Re: Selecting a contact list

From: Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] (russval_at_mvps.org)
Date: 06/20/04 

Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 08:10:29 -0500

The cache bears the name of your Outlook profile and an NK2 extension.
There's information on it here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q287623

In theory, you should be able to rename your current cache, then move your
old cache to the same folder and rename it to match the new profile. 

-- 
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Peebs" <Peebs@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:974BE324-177A-4D5E-9D52-F0C7A6DBDDDD@microsoft.com...
> Hi Russ,
> You mentioned an autocompletion cache. Do you know where this is stored?
> I had to redo my hard drive after an xp crash and the cache that I built
up before may still exist. If it does, could it be moved into my new Outlook
installation as was the case with my emails et al? I installed the new copy
of XP and all the progs on a new hard drive so many of the files from the
original installation still exist on my old drive.
> Many thanks,
> Peter
>
> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>
> > Take your pick. Most people don't understand the difference between the
two
> > features. In case you're interested, here' a rather long primer:
> >
> > Autoresolution has been a feature in all versions of Outlook. Its
purpose is
> > to resolve any name typed in the To: field of a new message to a valid
> > e-mail address. It searches all Outlook Contacts Folders that have been
> > enabled as email address books for potential matches and presents any
> > matches as potential recipients for the message. In the past, many users
> > have used autoresolution as a substitute for the autocompletion feature
seen
> > in Outlook Express and other e-mail programs.
> >
> >
> >
> > Outlook 2002 and 2003 added a new autocompletion feature to Outlook but
have
> > also retained this earlier autoresolution feature. The combination of
these
> > two features is awkward and can be confusing to novice users. Users need
to
> > understand the differences between autoresolution and autocompletion.
> >
> >
> >
> > Autoresolution resolves the name you are typing in the To: field by
> > searching through your Contacts Folders to provide you with the correct
> > e-mail address. It is enabled by checking the box for "Automatic Name
> > checking" in "Advanced e-mail options." To use this feature, follow
these
> > steps:
> >
> >   1.. Open a new message.
> >   2.. In the To: field, type the first three letters of an e-mail
address
> > that is stored in one of your contacts.
> >   3.. Tab or click out of the field or on the "Tools" menu, click "Check
> > Name." You can also use the "Check Name" toolbar button (the one that
has a
> > red check mark and a picture of a person) or press CTRL+K.
> >   4.. If you have more than one listing matching the name you have
typed,
> > the name you type will have a red wavy line below it. You can now
> > right-click the name and select the correct name from among the
> > possibilities presented. That choice will then be stored so that the
next
> > time you compose a message using that name, the name will resolve
> > automatically. You will notice, however, that the name will now have a
> > dashed green underline instead of a solid underline just to let you know
> > that other possible matches exist in case you want to select another of
the
> > possible matches.
> > When you resolve a name in Outlook 97-2000, that information is stored
in a
> > file with a "nick" extension so that name resolutions will be remembered
> > from one session to the next.
> >
> >
> >
> > Autocompletion is a feature that is new in Outlook 2002 and 2003. As you
> > begin to type a name in the To: field , Outlook offers to complete the
entry
> > based on addresses, aliases, or names from e-mail messages that you have
> > previously sent. Note that this feature starts functioning immediately
after
> > you have typed the first three letters in the To: field and does not
require
> > that you Tab out of the field or hit CTRK+K. Also note that it does not
use
> > your Contacts Folder as its data source but rather a cache of
information
> > Outlook creates as you actually send messages. At first, the feature may
> > appear not to be working since it takes a while for Outlook to build its
> > cache. The autocompletion feature is enabled by default when you install
> > Outlook 2002 or 2003, but you can disable it by clicking "Options" on
the
> > "Tools" menu, clicking "E-mail Options" on the "Preferences" tab, and
then
> > clicking "Advanced E-mail Options," then uncheck "Suggest names while
> > completing."
> >
> >
> >
> > In Outlook 2002 and 2003, both autoresolution and autocompletion
features
> > function side by side. Curiously, both features store their data in the
same
> > file. The file now has an "NK2" extension. Because both features are
usually
> > in play, it is easy to get confused as to whether you are using
> > autocompletion or autoresolution. Just remember that autocompletion is
in
> > play as soon as you have typed 3 or more letters (or just 1 letter in
> > Outlook 2003) in the To: field and remains in play until you click out
of
> > the field or expressly invoke autoresolution by one of the methods
listed
> > above. As long as one of the names suggested by the autocompletion
feature
> > remains highlighted in the To: field dropdown, tabbing or clicking out
of
> > the field will select that name as the sending address. If
autocompletion
> > finds no matches in its cache (and therefore suggests no names) or if
your
> > typing restricts the list so that no entries remain, then autocompletion
is
> > no longer in play and autoresolution will take over once you tab or
click
> > out of the field. In Outlook 2003, you can also invoke autoresolution at
any
> > time by hitting "Escape" while typing in the To: field. Once
autocompletion
> > is no longer in play, then Outlook will try to resolve the name you
enter
> > against your various Contacts Folders, but not against the
autocompletion
> > cache.
> > -- 
> > Russ Valentine
> > [MVP-Outlook]
> >
> > "DianaH" <nuttin@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> > news:O3TEbskVEHA.1656@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > > Hi Russ,
> > > I have them both selected.  Maybe I'll disable the suggest names for
now,
> > > because it's not checking or autocompleting.  This was working before
the
> > > crash and the new install.    I actually prefer the autochecking, as
it
> > > would provide a list of names that started with what I started to type
and
> > > I'll select the one I wanted.  I have a reasonably large list 300+ and
> > there
> > > are quite a few that start with the same letters.
> > > Again, thanks for your help.  Diana
> > >
> > > "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <russval@mvps.org> wrote in message
> > > news:uMNfzUkVEHA.2700@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> > > "Suggest names..." is autocompletion and uses a cache you must first
> > > populate.
> > > "Automatic Named checking..." is autoresolution, and it DOES use your
> > > Contacts data.
> > > You can use either or both.
> > > -- 
> > > Russ Valentine
> > > [MVP-Outlook]
> > > "DianaH" <nuttin@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> > > news:OVPOaIkVEHA.1764@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> > > > Hi Russ,
> > > > I ended up deleting them all and restarted Outlook.  I then went
into
> > > tools,
> > > > email accounts, and added a new address book (Outlook).  That
worked.
> > To
> > > > bad about it not auto-completing from that contact list.  In 2003,
> > there's
> > > > an option for "suggestions" while completting to, cc and bcc and
there
> > > > automatic name checking.  I guess, like you said, it's only in the
> > cache.
> > > > boooooo
> > > >
> > > > At least when I click "to", it opens the correct contact list.
Thanks
> > so
> > > > much for taking the time to respond.
> > > > Diana
> > > >
> > > > "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" <russval@mvps.org> wrote in message
> > > > news:%23oTazwjVEHA.2924@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > > > No, that is not why. Autocomplete does not use your Contacts data.
It
> > uses
> > > a
> > > > cache of names that is populated from messages you have sent. Most
> > likely
> > > > you have not populated a cache yet.
> > > >
> > > > You do, however, still need to fix the Outlook Address Book which
has
> > lost
> > > > its connection to your Contacts data. It is not unusual for the
Outlook
> > > > Address Book to "lose track" of the connection to its Contacts
Folder
> > when
> > > > you move or import your PST or update your Outlook version or OS.
Use
> > the
> > > > following steps to reset the connection. Note that in some instances
you
> > > may
> > > > actually have to remove the Outlook Address Book completely from
your
> > > > Profile, close Outlook, and then re-add it before you can get it to
> > work.
> > > >
> > > > Go to Tools | E-mail accounts, select "View or change existing
> > directories
> > > > or address books", and click OK. If you don't see the OAB in the
> > > Directories
> > > > and Address Books list, click the Back button, then select "Add a
new
> > > > directory or address book", then "Additional Address Books", and add
the
> > > > OAB.  Then keep clicking Back until you get back to the first dialog
> > box,
> > > > and go back to the Directories and Address Books list as you did
> > earlier.
> > > > Once the OAB appears in the list, select it and then click Change to
> > make
> > > > sure the Contacts folder(s) you want to display are listed.  If any
of
> > > them
> > > > aren't listed, you'll need to enable those Contacts folders as
Outlook
> > > > Address Books by right clicking the folder, selecting Properties,
> > clicking
> > > > the Outlook Address Book tab, and checking the "Show this folder as
an
> > > > E-mail address book" box.  Make sure you restart Outlook after
making
> > > these
> > > > changes.
> > > >
> > > > -- 
> > > > Russ Valentine
> > > > [MVP-Outlook]
> > > > "DianaH" <nuttin@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:uvSiPjjVEHA.2828@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> > > > > I have a contact list (of course) in Outlook 2003.  When I start
> > typing
> > > an
> > > > > email address, it doesn't auto-complete and I know why.  When I
click
> > > the
> > > > > "to" button to access my contacts, a "blank" contact list displays
> > > instead
> > > > > of the one I want.  I use the pulldown menu and select the correct
> > > contact
> > > >
> > > > > list.  This is an annoying workaround.  How do I delete the other
> > lists
> > > > and
> > > > > set the one that I want as default.  (I know the others are not
> > valid).
> > > > >
> > > > > I just reformatted my drive two nights ago (so stressful -
booooooo)
> > and
> > > > am
> > > > > trying to get everything setup again, but I can't figure this one
out.
> > > > I'm
> > > > > sure it's been posted a gazillion times, but I don't see it.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks so much for your help.  Diana
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
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