Search not working for user defined fields

[GARYBIZ]

In outlook 2007 contacts i have 3 user defined fields in that folder (not
just the item). I can not search and find the data i entered (or any portion
of it) using the contact search or the general find anything search ??

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

What type of fields? Is the data visible if you add those fields to a folder
view? What method are you using to search, and what happens when you try?

 

[GARYBIZ]

The fields were text fields. I added/created a text field in contacts as a
"user defined field for this folder" (from the drop down box). Then filled in
a value for that contact. Saved it, but could find the data with a search.

Yes the data is visiable in the folder view when i look in that user defined
field.

I used "search contact items" , it did not find the data i entered. Today i
used desktop search and found the data, but also got a LOT of data (not
contacts) i didn't need and had to hunt through it to find what i needed.
Why does search contact items not work on user defined fields??

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

By "search contact items," do you mean the search box at the top of the list
of contacts in the folder?
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54

 

[GARYBIZ]

Note: outlook 2007 SP1 w/XP and desktop v. 4.
It is the search box at the top of the list in the folder view. Its on
Contacts bar - just to the right of the list. It says "search all contact
items". when i enter the data i know is in the field i does not find it.
As i stated previously, when i go to the contact its there.

Different but related problem: I have two contacts with the last name.
When i search(from same location) on that name, only one name/contact comes
up. This started a few weeks ago. the search was was OK at first. I
uninstalled desktop search and reinstalled it. That did not help. I have
had 2007 installed about 6 weeks,

 

[LindyMac]

GaryBiz and Sue Mosher
I was so hopeful seeign this thread but sadly no solution came from Sue.

I too am trying to add user-defined fields and search them.
They add just fine but search seems to ignore them.
I even tried customising the main page of the contact to include these
fields which works for viewing but Find still does not locate the content
when I search.
It seems to search every standard field only.
I tried restarting Outlook in case the changes only took effect in the
database of contacts after the program was closed but that did not make any
difference.

Please Sue, find us a solution as it is the only way I can add the virtual
world avatar names to my contacts but I must be able to search for them for
it to be of any value.

Lindy

 

[GARYBIZ]

Lindy, i found out from another source that the indexing of fields in
outlook contacts is only on the standard program generated fields. it will
not search user generated fields. The "search all contact items" box name is
just not the truth - you can't.
Hopefully someone knows how to get these kind of customer needs to the
person in MS who reallys cares enough to do something about it...
Try desktop search (using Desktop search v4). It will find the data in the
user defined field, BUT, you will also get (potentially) hundreds of results
from your search from almost any place in outlook, files, etc.

 

[Bob Griendling]

At least you've gotten search to work. Mine periodically stops working.
I've opted below about it but nobody responds.

Bob