create distribution list

E

enviro-lean

I have followed the instruction in the Outlook help file to "creat a
distribution list from a received email" but when I paste the email
recipients in the "add to distribution list" area of the "Select Members"
window and click "OK" I get a message "Microsoft outlook does not
recognize"..... the names I have just pasted.

This window seems to be trying to suggest names and offers some lookup
functions but does not give a clue of what I need to do to complete the
distribution list. I am begining to believe that Outlook does not let you
make a distribution list from a recieved email even though the help file says
you can. Can anybody help?
 
J

Judy Gleeson \(MVP Outlook\)

I just tried the steps in Help and they don't work for me either.

Here's how I would do it:

right click each name in the email (open the email to get to the) and then
Add to Contacts.

Once you have them in as Contacts, you can make the DL easily.
 
B

Brian Tillman

enviro-lean said:
I have followed the instruction in the Outlook help file to "creat a
distribution list from a received email" but when I paste the email
recipients in the "add to distribution list" area of the "Select
Members" window and click "OK" I get a message "Microsoft outlook
does not recognize"..... the names I have just pasted.

If the names are all together and separated by semicolons (commas may work,
but I didn't try them), the you'll be able to copy the list and paste it
into the Members field and have the wizard add them to the DL all at once.
 
E

enviro-lean

Not true. This method may work for you but it does not work when I try it
even if the email names are all together and separated by semicolons.
 
B

Brian Tillman

enviro-lean said:
Not true. This method may work for you

It does work for me and that, by definition, makes it true. If it were not
true it would work for no one.
 
E

enviro-lean

Brian:

I am glad that the distribution list from email method described in the
outlook help file works for you but it does not work for either Judy or I.
Do you have any idea why it works for some and not for others. Also, how
would I approach this problem to get beyond where we are now?...i.e..what
other resources are there when this forum can not solve a legitimate issue?
 
J

Judy Gleeson \(MVP Outlook\)

it worked when I tried it from a sent email (all names in the To field) but
not from a cc'd received email. Haven't had time to check the differences.
It's morning tea break in a course I am running!
 
B

Brian Tillman

enviro-lean said:
I am glad that the distribution list from email method described in
the outlook help file works for you but it does not work for either
Judy or I.

I never said the method in the Help works. I've never read that part of the
help.
What I said was if I have a character string composed of mail addresses
separated by semi-colons (in a text file, for example) and I select that
character string and copy it to the clipboard, when I open a DL and click
Select Members, I can paste this string in the Members field, click OK and
thet all get added to the DL. If that matches what the help said, great.
If it doesn't, it's irrelevant because I wasn't claiming it did.
 
E

enviro-lean

Great. But it still does not work for me. I am glad that you can copy names
from an email that you sent and create a distribution list but I want to
copy names from a recieved email and create a distribution list. Outlook
help says you can do that. What am I doing wrong. Thanks for all your help
and Brians too. K.
 
E

enviro-lean

Thanks again for your help Brian. Maybe I am interpreting the help
instructions incorrectly.

Someone sent me an email from outlook that has 36 to: names in it and aksed
that I create a distirbution list that I can send emails to. When I read the
help file in outlook it says all I need to do is copy the names from the
recieved email and past them in a new DL. This does not seem to work when I
try to do it. The names in the to: field of the email are in the "Outlook"
format where the recipinets name is visible ie "enviro-lean" rather than
environ-lean@envcompsys,com. However, these names include the email
information (when you put the cursor over the name you get the little outlook
ball which then if you click on the ball and then click on properties shows
you the entier email address).

I believe that help instruction are not correct now (maybe there were in the
past). You cannot copy a list of names from an email you recieve and create
a distribution list. I can understand why microsoft would want to disable
this feature to control spam but it wastes a lot of peopls time when they
dont come right out and tell you that they have disabled ths function.

It is also possible that there is a corruption in my outlook program but I
doubt it. I have taken the time to do what Judy suggested in her first reply
so the issue is not really an issue anymore ( I have worked around the
problem). I am just curious as to whether anybody is interested in fessing
up to the incorrect info in the help file or if this forum wants to pretened
that the outlook help is correct.
 
J

Judy Gleeson \(MVP Outlook\)

the method in help did NOT work for me. you could post to the make a wish
site to let Microsoft know.
 
B

Bjenks

That was not helpful. I have outlook 2007 and the help menu has not changed.
Whether you reply to all and copy or copy the received e-mail it won't work.
I believe this is designed to work only if the contacts are in the address
book. However, right below the process it puts a note that says "a member
does not need to be in your address book in order to be added to the
distribution list. The members name and email address will be included when
you copy and paste from the original email message."

My wife deleted our Sunday School e-mail list which is very large and I have
all the addresses in the last e-mail. However, there is no way to make a
distribution list from these names.
 
B

Brian Tillman

Bjenks said:
My wife deleted our Sunday School e-mail list which is very large and
I have all the addresses in the last e-mail. However, there is no
way to make a distribution list from these names.

Are the addresses in a recipient field or the body of a message? If the
latter, are they fully-specified addresses?
 
B

Bjenks

I took my last e-mail send and then hit reply to all. All the e-mail
addresses are in two formats either BJenks <[email protected] or 'Andy and
Linda Tatum' <[email protected]> with a ";" between the fields. These e-mail
address are in the To: field.
If I copy the address anywhere in any format all I get is BJenks; 'Andy and
Linda Tatum'
Then Outlook doesn't recognize it and ask if it is under a different name in
the contacts.

I swear this is exactly per the help file and per other discussions
instructions and directions outside this forum.
 
B

Brian Tillman

Bjenks said:
I took my last e-mail send and then hit reply to all. All the e-mail
addresses are in two formats either BJenks <[email protected] or
'Andy and Linda Tatum' <[email protected]> with a ";" between the
fields. These e-mail address are in the To: field.
If I copy the address anywhere in any format all I get is BJenks;
'Andy and Linda Tatum'
Then Outlook doesn't recognize it and ask if it is under a different
name in the contacts.

I have done this very thing and it worked for me. As long as all the
addresses in the recipient field are resolved (i.e., underlined), it should
work for you as well. Right-click the recipient field and choose Select
All. Then right-click and choose Copy or press CTRL-C. Now, click
File>New>Distribution List. CLick Select Members. Right-click in the
Members field and choose Paste or press CTRL-V. Click OK. That should
populate the DL. with members.
 
B

Bjenks

Are you sure all your recipients are already in your address/contact book?
If so then you are correct it will work correctly. However, half the names
are not in any contact or address book. Therefore all the ones that are get
underlined and those that are not are don't.

Every time this is explain to me I get the same results
 
B

Brian Tillman

Bjenks said:
Are you sure all your recipients are already in your address/contact
book?

I did it with a random list of recipients, many of which were NOT in my
contacts folder at all.
If so then you are correct it will work correctly. However,
half the names are not in any contact or address book. Therefore all
the ones that are get underlined and those that are not are don't.

Like I said, they must be resolved (underlined). However, if you receive a
message with a bunch of recipients, all of the addresses in the To and Cc
fields will be resolved. Make your selection from there. If you use Reply
to All, they should be resolved as well. If they weren't, your reply
wouldn't be sendable.
 
B

Bjenks

They are all underlined when I select them, but not when I past them. Maybe
I am not doing the exact steps as you are so let me show you what I do in
office outlook 2007:
1) First I create a new new that only shows the To: field
2) I then go to the e-mail address I am look to copy and the select all and
copy.
3) I then select File>New>Distribution List
4) Sine outlook 2007 is more visual driven I selecte Distribution
List>Select members.
5) A new window pops up called Select Members:Contacts. This window has a
search field and address book drop down. Also is a list of all my existing
contacts. Then at the bottom is the members list field.
6) I then enter the members list field and ctrl-V the list of names. I then
errase any field names that got copied. Then I hit OK.
7) Then a new window pops up called Check Names which says Microsoft Office
Outlook does not recognize "Any and Linda Tall". Next line says Select the
address to use: Then the field says (No Suggestions). at the bottom the OK
is dimmed and I get a selection to show more names or new contact.

It just seems that this whole thing is based on my address book. Do you
think I followed your procedure correctly?
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top