Importing information to Exchange

[ITintern79]

They have asked me to go in to Exchange and populate the database, because they want to use Exchange as our primary phone list and storage for contact info for all employees. They don't want me to have to go in and manually enter all the information in, so instead, we need a way to transfer/import information from an Excel spreadsheet, or some other application to Exchanges data store/repository. Apparently something about Exchange 5.5 is keeping from doing this in a simple fashion, and I have been asked to look online for possible solutions or third party software that can help. If anyone has any solutions besides CSV format (they already ruled that out), please let me know! Thank you!

 

[23714lc]

ITIntern79,

Just saw your issue. Got any solution yet?
Please let me know the solution if you have one.


Thanks.

 

[TechnoDoberman]

Actually I am looking for a way do do the opposite - pull the members of a distribution list out to Excel. Any ideas here?
Thanks
TechnoDoberman

 

[Jeepix]

Techno-

There's kind of a sloppy way to do it and you'll have to mess with it a bit.

Open a DL and select FILE and Save As. You can save it to an RTF, TXT, OFT or MSG. If you save it as a TXT you should be able to import it into Excel if you tell Excel the format of the information (columns, names, email address, etc.)

ITintern & 23714lc,

You can use FILE, Import/Export and do an import from a file. You can pull from Excel and import the addresses into a contact list. I'd test it to a test contact list, as it can mess up from time to time, or you might forget a field or something.


Hope this helps.

 

[TechnoDoberman]

OK now I feel stupid - What is a DL?
TechnoDoberman

 

[Jeepix]

Distribution List.

 

[TechnoDoberman]

Doh! I am double-stupid! DL = Distribution List! Doh ! Doh ! Doh!
I don't mind doing this for 1 or 2, but I have 200+ to do.
Anyway of extracting multiples?
TechnoDoberman

 

[Jeepix]

Open your Contacts. Select all DL's you want (you can use SHIFT to select multiple just like with selecting files), then go to FILE, Save As... give it a file name and all the lists will go into one TXT file (or whatever format you chose)

J

 

[TechnoDoberman]

OK - can select multiples as you suggest (in Outlook 2000), but when I go to File, there is no Save As option, Just a new entry or new dist list option.
In Exchange Administrator (Ver5.5)again no Save As option. I see under Tools a Directory Export - what would that do?
By the way - THANK YOU for your help on this!
TechnoDoberman

 

[Jeepix]

I have Outlook 2000 also. Are you sure it's showing you the entire menu (like no double arrows at the bottom of the menu telling you there's more?). Click FILE a couple times to see if it drops the menu? There are different version of Outlook 2K. I wonder if that's causing something.

Maybe try this. Go to the Exchange Administrator. Choose Tools, Export Directory, choose the server, click the Export File... button and choose a name/place to save it. Choose the Global Address List for the Container. Then chose the Export Object "Distribution List" (uncheck the others). The logging level can be whatever you want. Then hit Export. I've never used it, but I suppose it would work?


J

 

[bobbymensah]

I have a list of contacts in Outlook 2k that I want to import to my Global Address List (GAL)in Exchange 5.5. I have exported my internal GAL to a .csv to get the right columns needed to do import to my GAL. I have also created a container and a new DL. ( I'm trying to create a distribution list that everyone in the company can use and update without my intervention.)In addition, I have exported all the contacts in my Outlook 2k to a .csv, then copied and pasted the columns needed to in-order to import them into GAL on the Exchange server without getting any errors. However, when I do an import it reports that all contacts have been imported successfully with no errors. However I see nothing in the GAL.

Questions????
1. Am I approaching this problem correctly?
2. If I am, why don't I see anything in my GAL?
3. If I am not, then what is the best solution my problem?

I am in desparate need of solutions to my problem and will appreciate any suggestions.

cheers
BobbyM