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General discussion

Import contacts via command line in MS Outlook and/or OE

Jun 6, 2006 3:10AM PDT

Simple question:
How do I import new contacts from a csv into Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook by commandline.


Full Explanation:
Part of my job as a Network Administrator is to streamline things as much as possible. One of the ideas we have come up with is to create a script that will update the clients address book. This script would be posted on a secure intranet site so that employees can update their address book quickly without us having to give them a 10 step instruction guide. Some of the users use Microsoft Outlook while others use Outlook Express. I'm thinking detecting which one they are using shouldn't be to hard - just a matter of checking which one is default - probably just checking a registry key. The real problem comes in when I have to import new contacts from a csv or other format file via the command line. I can just replace the address book file with Outlook Express, but this dosn't allow them to keep any of their personal contacts. Any suggestions would be great.
(note: I already checked out this website: http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/as...031101033.aspx)

Discussion is locked

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One would have to write or find a new tool.
Jun 6, 2006 3:47AM PDT

It's very possible to write a Visual Basic program that would run on the command line to do this task. But I don't see any ready to use tools handy.

Do you write any code?

Bob

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I was hoping a batch script
Jun 6, 2006 5:12AM PDT

I was hoping I could use a batch script..(ie. addressbook.bat) As I mentioned before I thought maybe MSoutlook would have some more command line functionality than I could find.

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Shared Folder?
Jun 6, 2006 5:54AM PDT

It wouldn't work with Express for sure...but what about a shared folder for Outlook? Would something like that actually work?

Don't these folders replicate for offline use if you are using an Exchange server?

Also not sure about your set-up and why the computer configurations are different.

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no exchange
Jun 6, 2006 6:07AM PDT

We aren't using exchange at all.
Our office is a not for profit organization, that has family homes as well as several office locations. 3 locations run their own domains (the main offices about 100 computers) (managed by me) while the rest of the computers are standalones or in workgroups for about another 600-700 computers. Quite simply, we don't want to have to email everyone instructions with how to update their address book. The idea is that we could simplify this by posting a script for them to run on our secure intranet site that would update their contacts while still maintaining their own contacts. The reason why some people have Outlook Express, while others have Microsoft Outlook is because we started with Outlook Express, but found that it doesn't handle attatchments with mass emails at all, and so we are slowly switching over to Microsoft Outlook (almost completely though). At anyrate, I'd be happy if I could create a script that would work just for Microsoft Outlook.

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Microsoft Outlook with VB
Jun 6, 2006 6:10AM PDT
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Not so simple...
Jun 6, 2006 6:53AM PDT

I just read your original post and noticed you started out with "Simple question".

Looks like it wasn't so simple!

In any case, you now have me curious. I was looking around online and stumbled upon this link: http://www.slipstick.com/addins/contacts.htm

Not sure if ther is something here you could use or not. I didn't see an automated script, but it did look like there were some services there that might help.

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A better Forum
Jun 6, 2006 6:59AM PDT

I also just stumbled upon this forum: http://www.outlookcode.com/

Looks like the folks there might be more focused on the type of thing you are looking for.

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wow
Jun 6, 2006 7:07AM PDT

Wow I don't have a clue how you'd find that forum! I've been looking all over the place for answers. Hopefully they've got an idea. Thanks

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Google Search
Jun 7, 2006 1:44AM PDT

I don't remember the exact search words I used...something like: Outlook contact Import

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if anyone elso wants to know
Jun 6, 2006 8:32AM PDT
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sorry for the confusion
Jun 6, 2006 7:05AM PDT

I kinda meant it that I had the simple explanation of the problem as well as an advanced explanation of the problem so that people wouldn't get lost trying to figure out exactly what I was trying to do. Sorry for the confusion.

But you're right it isn't that simple. I'd have to either learn visual basic and create my own tool or I'd have to find a tool. Thanks for the link by the way. Going through all those tools right now. Let you know if I find anything.

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Thanks everyone - I'm Finished
Jun 12, 2006 2:13AM PDT

Hello, just a quick update one day less than a week from the original post. I just taught myself enough Visual Basic that I needed to know to figure out how to do this. I also downloaded Visual Basic Express 2005 from Microsofts website, and now I have a program that converts from a csv to an address book with the click of one button. Thanks a million everyone for your help. If anyone has any questions about how I did this feel free to ask!

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So how did you do it?
Mar 11, 2010 9:40PM PST

HI There,

I realise this thread is long dead, but I was wondering how you actually got this working and if you could share your solution with me?

We run a mixed Google apps/Outlook environment and I need a way to automatically import contacts into Outlook for many users.

If you get this I would really appreciate hearing back.

Thanks,
Shweetee