How to Import Contacts from Excel or a CSV File into Outlook

Contact data stored in a database or spread sheet can usually be imported into Outlook without much hassle. In the database or spread sheet program, export the data to a CSV (comma separated values) file making sure the columns do have meaningful headers. They need not correspond to the fields used in the Outlook address book. You can map columns to fields flexibly during the importation.

To import contacts from a CSV file or from Excel into Outlook:

• Select File | Import and Export... from the menu in Outlook.
• Make sure Import from another program or file is highlighted.
• Click Next >.
• Now make sure Comma Separated Values (Windows) is selected.
• Click Next >.
• Use the Browse ... button the select the desired file.
• Typically, choose Do not import duplicate items.
• Click Next >.
• Select the Outlook folder you want to import the contacts to. This will usually be your Contacts folder.
• Click Next >.
• Click Map Custom Fields ....
• Make sure all columns from the CSV file are mapped to the desired Outlook address book fields.
  • You can create new mappings by dragging the column title to the desired field.
  • Any previous mapping of the same column will be replaced with the new.
• Click OK.
• Now click Finish.

From About.Com

Solution to Reason 442: Failed to Enable Virtual Adapter with Cisco VPN Client on Vista x86

This is actually a quite easy (but annoying) thing to fix. Here's the 100% reliable method use to fix this.

1. In Network Connections, right-click your Cisco Systems VPN Adapter which should be disabled and enable it
   
   
2. Right-click your Cisco Systems VPN Adapter again, this time selecting "Diagnose", and you should get the following prompt (your adapter may be numbered different from Local Area Connection 3)
   
   
   
3. Select "Reset the network adapter ........ ", this will take a while (around 60 seconds on my laptop)
   
   
   
4. Windows will again prompt you saying the IP configuration is still invalid, ignore this and just press Cancel.
   
5. Go back to the Network Connections, right-click your VPN Virtual Adapter and Disable.
   
6. Now open Cisco VPN, and you should be able to connect without any issues.

The problem will reoccur every time the connection is not cleanly closed - i.e. suspend / hibernate / loss of signal. However all you need to do is follow the above steps and it'll reset itself.

From Verier|Limited

Creating .pst file in the Outlook 2003/Office Outlook 2007 Format

By default, Office Outlook 2007 creates a .pst file in the new file format, which supports larger files and Unicode character sets. However, this file format cannot be read by Outlook 97-2002.

1. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Outlook Data File.
2. Select Office Outlook Personal Folders File (.pst), and then click OK.
3. In the File name box, type a name for the file, and then click OK.
4. In the Name box, type a display name for the .pst folder.
5. If you want to protect your data file by setting a password, under Password, type your password in the Password and Verify Password text boxes.
   

The name of the folder that is associated with the data file appears in the Folder List. To view the Folder List, on the Go menu, click Folder List. By default, the folder will be called Personal Folders

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