Unsure of understanding Address Book vs Outlook Address Book

[Krista]

From what I've read, it seems that the Address Book is a collection of
address books of the following types:
* Contacts (also called Outlook Address Books)
* Global Address Book
* Personal Address Book
* LDAP

Is this correct?

When I attempt to create a new address book (Contacts) I get an error
stating "This account or directory already exists and cannot be specified
twice". No further information is given.

Does this mean that Outlook thinks I'm trying to create a second Address
Book (the collection) or that I cannot create more than one Outlook Address
Book?

Krista

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

The Outlook Address Book is merely a viewer, not a data repository. In it
you can see the contents of:
1. GAL
2. Enabled Contacts Folders (either in an Exchange Mailbox or a local PST
file)

No one has used a PAB for years, but you can view one in the Outlook Address
Book as well.
LDAP is a separate address repository that has nothing to do with the
Outlook Address Book.

You did not state clearly what you are trying to do or in what version of
Outlook.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Sure you can.
Just create another Contacts Subfolder and enable it as an email address
book in its properties. It will display in your Outlook Address Book.

 

[Krista]

I was trying to create a second "Outlook Address Book" (Contacts folder).
Since the terms "Address Book" (the viewer for all address books) and
"Outlook Address Book" are so close in naming I wanted to know what the
error meant. From what I can surmise with your answer (thanks by the way)
Outlook is telling me that I can't have two Contact address books.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

No. that shouldn't be what the error means. You can have as many contacts
folder in outlook as you want (someone has 120 - which is at least 115 more
than necessary ) and can enable them as address books (so they show up
when you click the To button on a message).

In Outlook's folder list (Ctrl+6) find the contacts folder and right click
on it - choose the option to create a new folder. Make sure it;s a contact
folder. After you create it, right click on it and choose properties, then
enable it as an address book.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

 

[Krista]

So what does the message mean that I'm getting when I attempt to create a
new Outlook Address Book via the Tools->Email Accounts dialog box?

Here's what I'm doing:

1. From the Tools menu select E-mail Accounts. to display the E-mail
Accounts dialog box.
2. Select the Add a new directory or address book option and click the Next
button.
3. Select the Additional Address Books option and click the Next button.
4. Select Outlook Address Book and click the Next button.

I get an error stating "This account or directory type already exists and
cannot be specified twice."

This was my original question. Does this message mean that Outlook thinks I
want to create a second Address Book (address book viewer) or second Outlook
Address Book (Contacts address book) ?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Reread my post. I already told you. The Outlook Address Book is simply a
viewer for every Contacts Folder you've enabled for display. You have no
need to add that service twice, nor can you.
All Contact data resides in Contacts Folders. If you want more than one
grouping of data, create more Contacts Folders.

 

[Krista]

According to help the "Address Book" is a viewer (actually they call it a
collection of address books) and the "Outlook Address Book" is another name
for a Contacts Address Book

Reread my post. I already told you. The Outlook Address Book is simply a
viewer for every Contacts Folder you've enabled for display. You have no
need to add that service twice, nor can you.
All Contact data resides in Contacts Folders. If you want more than one
grouping of data, create more Contacts Folders.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

So what does the message mean that I'm getting when I attempt to create a
new Outlook Address Book via the Tools->Email Accounts dialog box?

Here's what I'm doing:

1. From the Tools menu select E-mail Accounts. to display the E-mail
Accounts dialog box.
2. Select the Add a new directory or address book option and click the
Next
button.
3. Select the Additional Address Books option and click the Next button.
4. Select Outlook Address Book and click the Next button.

I get an error stating "This account or directory type already exists and
cannot be specified twice."

This was my original question. Does this message mean that Outlook thinks
I
want to create a second Address Book (address book viewer) or second
Outlook
Address Book (Contacts address book) ?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

See?
Microsoft has made such a mess of this terminology they have managed to
confuse even themselves. So let's see, if we add Contacts Address Book,
Offline Address Book, Windows Address Book, and Personal Address Book (all
of which have been used by Outlook at one time or another) into this mix,
how many does that make?
Do you still have a question?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

According to help the "Address Book" is a viewer (actually they call it a
collection of address books) and the "Outlook Address Book" is another
name
for a Contacts Address Book

Reread my post. I already told you. The Outlook Address Book is simply a
viewer for every Contacts Folder you've enabled for display. You have no
need to add that service twice, nor can you.
All Contact data resides in Contacts Folders. If you want more than one
grouping of data, create more Contacts Folders.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

So what does the message mean that I'm getting when I attempt to create a
new Outlook Address Book via the Tools->Email Accounts dialog box?

Here's what I'm doing:

1. From the Tools menu select E-mail Accounts. to display the E-mail
Accounts dialog box.
2. Select the Add a new directory or address book option and click the
Next
button.
3. Select the Additional Address Books option and click the Next
button.
4. Select Outlook Address Book and click the Next button.

I get an error stating "This account or directory type already exists and
cannot be specified twice."

This was my original question. Does this message mean that Outlook thinks
I
want to create a second Address Book (address book viewer) or second
Outlook
Address Book (Contacts address book) ?

 

[Krista]

Thanks Diane. I know how to create a contacts folder that way, but what I'm
trying to figure out is what the option from the Tools->Email Accounts is
for.

The main issue here is how MS has used several almost identical terms ot
mean the same thing. According to help the Address Book is a collection of
address books including the Outlook Address Book !!

Therefore, I'm not sure what the option on the Tools->Email Accounts is for.
After all, the second option is a PAB so you'd think that the first option
(which is labelled Outlook Address Book) is how to create a second Contacts
address book.

 

[Krista]

Never mind. We got it.

The AB (Address Book) is the collection of address books of the following
types:

* OAB (Outlook Address Book)
* GAB (Global Address Book)
* PAB (Personal Address Book)
* LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)

The confusion was that we were reading that the OAB is the same as the
Contacts folder. However, the OAB is made up of Contacts folders.

Anyway, thanks for your help!
Krista

 

[Krista]

Thanks Russ. One last question. I know that my PAB's are external distinct
files. What about the OAB? Is it stored within another file somewhere or is
it in its own file also?

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

The Outlook Address Book contains no data of its own and does not exist as a
file. It simply displays the Contact Folders that you have enabled as email
address books.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

that menu is just for the address book *service* - only one instance of the
service is allowed and once added, you add contacts folders to it by
enabling the folders as address books.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

Is that "Outlook Address Book" or "Offline Address Book" ? (Microsoft sure
knows how to confuse what should be the simplest things. )

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

 

[Krista]

I'm referring to the contacts data.

Is that "Outlook Address Book" or "Offline Address Book" ? (Microsoft sure
knows how to confuse what should be the simplest things. )

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

Thanks Russ. One last question. I know that my PAB's are external distinct
files. What about the OAB? Is it stored within another file somewhere or
is
it in its own file also?

 

[Krista]

That was what I was looking for. Thanks Diane!

that menu is just for the address book *service* - only one instance of the
service is allowed and once added, you add contacts folders to it by
enabling the folders as address books.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

Thanks Diane. I know how to create a contacts folder that way, but what
I'm
trying to figure out is what the option from the Tools->Email Accounts is
for.

The main issue here is how MS has used several almost identical terms ot
mean the same thing. According to help the Address Book is a collection of
address books including the Outlook Address Book !!

Therefore, I'm not sure what the option on the Tools->Email Accounts is
for.
After all, the second option is a PAB so you'd think that the first option
(which is labelled Outlook Address Book) is how to create a second
Contacts
address book.