Mass apply changes

[RSteph]

I have created 4 public contact lists. From the Administrator Account I have
added them to favorites, and clicked "show this folder as an e-mail address
book". What I would like to do, if there's a way, is to apply these settings
to all the accounts in the office. I'm wondering if I'll have to go to each
computer and make these changes person-by-person, or if there's a way from
either the Administrator account, or from the webmail server, to set these
changes to apply to all accounts? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

For reference we are running MS Office Outlook 2003, and an Exchange server.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

There is no server-based setting to do that. You could, however, write a script using the Outlook object model and ask each user to run it while Outlook is open.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[RSteph]

That sounds like a manageable route. However, I've never written scripts for
Outlook before, would you know any good resources you could point me to, to
help me getting started. i.e. some sample Outlook scripts, so I can get a
feel for field names, passing parameters, etc. Thank you in advance for any
direction you can offer to this end.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

There's plenty of information in the Outlook VBA Help file on the objects, properties and methods you'll need. Some useful bits:

Script to start external Outlook automation
http://www.outlookcode.com/codedetail.aspx?id=83

Code to return a folder based on a path
http://www.outlookcode.com/d/getfolder.htm

Method to add folder to Public Folder\Favorites
MAPIFolder.AddToFavorites

Properties to put it in the address book
MAPIFolder.ShowAsOutlookAB
MAPIFolder.AddressBookName

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[RSteph]

Thank you for yoru help, looking at the information you gave me, I should
have everything I need to write the script.

 

[RSteph]

I've got the code worked out, and tested, it's all working properly. I've got
it built in right now as a macro. Is there a way I can attach it in an e-mail
and have people run it as a macro on their system, I would it be better for
me to turn it into an executable and then send it out? Thanks in advance for
your thoughts, and for your previous help.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

In a relatively information office environment, I'd probably code it as a VBScript .vbs file, store it on a network drive, and send out a link telling people how to run it.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers