Outlook 2007 SP1 creating contact(s) automatically

[tregen]

I've read numerous posts that say Outlook does not and cannot automatically
create a contact. However, it IS happening. Every day, there are a few
contacts added to my contacts folder that I did not specifically add. The
only common denominator is that I received an e-mail from these folks. It's
not even someone I necessarily replied to either.

I've looked through every option window available, for e-mail and contacts,
and cannot find any type of setting that's causing senders to be
automatically added to contacts.

Please do not respond with "Outlook does not do this or cannot do this"
because it's happening. I have no add-in software. Again, I cannot find a
common criteria for which these contacts are automatically created. The only
contact info is their server e-mail address.

 

[tregen]

Additionally, the thing I've noticed is that the contacts automatically added
are all senders that digitally signed (authenticated) their messages.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Well we can't post what isn't true. Outlook simply has no ability to add
Contacts automatically. That's why you can't find any setting to add
Contacts automatically. Only third party software or other code could do
this. You'll have to provide more precise steps to repro what you're seeing
for anyone to figure this out from a distance. The last person who made such
a claim, for example, finally realized that they were seeing Contacts that
had been added by Outlook Express before they had migrated to Outlook. There
is more to your story.

 

[tregen]

But I'd assume we can post what is actually happening. No worries on the
Outlook Express piece because we don't use Outlook Express, nor was this
machine ever set up to use OE. I cannot explain "steps" because Outlook is
just doing this. Like I said, there does appear to be a link, somehow, to
senders who are sending their messages digitally signed. An individual sent
me a message, digitally signed, and voila, her e-mail was added as a contact
when I later checked. I know it was not there before the e-mail was in my
inbox, because I'd just cleared out two previous spurious "adds" when syncing
my Blackberry prior. And no, these aren't being imported from my Blackberry
because I'm not using the Enterprise Server ... the contact is coming from
our Exchange Server. The only common thread I can see is that contacts are
being automatically for digitally signed users who 1) e-mail me and 2) aren't
in my contacts already.

I will attempt to check my contacts, ensuring they are void of unwanted
contacts, get a random person not in my contacts to send me a digitally
signed e-mail, then go back to contacts and see if they're added.

I know it's hard to troubleshoot without seeing it. But the "can't post
what isn't true" line [IMO] does nothing to help.

Well we can't post what isn't true. Outlook simply has no ability to add
Contacts automatically. That's why you can't find any setting to add
Contacts automatically. Only third party software or other code could do
this. You'll have to provide more precise steps to repro what you're seeing
for anyone to figure this out from a distance. The last person who made such
a claim, for example, finally realized that they were seeing Contacts that
had been added by Outlook Express before they had migrated to Outlook. There
is more to your story.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I've read numerous posts that say Outlook does not and cannot
automatically
create a contact. However, it IS happening. Every day, there are a few
contacts added to my contacts folder that I did not specifically add. The
only common denominator is that I received an e-mail from these folks.
It's
not even someone I necessarily replied to either.

I've looked through every option window available, for e-mail and
contacts,
and cannot find any type of setting that's causing senders to be
automatically added to contacts.

Please do not respond with "Outlook does not do this or cannot do this"
because it's happening. I have no add-in software. Again, I cannot find
a
common criteria for which these contacts are automatically created. The
only
contact info is their server e-mail address.

 

[tregen]

Okay, test complete. Here's the criteria used and the results:

- ensured test user was not already in my Contacts (check)
- contacted test user and asked them to send me a digitally signed e-mail
(check)
- opened the e-mail, then when closing it, it asked to send a read receipt
back to the test user (I clicked "yes")
- went to contacts, and the test user was added as a contact with just his
e-mail address

So PLEASE don't tell me this isn't happening because I just SAW IT HAPPEN.

But I'd assume we can post what is actually happening. No worries on the
Outlook Express piece because we don't use Outlook Express, nor was this
machine ever set up to use OE. I cannot explain "steps" because Outlook is
just doing this. Like I said, there does appear to be a link, somehow, to
senders who are sending their messages digitally signed. An individual sent
me a message, digitally signed, and voila, her e-mail was added as a contact
when I later checked. I know it was not there before the e-mail was in my
inbox, because I'd just cleared out two previous spurious "adds" when syncing
my Blackberry prior. And no, these aren't being imported from my Blackberry
because I'm not using the Enterprise Server ... the contact is coming from
our Exchange Server. The only common thread I can see is that contacts are
being automatically for digitally signed users who 1) e-mail me and 2) aren't
in my contacts already.

I will attempt to check my contacts, ensuring they are void of unwanted
contacts, get a random person not in my contacts to send me a digitally
signed e-mail, then go back to contacts and see if they're added.

I know it's hard to troubleshoot without seeing it. But the "can't post
what isn't true" line [IMO] does nothing to help.

Well we can't post what isn't true. Outlook simply has no ability to add
Contacts automatically. That's why you can't find any setting to add
Contacts automatically. Only third party software or other code could do
this. You'll have to provide more precise steps to repro what you're seeing
for anyone to figure this out from a distance. The last person who made such
a claim, for example, finally realized that they were seeing Contacts that
had been added by Outlook Express before they had migrated to Outlook. There
is more to your story.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I've read numerous posts that say Outlook does not and cannot
automatically
create a contact. However, it IS happening. Every day, there are a few
contacts added to my contacts folder that I did not specifically add. The
only common denominator is that I received an e-mail from these folks.
It's
not even someone I necessarily replied to either.

I've looked through every option window available, for e-mail and
contacts,
and cannot find any type of setting that's causing senders to be
automatically added to contacts.

Please do not respond with "Outlook does not do this or cannot do this"
because it's happening. I have no add-in software. Again, I cannot find
a
common criteria for which these contacts are automatically created. The
only
contact info is their server e-mail address.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Clarify "went to contacts" and what you saw there.
So the additions to your story are that this only happens when you choose to
reply to a Read Receipt and the sender is using a digitally signed message,
right? Rather significant new details I'd say. Keep refining your steps to
repro and we'll see if anyone else can do the same. Might want to confirm
all other all relevant details, like information store and mail account
type.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Okay, test complete. Here's the criteria used and the results:

- ensured test user was not already in my Contacts (check)
- contacted test user and asked them to send me a digitally signed e-mail
(check)
- opened the e-mail, then when closing it, it asked to send a read receipt
back to the test user (I clicked "yes")
- went to contacts, and the test user was added as a contact with just his
e-mail address

So PLEASE don't tell me this isn't happening because I just SAW IT HAPPEN.

But I'd assume we can post what is actually happening. No worries on the
Outlook Express piece because we don't use Outlook Express, nor was this
machine ever set up to use OE. I cannot explain "steps" because Outlook
is
just doing this. Like I said, there does appear to be a link, somehow,
to
senders who are sending their messages digitally signed. An individual
sent
me a message, digitally signed, and voila, her e-mail was added as a
contact
when I later checked. I know it was not there before the e-mail was in
my
inbox, because I'd just cleared out two previous spurious "adds" when
syncing
my Blackberry prior. And no, these aren't being imported from my
Blackberry
because I'm not using the Enterprise Server ... the contact is coming
from
our Exchange Server. The only common thread I can see is that contacts
are
being automatically for digitally signed users who 1) e-mail me and 2)
aren't
in my contacts already.

I will attempt to check my contacts, ensuring they are void of unwanted
contacts, get a random person not in my contacts to send me a digitally
signed e-mail, then go back to contacts and see if they're added.

I know it's hard to troubleshoot without seeing it. But the "can't post
what isn't true" line [IMO] does nothing to help.

Well we can't post what isn't true. Outlook simply has no ability to
add
Contacts automatically. That's why you can't find any setting to add
Contacts automatically. Only third party software or other code could
do
this. You'll have to provide more precise steps to repro what you're
seeing
for anyone to figure this out from a distance. The last person who made
such
a claim, for example, finally realized that they were seeing Contacts
that
had been added by Outlook Express before they had migrated to Outlook.
There
is more to your story.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I've read numerous posts that say Outlook does not and cannot
automatically
create a contact. However, it IS happening. Every day, there are a
few
contacts added to my contacts folder that I did not specifically add.
The
only common denominator is that I received an e-mail from these
folks.
It's
not even someone I necessarily replied to either.

I've looked through every option window available, for e-mail and
contacts,
and cannot find any type of setting that's causing senders to be
automatically added to contacts.

Please do not respond with "Outlook does not do this or cannot do
this"
because it's happening. I have no add-in software. Again, I cannot
find
a
common criteria for which these contacts are automatically created.
The
only
contact info is their server e-mail address.

 

[tregen]

Well, I see this is getting nowhere fast. "Went to contacts" ... as in,
clicked "Contacts" in the navigation pane on the bottom, lefthand side of
Outlook, whereas normally, "Mail" is selected when viewing e-mails. And when
viewing contacts, I see contacts.

Maybe someone else can help me out, or just delete this post.

Clarify "went to contacts" and what you saw there.
So the additions to your story are that this only happens when you choose to
reply to a Read Receipt and the sender is using a digitally signed message,
right? Rather significant new details I'd say. Keep refining your steps to
repro and we'll see if anyone else can do the same. Might want to confirm
all other all relevant details, like information store and mail account
type.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Okay, test complete. Here's the criteria used and the results:

- ensured test user was not already in my Contacts (check)
- contacted test user and asked them to send me a digitally signed e-mail
(check)
- opened the e-mail, then when closing it, it asked to send a read receipt
back to the test user (I clicked "yes")
- went to contacts, and the test user was added as a contact with just his
e-mail address

So PLEASE don't tell me this isn't happening because I just SAW IT HAPPEN.

But I'd assume we can post what is actually happening. No worries on the
Outlook Express piece because we don't use Outlook Express, nor was this
machine ever set up to use OE. I cannot explain "steps" because Outlook
is
just doing this. Like I said, there does appear to be a link, somehow,
to
senders who are sending their messages digitally signed. An individual
sent
me a message, digitally signed, and voila, her e-mail was added as a
contact
when I later checked. I know it was not there before the e-mail was in
my
inbox, because I'd just cleared out two previous spurious "adds" when
syncing
my Blackberry prior. And no, these aren't being imported from my
Blackberry
because I'm not using the Enterprise Server ... the contact is coming
from
our Exchange Server. The only common thread I can see is that contacts
are
being automatically for digitally signed users who 1) e-mail me and 2)
aren't
in my contacts already.

I will attempt to check my contacts, ensuring they are void of unwanted
contacts, get a random person not in my contacts to send me a digitally
signed e-mail, then go back to contacts and see if they're added.

I know it's hard to troubleshoot without seeing it. But the "can't post
what isn't true" line [IMO] does nothing to help.


:

Well we can't post what isn't true. Outlook simply has no ability to
add
Contacts automatically. That's why you can't find any setting to add
Contacts automatically. Only third party software or other code could
do
this. You'll have to provide more precise steps to repro what you're
seeing
for anyone to figure this out from a distance. The last person who made
such
a claim, for example, finally realized that they were seeing Contacts
that
had been added by Outlook Express before they had migrated to Outlook.
There
is more to your story.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I've read numerous posts that say Outlook does not and cannot
automatically
create a contact. However, it IS happening. Every day, there are a
few
contacts added to my contacts folder that I did not specifically add.
The
only common denominator is that I received an e-mail from these
folks.
It's
not even someone I necessarily replied to either.

I've looked through every option window available, for e-mail and
contacts,
and cannot find any type of setting that's causing senders to be
automatically added to contacts.

Please do not respond with "Outlook does not do this or cannot do
this"
because it's happening. I have no add-in software. Again, I cannot
find
a
common criteria for which these contacts are automatically created.
The
only
contact info is their server e-mail address.

 

[brian]

Hi Tregan,

I will try and not be condescending. I've read a few posts from Mr
Valentine and unfortunately he seems incapable of answering without
being condescending....

Is it possible that outlook is automatically importing the email
address BECAUSE it has a digital certificate on it? It would make
sense to me that Outlook registered the digital certificate so that
next time you received an email from that person, it could confirm
that it has the same digital certificate. It would seem to me that the
best way for outlook to sort a certificate in the store would be to
tie it to an outlook contact.

I haven't found anything to back this up as yet however, but i'll keep
looking.

 

[brian]

Well, I see this is getting nowhere fast.  "Went to contacts" ... as in,
clicked "Contacts" in the navigation pane on the bottom, lefthand side of
Outlook, whereas normally, "Mail" is selected when viewing e-mails.  And when
viewing contacts, I see contacts.

Maybe someone else can help me out, or just delete this post.

Clarify "went to contacts" and what you saw there.
So the additions to your story are that this only happens when you choose to
reply to a Read Receipt and the sender is using a digitally signed message,
right? Rather significant new details I'd say. Keep refining your stepsto
repro and we'll see if anyone else can do the same. Might want to confirm
all other all relevant details, like information store and mail account
type.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Okay, test complete.  Here's the criteria used and the results:
- ensured test user was not already in my Contacts (check)
- contacted test user and asked them to send me a digitally signed e-mail
(check)
- opened the e-mail, then when closing it, it asked to send a read receipt
back to the test user (I clicked "yes")
- went to contacts, and the test user was added as a contact with just his
e-mail address
So PLEASE don't tell me this isn't happening because I just SAW IT HAPPEN.
:
But I'd assume we can post what is actually happening.  No worrieson the
Outlook Express piece because we don't use Outlook Express, nor was this
machine ever set up to use OE.  I cannot explain "steps" because Outlook
is
just doing this.  Like I said, there does appear to be a link, somehow,
to
senders who are sending their messages digitally signed.  An individual
sent
me a message, digitally signed, and voila, her e-mail was added as a
contact
when I later checked.  I know it was not there before the e-mail was in
my
inbox, because I'd just cleared out two previous spurious "adds" when
syncing
my Blackberry prior.  And no, these aren't being imported from my
Blackberry
because I'm not using the Enterprise Server ... the contact is coming
from
our Exchange Server.  The only common thread I can see is that contacts
are
being automatically for digitally signed users who 1) e-mail me and 2)
aren't
in my contacts already.
I will attempt to check my contacts, ensuring they are void of unwanted
contacts, get a random person not in my contacts to send me a digitally
signed e-mail, then go back to contacts and see if they're added.
I know it's hard to troubleshoot without seeing it.  But the "can't post
what isn't true" line [IMO] does nothing to help.
:
Well we can't post what isn't true. Outlook simply has no ability to
add
Contacts automatically. That's why you can't find any  setting to add
Contacts automatically. Only third party software or other code could
do
this. You'll have to provide more precise steps to repro what you're
seeing
for anyone to figure this out from a distance. The last person whomade
such
a claim, for example, finally realized that they were seeing Contacts
that
had been added by Outlook Express before they had migrated to Outlook.
There
is more to your story.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I've read numerous posts that say Outlook does not and cannot
automatically
create a contact.  However, it IS happening.  Every day, there are a
few
contacts added to my contacts folder that I did not specificallyadd.
The
only common denominator is that I received an e-mail from these
folks.
It's
not even someone I necessarily replied to either.
I've looked through every option window available, for e-mail and
contacts,
and cannot find any type of setting that's causing senders to be
automatically added to contacts.
Please do not respond with "Outlook does not do this or cannot do
this"
because it's happening.  I have no add-in software.  Again, I cannot
find
a
common criteria for which these contacts are automatically created.
The
only
contact info is their server e-mail address.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Which SKU of Office 2007 and 7 are you using? Do you have business
contact manager?

 

[Brian Tillman]

Is it possible that outlook is automatically importing the email
address BECAUSE it has a digital certificate on it? It would make
sense to me that Outlook registered the digital certificate so that
next time you received an email from that person, it could confirm
that it has the same digital certificate. It would seem to me that the
best way for outlook to sort a certificate in the store would be to
tie it to an outlook contact.

This doesn't happen automatically, however. If you receive a
digitally-signed message from someone, you must manually add that person to
your Contacts in order to store their certificate in your crypto store.

 

[jetblast3500]

One of my users is having the exact same problem. Using Office 2007
Professional(12.0.6300.5000). We have the exact same versions and setup. When
he gets the Dig signed email, it adds the sender to the contacts, but mine
doesn't.