Multiple Profiles / Single Contacts "Folder"

[MWE]

this is not really a VBA question but perhaps someone with more Outlook experience that I have can help me ...

I have several email accounts on multiple ISP servers. I manage them all via Outlook and separate Outlook profiles. In addition to a unique .pst file for each profile, I have a dozen or more "common" .pst files that reside in a common area. Each profile has one or more of these common .pst files attached to it. One of these common files has no content except a calendar; and is attached to all profiles. I also have a single Personal Address Book that is attached to each profile. Thus for each profile I have:

• one profile-specific .pst file;
• a common PAB;
• a common calendar; and,
• whatever other .pst files are relevant for each profile.

Works pretty well.

I want to convert the PAB to Outlook Contacts, but want to retain the ability to interact with a single Contact "file" from multiple Outlook profiles. Since Contacts is a folder within a .pst file, my strategy would be to expand the single calendar .pst file into a calendar and contacts file.

Any other ideas?

Thanks

[MOS MASTER]

Hi Mark,

Are you on Exchange?

I never had the nead to do this before so I looked up a article for you.
Perhaps this link can provide some stuff you haven't tried yet:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/286044/en-us

HTH,

[MWE]

Hi Mark,

Are you on Exchange?

I never had the nead to do this before so I looked up a article for you.
Perhaps this link can provide some stuff you haven't tried yet:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/286044/en-us

HTH,

no, none of my current accounts reside on Exchange servers.

I will look at the article you suggest.

I did do some testing yesterday and was unable to get Outlook to consistently see a single Contacts folder. As long as the active .pst file was the calendar/contacts file, Outlook understood what I wanted. But as soon as I reset the focus to another .pst file, Outlook no longer could find the Contacts folder.

I have run into many problems with Outlook that seem based on a narrow strategy re user types and needs. Providing users with the flexibility to point to common objects like calendars, contact "folders", etc., seems so obvious to me. I also do not like the way MS is trying to put everything on the "C" drive. Each new version of Office makes it harder and harder to redirect the appls to where I want things stored.

Thanks for this and all the previous help ...

[MOS MASTER]

Hi Mark,

Yes sharing stuff in Outlook is always hard.

I'm not an expert on the matter either so I hope that link could provide you with the stuff you need and otherwise I'll start digging again for yah.

Later...

[MWE]

...so I looked up a article for you.
Perhaps this link can provide some stuff you haven't tried yet:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/286044/en-us

HTH,

I have poked around the suggested article. I explored "similar" articles in the past. It is really about the pseudo-sharing approach that MS seems to like. Files are not actually shared. Rather multiple copies are synchronized (magically) via hidden emails. For my use, that is a very inefficient approach and the multiple copies will only be updated as I connect each profile to its ISP. There must be a better way to do this

[MOS MASTER]

Hi Mark,

Well I've read a lot of simular questions in the past and the normal version of outlook just doesn't have easy tools to fix your problem.

Hower Exchange has and could make your live more easy.

I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Later buddy!