the Outlook Address Book tab OK, I CAN SEE THIS
Click to select the Show this folder as an e-mail address book check box
I CANNOT EXECUTE THIS STEP BECAUSE THE CHECK-BOX IS DIMMED.

WHY IS THE CHECK-BOX DIMMED?

Type a descriptive name, and then click OK. I CANNOT EXECUTE THIS STEP OR
ANY FURTHER STEPS BECAUSE I CANNOT GET PAST STEP 2 (2.) ABOVE.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Then your problems began earlier than this. You have a corrupt Outlook
profile, most likely from migrating data incorrectly when you installed
Outlook 2007. You will need to start over with a new profile. If you need to
migrate data from a previous installation, make sure you do so correctly:
Open your previous PST file in the new installation. Set it to be the
default. Restart Outlook and close the first PST file the new profile
created.

 

[Guest]

Hi, I am also having the same problem, where my contacts are not going to my
Microsoft Outlook 2007 address book. I have done the same procedures wherein
I right-clicked on the contacts navagational pane
clicked on properties
then clicked on the Outlook Address Book tab
There is a box to click that says "show this folder as an e-mail address
book:, it is not highlighted and therefore I am not able to click on it.

I have read through your e-mails, but I am still not able to figure out how
to connect the contacts to my address book. Please help.

Thank you.

Then your problems began earlier than this. You have a corrupt Outlook
profile, most likely from migrating data incorrectly when you installed
Outlook 2007. You will need to start over with a new profile. If you need to
migrate data from a previous installation, make sure you do so correctly:
Open your previous PST file in the new installation. Set it to be the
default. Restart Outlook and close the first PST file the new profile
created.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I have inserted my comments IN CAPITALS to differentiate my comments from
the original instructions. I am not SHOUTING, my apologies in advance if
that's what it looks like:

These are the instructions AT http://support.microsoft.com/kb/287563 and
what I did.

Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
1. On the Tools menu, click Accout Settings . EASY
2. Click the Address Books tab. EASY
3. If your Outlook Address Book is listed, YES IT IS
click Close, and then go to "Step 2: Mark your contact folder for use with
your address book." SO, AT THIS POINT I GO TO STEP 2

If your Outlook Address Book is not listed, (I SKIP THIS SECTION AS PER
STEP
1 (3.) ABOVE) click New.
4. Select Additional Address Books, and then click Next.
5. Select Outlook Address Book, and then click Next.
6. You receive a message that states that the address book that you added
will not start until you click Exit on the File menu. Click OK.
7. Click Finish.
8. Click Close, and then restart Outlook.


Step 2: Mark your contact folder for use with your address book

1. On the File menu, point to Folder, and then click Properties for your
folder name. EASY. I DID THIS
2. On the Outlook Address Book tab OK, I CAN SEE THIS
Click to select the Show this folder as an e-mail address book check box
I CANNOT EXECUTE THIS STEP BECAUSE THE CHECK-BOX IS DIMMED.

WHY IS THE CHECK-BOX DIMMED?

Type a descriptive name, and then click OK. I CANNOT EXECUTE THIS STEP OR
ANY FURTHER STEPS BECAUSE I CANNOT GET PAST STEP 2 (2.) ABOVE.

 

[Gordon]

I have read through your e-mails, but I am still not able to figure out how
to connect the contacts to my address book. Please help.

Then read this bit, in the Post (NOT an email) that YOU replied to!

 

[Guest]

I originally used Windows East Transfer to migrate my data from the old PC's
Outlook XP to the Windows Vista Ulitmate system and Outlook 2007. Windows
Easy Transfer isn't the right way to do it (or as Gordon put it, I was
"migrating data incorrectly when you installed Outlook 2007").

How did I fix the problem? Create a new profile from scratch and manually
migrate the *.pst file over and then manually setup address books and then
manually set up mail accounts.

How long did it take? Don't ask.

Did it fix the problem? Yes.

Was I happy with the solution? No.

 

[Guest]

I've had the same intractable problem described in this string: my Outlook
2007 Contacts list doesn't appear as an Address Book, and none of the
available controls will let me change the setting. I've tried all the
remedies proposed here without success. In the previous entry, Dell-boy John
wrote that he was finally able to "manually setup address books and then
manually set up mail accounts." How does one do these things manually?

 

[Brian Tillman]

I've had the same intractable problem described in this string: my
Outlook 2007 Contacts list doesn't appear as an Address Book, and
none of the available controls will let me change the setting. I've
tried all the remedies proposed here without success. In the
previous entry, Dell-boy John wrote that he was finally able to
"manually setup address books and then manually set up mail
accounts." How does one do these things manually?

I have a hard time believing you've set up a new mail profile because I
don't know of any case for which a new mail profile would not allow you to
correct the problem.

 

[Guest]

A had a problem with the same symptoms, the “Show this folder as an e-mail
Address Book†button on the “Outlook Address Book†tab was greyed out for my
Contacts folder.

It turns out there is an option on the Office installation for Outlook for
“Address Book Controlâ€. I went to “Add or Remove Programs†> “Microsoft
Office Professional Edition 2003â€, (the particular version of Office I am
using) > selected “Change†> “Add Remove Features†> Selected “Outlook†&
“Choose advanced customization of applications†> “Next†> opened up the
“Microsoft Office Outlook†install options > changed the “Address Book
Control†option to “Run all from My Computer†> “Updateâ€.

The install program went out and performed the requested installation
updates and after that the “Show this folder as an e-mail Address Bookâ€
button was no longer greyed out. After that everything worked as documented
and I was able to again get to my contacts.

Hope this helps.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

This option is enabled by default. Any idea why yours was not?