Thanks, Brian, you're correct about how to create the DL.

But then if I use the newly created DL in the TO: field when I create the
message, the recipient will see the names of ALL people in the list...not
good.

If I leave the TO: field blank and put the DL into the BCC: field when I
send, then it's true that the recipient won't see all the names, but the TO:
field appears as blank, which seems impersonal, although I could do that in a
pinch. Plus, someone told me that various recipient email software other
than Outlook might make weird assumptions about a blank "TO:" field

If I put the DL in the BCC, at the recipient's end I'd like the TO: field to
have their own email address, or at least contan the name of the DL, so if my
DL is named "RENEWAL CUSTOMERS" in my own Outlook then the TO: field in the
recipients's received email would say "TO: RENEWAL CUSTOMERS". Do you know
how to do that?

I mean, spammers do this all the time, so why is it so hard to do this for a
legitmate business purpose? :-)

"Brian Tillman" wrote:

Rebecca wrote:

I'm starting with a .TXT file in Windows but it's external from
Outlook. The file contains names and email addresses, approx 25 to 50
names. Here is a sample of the .TXT file (my real file is
fixed-column, but it might not appear that way in this message)

Miles Smith
Michael Dell
Steve Ballmer
etc

I know one way to import the file into an Outlook distribution list,
but what is the best or correct way?

With the names in the format you describe, Select the entire list,
right-click and choose Copy. The in Outlook, click NewDistribution List,
then click Select Members. In the Members field, right-click and choose
Paste. Click OK. The names and addresses will be inserted properly into
the DL. I just tried to make sure.
--
Brian Tillman