Read Contacts from Outlook 2007 Address Book

Question

Hi,
I want to import contacts from address book of Outlook 2007 into my application.
I am using VB.NET 2008 SP1 .NET Framework 2
Because I am in .NET environment, I don't want to rely on COM objects or outlook objects which requires it to be installed on the system.
Is there a way I can read the contacts?
And at a glance, where are contacts stored by outlook?
Thanks

Answer 1

Hi,

 

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Innovate On Office Advisory Services.

 

Following are the details of your request:

 

 Support Request Description:

- Do you want to know how to read the contacts from the Outlook 2007?

- You also want to know where the contacts stored by outlook are.

 

 Next Step:

Please provide us the following information

·         Which programming language do you want to use to achieve this functionality?

 

To know where outlook stores its contacts, refer to this third party link:

http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup2007.asp

 

 

 Thanks,

Dhanashri.

Disclaimer:

The links in this message may lead to third-party Web sites. Microsoft provides third-party resources to help you find customer service and/or technical support resources. Information at these sites may change without notice. Microsoft is not responsible for the content at any third-party Web sites and does not guarantee the accuracy of third-party information.

Answer 2

Hi and thanks
VB.NET 2008 SP1 .NET Framework 2.0

So that's my programming language, and yes I wanna know how to read contacts from Outlook 2007?
I want to import contacts from Outlook 2007 to my application.

Also, if possible it's a good idea if I will be able to export back contacts from my application to Outlook also!

Thank you very much

Answer 3

 

Thanks for the information.

 

But I am trying to know..do you want to export and import contacts in outlook 2007 programmatically?

if so ..is it by using VSTO or VBA or any other technology?

 

Thanks,

Dhanashri.

Answer 4

Hi,
Thank you for your reply
Yes, of course I wanna import and export contacts in Outlook 2007 pro grammatically.
I want to do it by Visual Basic .NET 2008 SP1, .NET Framework 2.0 and please note that my project is not Visual Studio Tools for Office or VBA, my project is Standard Windows Application type and will be in pure VB.NET language, I also don't want to import/use COM object based components in my .NET application and also don't want to rely on Office components installed on the system...
Regards.

Answer 5

 

Hi,

we apologize for the delayed reply.

 

so here we come up with few questions for you:

 1) Do you have an exchange in the environment. If yes what's the Version?

 2) When you say address book, are you talking about the contacts folder?

 3) If you have an exchange in your enviornment and you are talking about the contacts, then we might be able to help.

  Other wise OOM(Outlook Object Model) is the only way out..

 

 

Thanks,

Dhanashri.

Answer 6

Would it be possible for you to also send a screen shot for what you mean by

Outlook Address Book?

My email id is [e-mail]

 

Thanks,

Dhanashri

 

 

Answer 7

Hi,
Thanks you are great
1. No we don't have exchange
2. Yes, I mean contacts folder
3. So,  I give it up, I don't use COM components in my .NET applications...
Thank you very much

Answer 8

Thanks for the reply.

 

-Dhanashri

 

Answer 9

I don't mind using COM.  I am able to get the required information for the Default Contacts Folder, but cannot do so for an IMAP account such as [e-mail]; it appears as separate folder under Contacts.  I am using the following code successfully for the Default Contacts Folder:

    Public Overrides Function Load() As Boolean
        Dim bResult As Boolean = False
        Dim oOutlook As Outlook.Application = Nothing
        Dim oNameSpace As Outlook.NameSpace
        Dim oConFolder As Outlook.MAPIFolder = Nothing
        Dim oConItems As Outlook.Items = Nothing
        Dim oConItem As Outlook.ContactItem

        Try
            oOutlook = New Outlook.Application
            oNameSpace = oOutlook.GetNamespace("MAPI")
            oNameSpace.Logon("", "", False, True)
            oConFolder = oNameSpace.GetDefaultFolder(Outlook.OlDefaultFolders.olFolderContacts)
            oConItems = oConFolder.Items

            For Each oConItem In oConItems
                Console.WriteLine("[" & oConItem.Email1DisplayName & "]: <" & oConItem.Email1Address & ">")
                Console.WriteLine("[" & oConItem.Email2DisplayName & "]: <" & oConItem.Email2Address & ">")
                Console.WriteLine("[" & oConItem.Email3DisplayName & "]: <" & oConItem.Email3Address & ">")
            Next
        Catch ex As Exception
            SSUtils.ShowErrorEx(ex, "Error in ContactsOutlook2007.Load()", True, True)
            bResult = False
        Finally
            oConItem = Nothing
            oConItems = Nothing
            oConFolder = Nothing
            oNameSpace = Nothing
            oOutlook = Nothing
        End Try

        Load = bResult
    End Function

Answer 10

If the Outlook Address Book is not added;>

1. click the Add… button
2. select Additional Address Books and click Next
3. choose Outlook Address Book and click Next
4. You’ll be prompted that you must close and restart Outlook for changes to take effect
5. Press OK and close and restart Outlook
6. The service is now added .

Good look