XADM: Reversed Display Names May Not Be Resolved

ID: Q147508

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0, 5.5

SYMPTOMS

When a first name such as 'Mary Anne' and a surname for a known recipient is typed on the TO: line in a Microsoft Exchange Client, the name is not resolved.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the display name for the user is reversed as follows:


   User:         Mary Anne Smith
   Display Name: Smith, Mary Anne

When 'Mary Anne Smith' is typed on the TO: line, the display name is first referenced in order to resolve the address. In this case it will fail as the display name is 'Smith, Mary Anne'. The next phase will compare the typed name to the surname and given name of the recipient which is entered as first name 'Mary Anne' and last name 'Smith' in the order of last name first.

Due to the embedded space between 'Mary Anne', Exchange will simply see the name as 'Anne Smith' and the name resolution will fail.

This would not be the case if the name were 'Mary Smith' as Exchange would be able to see both the first and last names properly.

WORKAROUND

If your system is configured to use reversed display names, the recommended option would be to enter the first name as simply 'Mary' and use 'Anne Smith' as the last name on the user's mailbox properties in the Microsoft Exchange Administer program. This will result in the name being properly resolved when 'Mary Anne Smith' is typed on the TO: line in a Microsoft Exchange Client.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbusage XADM exc4 exc5 exc55
Version : winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb