Outlook 2003 Address Book has confusing buttons on toolbar

[Ken Weinberg]

The Properties button seems to do the same thing as the Add to Contacts
button. Why are there two buttons to do the same thing?

Also, why is the Add to Contacts button not available when the address list
in "Show Names from the" is the same one selected in the "keep personal
addresses in" option?

Thanks.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

The Contacts Folder is where data is entered or altered, not the Address
Book.
The Address Book is merely a view of your Contacts, not a data repository.
That's why those functions do not exist in that interface.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Not really. You've missed the point. You should be using none of these
options. The Outlook Address Book is not the intended interface for adding
or editing Contact data. You'll be sorry if you do.
Use the Contacts Folder.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I think I figured it out.

The Properties button opens the selected contact and enables changes.
The Add to Contacts button opens a new contact form, and populates it with
information from the selected contact.

Agree?

The Contacts Folder is where data is entered or altered, not the Address
Book.
The Address Book is merely a view of your Contacts, not a data
repository.
That's why those functions do not exist in that interface.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

The Properties button seems to do the same thing as the Add to Contacts
button. Why are there two buttons to do the same thing?

Also, why is the Add to Contacts button not available when the address
list
in "Show Names from the" is the same one selected in the "keep personal
addresses in" option?

Thanks.