Transferred Distribution Lists Are Blank In Vista, NOT in XP

[karatematt5]

Here's one for you!

I have an address book that was successfully imported from a .wab file into
Outlook 2007. The contacts are all there and all of the Distribution
Lists/Groups appear and display correctly with the correct members. My
machine is Windows XP Home Edition, fully up to date.

On my client's PC, which is where it must wind up, we are using Outlook 2007
as well, but with Windows Vista Home Premium.

After reading a lot on these boards, I believe I have followed the
recommended procedure for transferring Outlook data between two machines:

Close Outlook on the source machine. Copy the .PST file containing the data
desired from the source machine to the destination machine. File > Open >
Outlook Data File. The Distribution Lists in the opened Outlook data file
are present, but blank. Moving them to the default Outlook data file by
dragging and dropping from Contacts on the foreign data file to the default
data file works, but the Distribution Lists are still blank!

I've tried bringing the .wab file into Outlook 2007 on the Vista machine,
and it imports everything but it has blank distribution lists. I tried
Opening the .pst file on another completely unrelated Vista Ultimate machine,
and it too has blank Distribution Lists. Again, my XP machine shows them
perfectly using the exact same procedure.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Groups in the WAB have never actually survived an import into Outlook. They
may appear in the PST in some cases, but remain connected to the WAB, so
when you move that PST file, they will be dead in the water.

 

[karatematt5]

I haven't had the .wab file on my PC for days. The DLs still work in my
machine's Outlook 2007. I copied my own PST which now contains the
contacts/DLs for the customer onto another Windows XP machine, and the DLs
all display and open properly there.

The groups in the .wab have in this case survived the import into Outlook
2007 on my Windows XP Home machine, and the same PST file copied over opens
perfectly on another Windows XP Professional machine with Outlook 2007, one
that has NEVER had that .wab file anywhere near it. However, it's only if
THAT .pst or a copy of it.

At this point, I have successfully transferred the .pst file from my XP
machine to a Vista machine. I had to actually copy my OWN .pst file that I
successfully imported the .wab file contacts and DLs into for this to work.

A copy of my .pst file opens beautifully and contains all DLs and contacts.
I just have to delete all of my e-mail and my OWN contact lists from the .pst
and it should work fine as a secondary .pst file for my client.

So, my procedure for SUCCESSFULLY "Importing" distribution lists from
Outlook/Outlook Express to a Windows Vista/Outlook 2007 machine is as follows:

Find an XP machine with Outlook Express and Outlook 2007 on it. Copy the
..wab file onto that machine. Import your .wab file into Outlook Express.
Then open Outlook. Make a new profile or blank .pst file so that you don't
have to transfer your own e-mail and contacts as well.

Do File > Import and Export. Choose Import Internet Mail and Addresses.
Choose Outlook Express 4.x, 5.x etc etc. Uncheck Import Mail, and make sure
Import Address Book is checked. Do duplicates however you see fit. Once the
contacts are imported into Outlook you need to check and make sure they show
up and open correctly, including the Distribution Lists.

Close Outlook, find your .pst file that you were working on in the usual
location (C:\Docs and Settings\Username\etc...), and then copy/paste/FTP that
to wherever you need it.

This .pst file and copies of it ONLY will contain the DLs correctly. Don't
try to move/copy DLs and contact info between this sacred .pst file and
others. It won't transfer the DLs correctly, as stated by Russ.

Thanks for your input, you got me to troubleshoot a few more things and find
a solution!

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

DL's also do not survive an import of a PST file, one of many reasons you
never use import to transfer Outlook data.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I haven't had the .wab file on my PC for days. The DLs still work in my
machine's Outlook 2007. I copied my own PST which now contains the
contacts/DLs for the customer onto another Windows XP machine, and the DLs
all display and open properly there.

The groups in the .wab have in this case survived the import into Outlook
2007 on my Windows XP Home machine, and the same PST file copied over
opens
perfectly on another Windows XP Professional machine with Outlook 2007,
one
that has NEVER had that .wab file anywhere near it. However, it's only if
THAT .pst or a copy of it.

At this point, I have successfully transferred the .pst file from my XP
machine to a Vista machine. I had to actually copy my OWN .pst file that
I
successfully imported the .wab file contacts and DLs into for this to
work.

A copy of my .pst file opens beautifully and contains all DLs and
contacts.
I just have to delete all of my e-mail and my OWN contact lists from the
.pst
and it should work fine as a secondary .pst file for my client.

So, my procedure for SUCCESSFULLY "Importing" distribution lists from
Outlook/Outlook Express to a Windows Vista/Outlook 2007 machine is as
follows:

Find an XP machine with Outlook Express and Outlook 2007 on it. Copy the
.wab file onto that machine. Import your .wab file into Outlook Express.
Then open Outlook. Make a new profile or blank .pst file so that you
don't
have to transfer your own e-mail and contacts as well.

Do File > Import and Export. Choose Import Internet Mail and Addresses.
Choose Outlook Express 4.x, 5.x etc etc. Uncheck Import Mail, and make
sure
Import Address Book is checked. Do duplicates however you see fit. Once
the
contacts are imported into Outlook you need to check and make sure they
show
up and open correctly, including the Distribution Lists.

Close Outlook, find your .pst file that you were working on in the usual
location (C:\Docs and Settings\Username\etc...), and then copy/paste/FTP
that
to wherever you need it.

This .pst file and copies of it ONLY will contain the DLs correctly.
Don't
try to move/copy DLs and contact info between this sacred .pst file and
others. It won't transfer the DLs correctly, as stated by Russ.

Thanks for your input, you got me to troubleshoot a few more things and
find
a solution!

 

[karatematt5]

I know, which is why you OPEN the .pst file and move them from one contact
list to another rather than File > Import/Export to go between PST files. I
completely understand the process for that.

If the DLs LEAVE the .pst they are imported into, they become blank, but
that makes sense given the limitations

That is not a problem for my client, however. They know to make all new DLs
in their main .pst Contacts folder, and simply use the Old Distribution List
..pst to send mail to their already established DLs, and to NEVER move any of
the contacts or DLs from that old .pst file.

Thanks again,

DL's also do not survive an import of a PST file, one of many reasons you
never use import to transfer Outlook data.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Correct. Importing a PST will always lose the DL's.
Unfortunately, the import of groups from OE is still a hit or miss
proposition. It can work, especially in later versions, but often doesn't.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I know, which is why you OPEN the .pst file and move them from one contact
list to another rather than File > Import/Export to go between PST files.
I
completely understand the process for that.

If the DLs LEAVE the .pst they are imported into, they become blank, but
that makes sense given the limitations

That is not a problem for my client, however. They know to make all new
DLs
in their main .pst Contacts folder, and simply use the Old Distribution
List
.pst to send mail to their already established DLs, and to NEVER move any
of
the contacts or DLs from that old .pst file.

Thanks again,

DL's also do not survive an import of a PST file, one of many reasons you
never use import to transfer Outlook data.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I haven't had the .wab file on my PC for days. The DLs still work in my
machine's Outlook 2007. I copied my own PST which now contains the
contacts/DLs for the customer onto another Windows XP machine, and the
DLs
all display and open properly there.

The groups in the .wab have in this case survived the import into
Outlook
2007 on my Windows XP Home machine, and the same PST file copied over
opens
perfectly on another Windows XP Professional machine with Outlook 2007,
one
that has NEVER had that .wab file anywhere near it. However, it's only
if
THAT .pst or a copy of it.

At this point, I have successfully transferred the .pst file from my XP
machine to a Vista machine. I had to actually copy my OWN .pst file
that
I
successfully imported the .wab file contacts and DLs into for this to
work.

A copy of my .pst file opens beautifully and contains all DLs and
contacts.
I just have to delete all of my e-mail and my OWN contact lists from
the
.pst
and it should work fine as a secondary .pst file for my client.

So, my procedure for SUCCESSFULLY "Importing" distribution lists from
Outlook/Outlook Express to a Windows Vista/Outlook 2007 machine is as
follows:

Find an XP machine with Outlook Express and Outlook 2007 on it. Copy
the
.wab file onto that machine. Import your .wab file into Outlook
Express.
Then open Outlook. Make a new profile or blank .pst file so that you
don't
have to transfer your own e-mail and contacts as well.

Do File > Import and Export. Choose Import Internet Mail and
Addresses.
Choose Outlook Express 4.x, 5.x etc etc. Uncheck Import Mail, and make
sure
Import Address Book is checked. Do duplicates however you see fit.
Once
the
contacts are imported into Outlook you need to check and make sure they
show
up and open correctly, including the Distribution Lists.

Close Outlook, find your .pst file that you were working on in the
usual
location (C:\Docs and Settings\Username\etc...), and then
copy/paste/FTP
that
to wherever you need it.

This .pst file and copies of it ONLY will contain the DLs correctly.
Don't
try to move/copy DLs and contact info between this sacred .pst file and
others. It won't transfer the DLs correctly, as stated by Russ.

Thanks for your input, you got me to troubleshoot a few more things and
find
a solution!

:

Groups in the WAB have never actually survived an import into Outlook.
They
may appear in the PST in some cases, but remain connected to the WAB,
so
when you move that PST file, they will be dead in the water.