I have created a form for my clients, I want this to be the default form in
this folder. I have tried importing a contact list from an access dbase but
the imported dbase does not use the same form and I have tried, with my
limited intelect to change these forms to correspond with my created form.

Is it possible to import contacts to this new folder with it's own form and
have the imports use this form?

Regards

Your choices and solutions really depend on the data in the contact list you
are importing.

Things to keep in mind:
#1 - Using the Outlook import wizard - contacts will be created using the
standard contact form (Msg Class=IPM.Contact) regardless of what the default
setting is for the folder
#2 - You cannot import data into any user-defined fields whether using a
custom form or not using Outlook's import wizard
#3 - Outlook doesn't provide for importing directly into a public folder

Having said the above - your options are basically as follows:

#1 - If you're importing data that is destined for user-defined fields -
you'll need to either write your own code or use a 3rd party product (see:
http://www.contactgenie.com or you may find other alternatives on
Slipstick - http://www.slipstick.com)

#2 - If the data you are importing is all targetted for standard Outlook
fields - then you can use Outlook's import wizard for the basic import
process and then simply change the message class for all imported contacts
to use your custom form (we have a utility for that purpose - ContactGenie
Message Class Modifier - http://www.contactgenie.com/cgtmcm.htm or as above
you can find other alternatives on Slipstick as noted above).

#3 - If these are contacts destined for a "public" contact folder and you
don't want to use 3rd party software or write your own code (and the data
doesn't involve custom fields) - simply follow step #2 using a contact
folder in a PST file and then copy these contacts to the public folder where
the form also has to be published.

Karl
__________________________________________________ ___________
ContactGenie - Importer 1.3 / DataPorter 2.0 / Exporter
"Power contact importers/exporters for MS Outlook '2000/2003"
http://www.contactgenie.com



"Bewildered" wrote in message
...
I have created a form for my clients, I want this to be the default form in
this folder. I have tried importing a contact list from an access dbase
but
the imported dbase does not use the same form and I have tried, with my
limited intelect to change these forms to correspond with my created form.

Is it possible to import contacts to this new folder with it's own form
and
have the imports use this form?

Regards

Karl, that information is kept at http://www.outlookcode.com/d/newdefaultform.htm now, no longer at slipstick.com.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

"Karl Timmermans" wrote in message ...

#1 - If you're importing data that is destined for user-defined fields -
you'll need to either write your own code or use a 3rd party product (see:
http://www.contactgenie.com or you may find other alternatives on
Slipstick - http://www.slipstick.com)

#2 - If the data you are importing is all targetted for standard Outlook
fields - then you can use Outlook's import wizard for the basic import
process and then simply change the message class for all imported contacts
to use your custom form (we have a utility for that purpose - ContactGenie
Message Class Modifier - http://www.contactgenie.com/cgtmcm.htm or as above
you can find other alternatives on Slipstick as noted above).

#3 - If these are contacts destined for a "public" contact folder and you
don't want to use 3rd party software or write your own code (and the data
doesn't involve custom fields) - simply follow step #2 using a contact
folder in a PST file and then copy these contacts to the public folder where
the form also has to be published.

The data I ma trying to import only contains standard fields data, however I
want them to be displayed using the custom form I have created so that I can
input the data into the custom fields.

I have tried importing the data and changing the form with no success.

"Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

Karl, that information is kept at http://www.outlookcode.com/d/newdefaultform.htm now, no longer at slipstick.com.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

"Karl Timmermans" wrote in message ...

#1 - If you're importing data that is destined for user-defined fields -
you'll need to either write your own code or use a 3rd party product (see:
http://www.contactgenie.com or you may find other alternatives on
Slipstick - http://www.slipstick.com)

#2 - If the data you are importing is all targetted for standard Outlook
fields - then you can use Outlook's import wizard for the basic import
process and then simply change the message class for all imported contacts
to use your custom form (we have a utility for that purpose - ContactGenie
Message Class Modifier - http://www.contactgenie.com/cgtmcm.htm or as above
you can find other alternatives on Slipstick as noted above).

#3 - If these are contacts destined for a "public" contact folder and you
don't want to use 3rd party software or write your own code (and the data
doesn't involve custom fields) - simply follow step #2 using a contact
folder in a PST file and then copy these contacts to the public folder where
the form also has to be published.

Without knowing exactly what you did (all the steps you followed) -
impossible to make any suggestions in terms of "tried .......... with no
success". To start - after you've changed the message class for the contacts
after importing them, do these open with the new custom form? (Also assume
that all you're "standard fields" are also contained on your custom form.

Karl
__________________________________________________ ___________
ContactGenie - Importer 1.3 / DataPorter 2.0 / Exporter
"Power contact importers/exporters for MS Outlook '2000/2003"
http://www.contactgenie.com



"Bewildered" wrote in message
...
The data I ma trying to import only contains standard fields data, however
I
want them to be displayed using the custom form I have created so that I
can
input the data into the custom fields.

I have tried importing the data and changing the form with no success.

"Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

Karl, that information is kept at
http://www.outlookcode.com/d/newdefaultform.htm now, no longer at
slipstick.com.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

"Karl Timmermans" wrote in message
...

#1 - If you're importing data that is destined for user-defined
fields -
you'll need to either write your own code or use a 3rd party product
(see:
http://www.contactgenie.com or you may find other alternatives on
Slipstick - http://www.slipstick.com)

#2 - If the data you are importing is all targetted for standard
Outlook
fields - then you can use Outlook's import wizard for the basic import
process and then simply change the message class for all imported
contacts
to use your custom form (we have a utility for that purpose -
ContactGenie
Message Class Modifier - http://www.contactgenie.com/cgtmcm.htm or as
above
you can find other alternatives on Slipstick as noted above).

#3 - If these are contacts destined for a "public" contact folder and
you
don't want to use 3rd party software or write your own code (and the
data
doesn't involve custom fields) - simply follow step #2 using a contact
folder in a PST file and then copy these contacts to the public folder
where
the form also has to be published.

Perform the import, then use one of the scripts or tools on the page I suggested to update the MessageClass property of the imported items to point to your published custom form. You can check whether the items were updated properly by adding the Message Class field to any view, so that you can see what form they use.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

"Bewildered" wrote in message ...
The data I ma trying to import only contains standard fields data, however I
want them to be displayed using the custom form I have created so that I can
input the data into the custom fields.

I have tried importing the data and changing the form with no success.

Just as an aside - ContactGenie Message Class Modifier (also free)
identifies the following in a single solution:

- default message class assigned to the folder
- all message classes published to the folder, (as well as those
in Personal Forms Lib & Org Forms Lib)
- all message classes found being used within tthe selected folder
whether published or not
- all field names used in a given custom form
- ability to rename multiple message classes at the same time
- ensures that you cannot rename the message class using an
invalid name (i.e. "FormName" instead of "IPM.Contact.FormName" which
a number of the various other script solutions allow resulting
in an invalid formname being assigned to an item which in turn results in a
contact
item being opened as an IPM.Note (mail) item by default
- ability to copy or move items based on selected message
class(es) from one folder to another (PST or Exch)

Karl
__________________________________________________ ___________
ContactGenie - Importer 1.3 / DataPorter 2.0 / Exporter
"Power contact importers/exporters for MS Outlook '2000/2003"
http://www.contactgenie.com


"Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote in message
...
Perform the import, then use one of the scripts or tools on the page I
suggested to update the MessageClass property of the imported items to point
to your published custom form. You can check whether the items were updated
properly by adding the Message Class field to any view, so that you can see
what form they use.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

"Bewildered" wrote in message
...
The data I ma trying to import only contains standard fields data, however
I
want them to be displayed using the custom form I have created so that I
can
input the data into the custom fields.

I have tried importing the data and changing the form with no success.

Karl, (sorry mate I am a novice).
Here are the steps I have followed.
I designed a custom form using the the contacts form (where in between the
general & Details tab it opens with P.2, P.3 etc.
After creating this I then published it under "outlook folders" titled BHMF.
I then go to this folder and import from an access dbase my contacts. (this
much I can do)
This is where I come undone.
By right clicking on the folder under folder list and opeining the
properties I check the box "when posting to this folder, use BHMF
I then go to forms tab whilst at properties and associate BHMF, by clicking
on "manage" (I really don't know what I am doing) this opens forms manager
and I make sure BHMF is in both boxes (are you as confused as I am)
I apply these changes close the properties page and nothing changes when I
open an imported contact the form is the standard form and not my custom form.
"Karl Timmermans" wrote:

Without knowing exactly what you did (all the steps you followed) -
impossible to make any suggestions in terms of "tried .......... with no
success". To start - after you've changed the message class for the contacts
after importing them, do these open with the new custom form? (Also assume
that all you're "standard fields" are also contained on your custom form.

Karl
__________________________________________________ ___________
ContactGenie - Importer 1.3 / DataPorter 2.0 / Exporter
"Power contact importers/exporters for MS Outlook '2000/2003"
http://www.contactgenie.com



"Bewildered" wrote in message
...
The data I ma trying to import only contains standard fields data, however
I
want them to be displayed using the custom form I have created so that I
can
input the data into the custom fields.

I have tried importing the data and changing the form with no success.

"Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

Karl, that information is kept at
http://www.outlookcode.com/d/newdefaultform.htm now, no longer at
slipstick.com.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

"Karl Timmermans" wrote in message
...

#1 - If you're importing data that is destined for user-defined
fields -
you'll need to either write your own code or use a 3rd party product
(see:
http://www.contactgenie.com or you may find other alternatives on
Slipstick - http://www.slipstick.com)

#2 - If the data you are importing is all targetted for standard
Outlook
fields - then you can use Outlook's import wizard for the basic import
process and then simply change the message class for all imported
contacts
to use your custom form (we have a utility for that purpose -
ContactGenie
Message Class Modifier - http://www.contactgenie.com/cgtmcm.htm or as
above
you can find other alternatives on Slipstick as noted above).

#3 - If these are contacts destined for a "public" contact folder and
you
don't want to use 3rd party software or write your own code (and the
data
doesn't involve custom fields) - simply follow step #2 using a contact
folder in a PST file and then copy these contacts to the public folder
where
the form also has to be published.

Sue, you say update the "MessageClass property of the imported items. I
really don't understand how to do this or what this does.
I download CG-MCM and have no idea how to operate this and what the outcome
is.

"Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

Perform the import, then use one of the scripts or tools on the page I suggested to update the MessageClass property of the imported items to point to your published custom form. You can check whether the items were updated properly by adding the Message Class field to any view, so that you can see what form they use.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

"Bewildered" wrote in message ...
The data I ma trying to import only contains standard fields data, however I
want them to be displayed using the custom form I have created so that I can
input the data into the custom fields.

I have tried importing the data and changing the form with no success.

Above everything else, at some point you will need to take the time to learn
and become familiar with the tools you're using (i.e. Outlook in this case)
and how custom forms are implemented if you are going to get involved with
making changes etc

Having said that.......

#1 - Every contact item is associated with a specific message class which
represents a "form" as to how a contact is displayed. If nothing ever gets
changed then this message class will have a value of "IPM.Contact" which
represents the standard "form" that Outlook uses to display the contact info
#2 - When you create a custom form and make it the "default" for the folder
as you already have done, then this "form" (represented by a message class
name of "IPM.Contact.SomeFormName") will be used whenever you add a NEW
contact via the Outlook user interface.
#3 - Changing the default message class for a contact folder (or for any
kind of folder for that matter) does NOT change the message class associated
with any contact item that exists at the time you made the change to a
different default custom form for the folder (i.e. when you change the name
of "when posting to this folder, use...........".
#4 - To change the message class for any contact item that already existed
prior to making the change in item#3 - you will need a tool (whether it's
CG-MCM or any script mentioned by Sue - ultimate objective is the same for
all). These tools will change the message class to your new "default"
#5 - Outlook's own import wizard ONLY imports new contacts using the
standard message class name (IPM.Contact) regardless of the default folder
setting - therefore whenever you open an IMPORTED item (via Outlook) - it
will open up using the standard form until you change the message class for
these newly created imported items. (an alternative to the Outlook import
wizard (free) is using a 3rd party import product such as ContactGenie
Importer or DataPorter (not free) that will enable you to import new
contacts using a published custom form including importing data to custom
fields)
#6 - You can "Publish" a custom form to one of 3 different places - the
contact folder itself, the Personal Forms library, and the Exchange
organizational forms library. Which one you select depends on your
requirements and permission rights (in the case of Exchange). Publishing the
form to the folder itself is generally a very safe bet for simple scenarios
such as only one folder using the custom form etc.

Hope this helps

Karl

__________________________________________________ ___________
ContactGenie - Importer 1.3 / DataPorter 2.0 / Exporter
"Power contact importers/exporters for MS Outlook '2000/2003"
http://www.contactgenie.com



"Bewildered" wrote in message
...
Sue, you say update the "MessageClass property of the imported items. I
really don't understand how to do this or what this does.
I download CG-MCM and have no idea how to operate this and what the
outcome
is.

"Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

Perform the import, then use one of the scripts or tools on the page I
suggested to update the MessageClass property of the imported items to
point to your published custom form. You can check whether the items were
updated properly by adding the Message Class field to any view, so that
you can see what form they use.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

"Bewildered" wrote in message
...
The data I ma trying to import only contains standard fields data,
however I
want them to be displayed using the custom form I have created so that
I can
input the data into the custom fields.

I have tried importing the data and changing the form with no success.