OL97: How to Correct Formatting and Parsing of Imported Contacts

• Microsoft Outlook 97

SUMMARY

Importing contacts into Microsoft Outlook 97 results in incorrectly formatted or parsed address and fax number fields. Although the information may look correct when viewed in an Outlook form, it may result in erratic behavior when other routines or programs use the information.

This article outlines a procedure using VBScript to correct this.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Outlook 97 for Windows. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Outlook 97 version 8.02 for Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

   http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/default.asp

Design a New Post Form

1. Open a new post message:

       a. On the Inbox File menu, point to New, and then click "Post in This
          Folder."
   

       b. On the Tools menu of the new Post form, click Design Outlook
          Form.
   

2. Insert a Command Button on the new form:

       a. Click the (P.2) tab to go to a blank page on the form.
   

       b. On the Form menu, click Control Toolbox.
   

       c. On the Toolbox dialog, click CommandButton and drag it to the
          blank form page.
   

       d. Right-click CommandButton1 and click Properties.
   

       e. In the Caption window type, "Correct Contacts" and click OK.
   

3. Insert VBScript code:

       a. On the Form menu, click View Code to open the Script Editor.
   

       b. In the Script Editor, type or copy the following code:
   

        Sub CommandButton1_Click()
        'This will only work on contacts in the CURRENT folder
        Set CurFolder=Application.ActiveExplorer.CurrentFolder
        If CurFolder.DefaultItemType=2 Then
          MsgBox "This process may take some time. You will be notified" & _
          " when complete.",,"Contact Tools Message"
          Set MyItems=CurFolder.Items
            For i = 1 to MyItems.Count
              Set MyItem=MyItems.Item(i)
         MyItem.MailingAddressStreet=MyItem.MailingAddressStreet
         MyItem.MailingAddressCity=MyItem.MailingAddressCity
         MyItem.MailingAddressState=MyItem.MailingAddressState
         MyItem.MailingAddressPostalCode=MyItem.MailingAddressPostalCode
         MyItem.MailingAddressPostOfficeBox=MyItem.MailingAddressPostOfficeBox
         MyItem.CompanyName=MyItem.CompanyName
         MyItem.HomeFaxNumber=MyItem.HomeFaxNumber
         MyItem.BusinessFaxNumber=MyItem.BusinessFaxNumber
         MyItem.OtherFaxNumber=MyItem.OtherFaxNumber
         MyItem.EMail1Address=MyItem.EMail1Address
         MyItem.EMail2Address=MyItem.EMail2Address
         MyItem.EMail3Address=MyItem.EMail3Address
         MyItem.Body=MyItem.Body
         MyItem.Sensitivity=MyItem.Sensitivity
              MyItem.Save
            Next
         MsgBox "Done!",64,"Contact Tools Message"
        Else
         MsgBox "The current folder is not a Contact folder.",64,"Contact" & _
        " Tools Message"
        End If
        End Sub
   
        (Insert VBScript code step continued)
   
       c. On the Script Editor File menu, click Close to return to the form.
   
   

4. Rename the second page (p.2) tab and publish the new form:

       a. On the Form menu, click Rename Page.
   

       b. Type a name for this page such as, Correct Contacts, and
          click OK.
   

       c. On the File menu, click Publish Form As.
   

       d. In the "Form Name" box, type a name for your new form such as,
          "Correct Contacts" (without the quotation marks) and then click the
          "Publish In" button.
   

       e. Click the "Forms Library" option button and click "Personal Forms"
          in the drop-down box.
   

       f. Click OK and click Publish.
   

       g. Close the message without saving.
   

To Use Your New Form

1. Navigate to the folder containing the contacts you wish to correct.

2. On the Contacts menu, click Choose Form.

3. In the Personal Forms list, click your new form and click OK.

4. Click the second page tab and click the button (Correct Contacts from Step 2e above) to correct the contacts in the current folder.

   NOTE: This only affects contact names in the current folder.

REFERENCES

For information on manually correcting individual records, please see the following article(s)in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID:  Q164401
   TITLE     :  OL97: Using Contacts with Word's Insert Address Feature

   ARTICLE-ID:  Q164408
   TITLE     :  OL97: Imported Fax Numbers May Not Work in Outlook

   ARTICLE-ID:  Q164477
   TITLE     :  OL97: Address Displays Incorrectly on Imported Contacts

   Article-ID: Q166368
   Title     : OL97: How to Get Help Programming with Outlook

   Article-ID: Q170783
   Title     : OL97: Q&A: Questions about Customizing or
               Programming Outlook