OL97: Phone Extensions Reorder Contacts in Timex Data Link Watch

ID: Q178261

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When exporting contact telephone numbers from Microsoft Outlook 97 to the Timex Data Link watch, phone numbers are no longer sorted in the watch alphabetically based on the last name of the contact.

CAUSE

The contact phone number contains an extension number or the phone number exceeds 12 digits.

RESOLUTION

This is a limitation of the Timex Data Link watch display.

MORE INFORMATION

The Timex Data Link watch sorts phone entries alphabetically based on the last name of the contact.

The Data Link watch Phone mode allows room to display the area code, exchange, telephone number, a type designation (W-work, H-home, F-fax), and the name of the contact. A telephone number can be up to 12 digits and a contact name can be up to 31 characters.

The watch screen is split into three sections with the top section holding the area code and exchange while the middle section displays the telephone number and type designation. The third (lower) section holds the Contact's name.

Example

Jane Somebody's work telephone number is 555-555-1313 and John Doe's home telephone number is 555-555-1212, this information will be displayed in the watch in alphabetical order as follows: 

   555-555             555-555
   1212  H             1313  W
   Doe, John           Somebody, Jane
When an extension is included in the telephone number, the first two numbers of the extension will be displayed in the middle section. The extension identifier, extension number, and type designation are all inserted in the lower section. The watch will only recognize the letter "x" or the abbreviation of extension (ext) and will only use the letter "x" as the extension identifier. Any other letter or letters will be ignored.

Since this information is moved to the lower section and is inserted before the name, the Contact is placed in alphabetical order based on the first character in the lower section. This behavior also occurs with telephone numbers longer than 12 digits such as international telephone numbers that can be up to 13 digits if the international access code is included.

For example, if John Doe's work number is typed into the contact Business Phone field as (555) 555-1212 x132 and Jane Somebody's work number is typed into the contact Business Phone field as (555) 555-1313 with no extension; the watch will display the phone numbers in the following alphabetic order: 

   555-555             555-555
   1313 W              1212 13
   Somebody, Jane      x132W-Doe, John
If John's phone number is typed in as (555) 555-1212 132 and Jane's phone number is typed in as (555) 555-1313 122, each with no extension identifier, the watch would display the phone numbers in the following alphabetic order: 

   555-555             555 555
   1313 12             1212 13
   22W-Somebody, Jane  32W-Doe, John


Keywords          : IntpImEx 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: February 12, 1999