Loss of 2000 Distribution List feature in XP

[SimoneA]

It looks like Outlk XP has lost a useful feature that Outlk 2000 had. Can anyone tell me how to accomplish it in XP?

Here's the thing: In Outlk 2000 if you have a Distribution List, you can choose to send an email to certain members of that Distribution List by creating a new mail msg and then clicking on the 'to' button to get to your address list. Select the distr list, right click and choose 'properties'. You can select names and click on the 'To' button at the bottom of the dialog box and it will ask you if you want to add the selected names to the 'To' field. Click yes, and the individual names will appear in the email.

This is handy when you want to use the Distribution List as a guide but want to exclude some members.

If you try the same procedure in XP there is no 'To' button at the bottom of the dialog box at all. Curiously, public distribution groups in an exchange server setting retain this feature, but locally created distribution lists in your contacts folder do not.

Any insight?

[starl]

i have never heard of this ability, nor can I duplicate it. are you sure it wasn't an add-in program?

what is the configuration of your outlook? was this a dl on the server or in your pab/contact?

[SimoneA]

I'm not at all sure if it's an add-in or not. I get nowhere near the servers and never get to see any info about their configuration except a list of policy settings. What I do know is that we use Outlook with an array of Exchange Servers as opposed to Outlook with Internet email. We use Outlook 2000 SR-1 Premium if that helps. We're moving to Outlook 2002 with a new set of Exchange Servers, and there the feature doesn't work.

2nd part of question: it's in my pab/contact. In our Outlook 2000 the feature works both with both distribution lists in my pab/contact and also with group lists in our global address list (server). Curiously, in Outlook XP the feature still works with the global address group lists (server), but not with distribution lists saved to my pab/contact.

[starl]

I did some asking around and it seems that the feature was lost in XP for local lists. I haven't found an alternative. It may have to do with the fact that XP merged c/w and imo configurations and this is one of the sacrifices the c/w configuration had to make.. tho it would sure be darn handy for imo configs.

[SimoneA]

Arggghhhhh - my last hope dashed. Well, thanks for the info.

[McScouse]

Not sure if this will help you. I use Outlook XP and sometimes don't want to include all recipients in a distribution list so -
I write the message,
Put the distribution group in "To",
Press Send.
Then go into the Outbox,
Open the message,
Look in the "To" field to see all the names have been expanded,
Delete names to my heart's desire and press Send again.

Obviously, if you emails are actually sent off as soon as you press Send then this won't work. Mine don't go until I do Send/Receive.

Chris

[SimoneA]

A good idea. But for my office environment it doens't work because it clears my outbox too quickly. I tried saving it to the drafts folder, but it saves the draft with the distr list name.

Thanks though.

[McScouse]

May I suggest that you try this:

From a mail folder in Outlook do Tools, Options, Mail Set up and turn off the Send immediately when connected.

Try writing an email for a dist list and press send. Go to your outbox and open the unsent email to see if it's expanded the address list.

When you are finished messing around put your options back the way they were.

If it works then it is a possible (though not seamless) solution.

Taking it a step further. In Outlook 2002 it is possible to set up additional email accounts and specify that some of them don't send/receive immediately whilst the rest do. At least that what the button next to the option you changed above seems to suggest.

Have fun.

[SimoneA]

I just tested it out. It works fine - took a half a second to do and can be undone just as quickly.

Thanks a million. This is VERY helpful to me. :D :D :D