Address book/list in exchange best practices.

[bobti]

I’m wanting a system using exchange 2k and Outlook 2k/2k3 in which users can add entries to an address list/book.
This has to be easy with no administrate overhead.

So far I have found the following solutions:

Use the Global address list.
Disadvantages:
Admins have to create/edit the contacts or teach users to use Active directory.
Creating contacts in AD that just need to be used as an entry in the address book (i.e. not have a company email address associated with them) is a pain as all exchange email addresses have to be removed manually. Leaving just the contacts external email address.

Use a “Company contacts” public folder
Disadvantages:
Not ideal for large numbers of contacts. Users have to add the folder to there address list to make it appear in the address book list.

I can find any other solutions, and I can’t really see large companies preferring to use any of the methods above – they just seam like hard work for a simple task!

What I would like is that users can from outlook add contacts to the global address list. They can only modify/delete there own entries. These contacts can’t have a company email address associated with them. This solution ensures that there is no administrative overhead. However of course this is not possible in any versions of exchange to my knowledge.

Am I missing something here?

Your comments are much appreciated.

 

[dafricano]

We went with the Public Folder solution but would like to see input on other options.

 

[BenChristian]

We currently manage the GAL ourselves - users contact the helpdesk with address list changes using a form. I've wanted to move away from this for a while and started looking at creating a web interface to allow users to add/delete contacts from the GAL and manage customer group memberships. We've recently been taken over by another company, so my grand plan won't eventuate (with this company anyway). The new company's policy doesn't allow external recipients to be listed in the GAL, but they don't have a standard solution (in a lot of cases they are just using a list of email addresses in spreadsheets). In their case, I have suggested public folders.

A Web interface would require a fair amount of time to put together, but I beleive it's the best option. I was going to extend the concept to also allow users to update their title and contact information.

http://www.benchristian.com

 

[58sniper]

There are quite a few third party products that allow users to update their own GAL properties, including some that are web based.

A Public Folder is still the best way, IMHO. Users still need to add it to their Address Book, but that's a one time minor issue.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[Zelandakh]

Public folders are def the way to go.