The Windows Address Book is an operating system address book utility that
stores its information in a *.wab file. It is the Address Book used by
Outlook Express but is separate from Outlook unless specifically configured
to share with Outlook (see below).
The Outlook Address Book is a service within Outlook that displays the
contents of the Contacts Folder. There is no actual data in the Outlook
Address Book. Rather, the information it displays resides in Outlook's
information store (i.e., the *.pst file or on an Exchange mailbox). In
Outlook 98/2000 Corp/Workgroup mode and in Outlook 2002, the OAB is uses the
MAPI engine to show the Contacts Folder. In Outlook 98/2000 the "Internet
Mail Only" mode, the Outlook Address Book Service uses the Windows Address
Book engine to display the Contacts Folder--so it looks and behaves more
like the Windows Address Book than the Outlook Address Book and is missing
some of the features of the MAPI based OAB. When a using IMO mode of
Outlook, the Windows Address Book can be configured to show the Outlook
Contacts instead of the *.wab in Tools > Options. Also, in Corp/Workgroup
mode or in Outlook 2002, the WAB can be forced to show the Outlook Contacts
Folder by changing a registry setting
(
http://www.slipstick.com/contacts/oeshare.htm). You could use that
technique to keep your Outlook Contacts Folder and Windows Address Book
synchronized.
The Personal Address Book is an older, largely outdated address book file in
which Outlook could also store information. It has been replaced by the
Outlook Address Book Service/Contacts Folder. Don't use it.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
albert said:
I am migrating to Outlook from Outlook Express.
All my current contacts are in an OE6 "wab". I have successfully imported
them into Outlook. I just don't really understand the what and why of the
existence of a Contacts folder *and* a "personal address book" file for
Outlook. Why are these two features different? What is the consequence of
using either one or both?
TIA
albert
