Comments on: Parse Names with Outlook

By: Alex J

Alex J — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:41:00 +0000

There's another, lower-tech, way to use Outlook names. In my excel app, I issue email to a number of users. I had spent alot of time trying to figure out how to map user names with their email address using extracts out of the Outlook Global Address List or from Distribution Lists.

The alternative is to use names in the list that the Outlook email will resolve at SEND time.

For example, in my Excel tables I keep a name like "Joe.Blo". I address the email with that, NOT with the looked-up correct email address. When I create the email, "Joe.Blo" gets populated into the SENDTo parameter, but then Outlook resolves the address to "Joe.Blo@ourcompanyname.com", or whatever the "Display As" parameter in Outlook is. Much easier.

Of course, this takes advantage of a structured email address mechanism within our company. For external addresses, my address just lists their full email address, or I create an outlook contact for them.

By: Mathew O'Grady

Mathew O'Grady — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:57:00 +0000

Thanks! Sue Mosher provided me with the answer! In case anyone else is intrested here is how to find these:
1. Start the Visual Basic Editor Alt + F11
2. Press F2
3. Select Outlook in the List Box on the Upper Left
4. Scroll down to the: ContactItem : object and these fields will open on the right!
Too cool!

By: Mathew O'Grady

Mathew O'Grady — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:16:00 +0000

Dick: Awesome approach!! I've used some of your code to directly import contacts in Excel to Outlook. I have a question: Where do you find the field names for Outlook, i.e. FirstName. Yours are practically about the only ones I can get to work. Strangely, I can't get Business Phone (s) or faxes to work. I've tried a couple different variants, but I just can't get it on trial and error. Is there any location were these field names are published? I'd like to add some more fields. Thanks for the code and any help!!

.FirstName = "Dick"
.LastName = "Kusleika"
.MobileTelephoneNumber = "(402) 555-1212?
.Email1Address = "dick@dicks-clicks.com"
.HomeAddressStreet = "111 S 1st"
.HomeAddressCity = "Omaha"
.HomeAddressState = "NE"
.HomeAddressPostalCode = "68100?
.SelectedMailingAddress = olHome
.Categories = "Business, Personal"

By: Dick Kusleika

Dick Kusleika — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 03:38:00 +0000

Jay: Make sure the sheet's codename is Sheet1, not its name. In the vbe's project explorer (Ctl+R), the sheets are listed like

DisplayName (CodeName)

If you had a blank sheet whose codename was Sheet1, you wouldn't get an error or any output.

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 18:22:00 +0000

How does this start (north american version)? I have the columns in a worksheet “sheet1?, made the reference as noted but when it runs I don’t get any output – column A has Full Names as the title the vb does not error?
Do you have to declare a range as range or something?

By: J Heckmann

J Heckmann — Tue, 03 May 2005 22:17:00 +0000

For those of us using Thunderbird… is there an equivalent reference to Outlook Express??

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 12 Nov 2004 18:53:00 +0000

Dick, Outlook (Español version) cops out by still having only 3 fields:
Name, 2nd Name and then Last Names (note the plural on last nameS>).
It usually fails to parse them correctly when left on its own; putting just one name in the "last names" part, one name in the "1st name" part and all the rest (0 to 3 or so) in the "middle name" part.
Just a slight variant from the N.Armerica version.

Locally developed applications often have 4 fields; including "1st last name" and "2nd last name".

By: Dick

Dick — Fri, 12 Nov 2004 15:11:00 +0000

Harald: Certainly. You can even use it to make money if you want. I’ll take the beer anyway, though.

By: Dick

Dick — Fri, 12 Nov 2004 15:09:00 +0000

Ed: Does the Spanish language version of Outlook do that for you? I’d be interested to know.

By: Harald Staff

Harald Staff — Fri, 12 Nov 2004 10:06:00 +0000

Hi Dick

Finally tested it. Fantastic idea. Can I use it in an inhouse, noncommercial app ? Will buy you beers on next occasion if so.

Best wishes Harald