OL98: Full Name Field Ignored in Imported File

ID: Q185149

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you import a file containing Contact data using the standard Microsoft internal names, the contents of the Full Name field may be ignored.


CAUSE

The Full Name field is a reserved field. Outlook uses the entries in the Check Full Name dialog box to build the Full Name data.


RESOLUTION

To allow Outlook to generate a Full Name field, follow these steps:

  1. In the file to be imported assure that the fields, Title, First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, and Suffix contain data where appropriate. It is not necessary to enter data in all of these fields.


  2. Import the file using the Outlook Import and Export Wizard. Outlook will use the entries to build a Full Name field.



MORE INFORMATION

Because Outlook uses the data entries in the Check Full Name dialog box to determine the contents of the Full Name field, this field is ignored during an import even if the source file has a Full Name field containing data.

Steps To Reproduce Behavior

  1. In Notepad, create a text file such as:
    Title,First Name,Middle Name,Last Name,Suffix,Full Name<ENTER>
    Dr.,John,Edward,Smith,Jr.,Johnny Smith<ENTER>
    NOTE: This is a simple Comma Separated Values file. The first line is the header record and the second is data. There should be no spaces before or after the individual commas. The <ENTER> key signifies the end of record.


  2. Save the file as "Test.csv"


  3. Create a Contacts folder called "Import"


  4. On the File menu, click Import And Export


  5. In "Choose an action to perform", click "Import from another program or file." Click Next.


  6. In "Select file type to import from" click "Comma Separated Values (Windows)" and then click Next.


  7. Click Browse to locate the file and click to select "Do not import duplicates." Click Next.


  8. In Select Destination Folder, click to select the folder you created in Step 3. Click Next and then Finish.


When you examine the Contact that is imported for this single record, you will note that the Full Name field reads, "Dr. John Edward Smith Jr" instead of "Johnny Smith."


REFERENCES

For more information on Field Mapping and Outlook internal fields, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q182728 OL98: Field Mapping for Importing Not Available
For more information about Importing Data, type "import contacts" in the Office Assistant, click Search, and then click to view "Import a contact list or a file from another Office program" and File types you can import to or export from Outlook

Additional query words: 98 


Keywords          : GnlCont GnlDe CfgFold 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: August 9, 1999