Pleeease Outlook geeks - can youhelp me too, please?

[Legacy]

This has been niggling me for ages, but I haven't be able to sort out.

I'm using Outlook 2003 on my home office PC. I have over 800 contacts in my main directory, but when I try to create a Distribution list, there are no names showing?

I'm sure this is just a technical glitch, but I can't work it out.

I also have a sneaking suspicion it went wrong a few months ago when I downloaded the 'LinkedIn' toolbar to my desktop. It has an interaction with outlook, so it's possible it's screwed it up!

so you go to create a DL, and then click on Add Members, and then is there a drop-down list top right that lets you select where to get members from?

You'll have to create the DL in your own contacts folder.

Hi Flatmouse

Yes but the 'Show names from the:' box is completely blank!

How do I create them in my own contact folder - am I going to have to cut & paste lots?

What i meant was that when you select to create a distribution list it asks where you want that list created - that will have to be in your contacts.

As to the show names from being blank... hmm.. are you doing all this from within outlook - so clicking on address book (seeing all names at that point) then clicking add new and getting option of contact or dl?

What is LinkedIn toolbar?

Have googled it - you could try uninstalling LinkedIn toolbar or would that cause you too many other issues?

no I don't think the LinkedIn toolbar has anything to do with it ...

It's simply a 3rd party hook up to the Outlook Contacts folder.

just mentally unravelling the dilemma - hang on

it could be that linkedin is taking priority in creating the dl - could it be that the linkedin add-on needs some configuration locally?

LOL sorry, forgot to press send hours ago and went out ....

Anyway

Idle thought
Is your home office PC standalone so you are working offline from a local copy of Outlook or are you using a secure connection and picking up Outlook from an office/exchange backend ?

Anyway
From the Inbox highlight the contacts folder and right click. Select Outlook Address Book and tick the check box "Show this folder as an ..... etc). Click OK to save

Close outlook and reopen ... repeat steps to populate the dist list .... can you see them now ?

I have seen this happen on occasions but usually in a networked environment.

This is the standard fix for empty address books.

LL the reason your solution will work is because the new Contacts list you create has the check box ticked by default.