floyd197
asked on
SBS 2011 - Company Shared Address Book /contact list
What is the best way of setting up a central contact list in SBS for all users to see. I was thinking the best way would be
to use the Global Address List? if so would you establish this using the exchange management console and then
mail contact?
thanks in advance
to use the Global Address List? if so would you establish this using the exchange management console and then
mail contact?
thanks in advance
Global Address list is the best way to create central contact list. there is no other feature in exchange to provide this feature.
ASKER
Thanks. How would I start to do this? would it be mail contact - new mail contact
would you have to add each contact individually?
would you have to add each contact individually?
well there will be a default global address list already.. you dont need to create it again.
Hi Floyd,
You can import contacts into the Global Address Book.
See this link from Microsoft for details:
https://technet.microsoft. com/en-us/ library/Ee 176874.asp x
Alan.
You can import contacts into the Global Address Book.
See this link from Microsoft for details:
https://technet.microsoft.
Alan.
ASKER
How do I go about adding a single contact to test?
If you mean to test the above import from a CSV file, then create a CSV file with the headers as per the MS instructions, and a single contact row, and import that to make sure it works for you.
If you have it, then you could test this on an isolated / test system, and then restore that system back afterwards to get rid of the change.
Hope that helps,
Alan.
If you have it, then you could test this on an isolated / test system, and then restore that system back afterwards to get rid of the change.
Hope that helps,
Alan.
ASKER
Thanks. I meant from scratch if you didn't have a CSV file or any other contacts and you wanted to start from scratch
I'm confused.
If you don't have any other contacts, then there would be nothing to import into the Global, Address Book?
Please can you expand on what test you want to do?
Thanks,
Alan.
If you don't have any other contacts, then there would be nothing to import into the Global, Address Book?
Please can you expand on what test you want to do?
Thanks,
Alan.
ASKER
Sorry, say a company all had individual contacts and they wanted to create one that all users could see and for various reasons it was easier to start from scratch and manually add the details you wanted could this be done
Hi,
Yes - you could manually create a mail contact for each one I guess, but it would seem easier to upload them all in one go using CSV import.
Alan.
Yes - you could manually create a mail contact for each one I guess, but it would seem easier to upload them all in one go using CSV import.
Alan.
ASKER
I have exported some of my contacts from Outlook as a csv. created a folder on a sbs test server with the following path
C:\Contacts Test and copied the csv file which is called contacts into it.
All I seem to be getting is error messages about cannot bind parameter and cannot convert value.
C:\Contacts Test and copied the csv file which is called contacts into it.
All I seem to be getting is error messages about cannot bind parameter and cannot convert value.
Perhaps the field names don't match.
Maybe try a test with the example from the MS article I linked to above with just one dummy contact, and make sure that works first. Something like:
Name,Department,Title
Testy McTestFace,TestingDept,Chi efTester
Alan.
Maybe try a test with the example from the MS article I linked to above with just one dummy contact, and make sure that works first. Something like:
Name,Department,Title
Testy McTestFace,TestingDept,Chi
Alan.
ASKER
Instead of trying to export my contacts should I try that in excel and save it as a CSV. Similar to the following
Name department title
Testy. Testing dept. Chief tester
Name department title
Testy. Testing dept. Chief tester
Yes - that should work, but you need to comm delimit the header row too (Excel should do that automatically if you save as a CSV, but open that CSV in notepad (say) to check it).
Don't forget to delete the test contact afterwards (assuming it works!)
Alan.
Don't forget to delete the test contact afterwards (assuming it works!)
Alan.
ASKER
The test contact now displays in powershell but should it appear in the global address book?
Hi Floyd,
I must apologise - I linked above to a generic import guide, not specific to importing to the GAB. Not sure what I was thinking at the time - maybe it was late.
You need to import into the GAB. Rather than re-type all the commands here, this is a good step-by-step:
https://davidvielmetter.co m/tricks/b ulk-create -external- email-cont acts-in-ex changeoffi ce-365/
I would just import the one test first still.
Does that work for you?
Alan.
I must apologise - I linked above to a generic import guide, not specific to importing to the GAB. Not sure what I was thinking at the time - maybe it was late.
You need to import into the GAB. Rather than re-type all the commands here, this is a good step-by-step:
https://davidvielmetter.co
I would just import the one test first still.
Does that work for you?
Alan.
ASKER
No problem. will try that and let you know.
ASKER
I have created a test contact called contact.csv (I have removed the actual details)
I the copied this into C:\ on the server .
I changed the directory to c: and Using the powershell commands in Step 3A entered the
commands but changed the details to suit my csv i.e.ExternalEmailAddress to Emailaddress.
I assuming this is correct. After finishing and pressing enter, there where no errors this
time. I have also connected a workstation to test but this test doesn't appear in the
Global Address Book in Outlook.
thanks
01.jpg
contact.csv.PNG
I the copied this into C:\ on the server .
I changed the directory to c: and Using the powershell commands in Step 3A entered the
commands but changed the details to suit my csv i.e.ExternalEmailAddress to Emailaddress.
I assuming this is correct. After finishing and pressing enter, there where no errors this
time. I have also connected a workstation to test but this test doesn't appear in the
Global Address Book in Outlook.
thanks
01.jpg
contact.csv.PNG
Hi,
Sometimes it seems to take 'some time' for them to appear in the Global Address List - a syncing timing issue I believe.
Are they showing now?
In Outlook, on the home ribbon, click on 'Address Book', then, if you have more than one address book, change the address book to 'Global Address List', and the new external contact should be showing in there.
Alan.
Sometimes it seems to take 'some time' for them to appear in the Global Address List - a syncing timing issue I believe.
Are they showing now?
In Outlook, on the home ribbon, click on 'Address Book', then, if you have more than one address book, change the address book to 'Global Address List', and the new external contact should be showing in there.
Alan.
ASKER
Thanks for the reply. Just put the server on now to test. Opened outlook, address book and then gab and the test doesn't appear to be there.
Please can you post the csv file that you used as the test, and I will upload that here to see if it works for me.
Thanks,
Alan.
Thanks,
Alan.
ASKER
Now attached, many thanks
contact.csv
contact.csv
Hi,
You had a blank line between the headers and data - I suspect that was the issue.
Please can you try the attached sample file with this command:
You will need to change the csv file location (or put it in C:\Temp\ if leaving the command as is).
Also, I created a separate test OU in Active Directory - Users and Computers, called ZZ_OU_Test. Either create that same test OU, or change the command to use an OU that does exist (just makes it easier to find the test contact later - you can put it in any existing OU if you like).
Please post back if that works.
Thanks,
Alan.
EE-29057817-ExternalContact-Version2.csv
You had a blank line between the headers and data - I suspect that was the issue.
Please can you try the attached sample file with this command:
Import-Csv C:\Temp\EE-29057817-ExternalContact-Version2.csv|%{New-MailContact -Name $_.ExternalEmailAddress -Alias $_.Alias -ExternalEmailAddress $_.ExternalEmailAddress -OrganizationalUnit "ZZ_OU_Test"}
You will need to change the csv file location (or put it in C:\Temp\ if leaving the command as is).
Also, I created a separate test OU in Active Directory - Users and Computers, called ZZ_OU_Test. Either create that same test OU, or change the command to use an OU that does exist (just makes it easier to find the test contact later - you can put it in any existing OU if you like).
Please post back if that works.
Thanks,
Alan.
EE-29057817-ExternalContact-Version2.csv
ASKER
Tried the above but still erroring. I have double checked in case I have
made any errors but I may have missed something. Thanks
made any errors but I may have missed something. Thanks
ASKER
Image attached
image.jpg
image.jpg
Hi Floyd,
You may have a permissions issue.
Please run this command first, then retry:
Replacing the username with the domain admin user that will be running the import command next.
Thanks,
Alan.
You may have a permissions issue.
Please run this command first, then retry:
New-ManagementRoleAssignment –Role “Mailbox Import Export” –User UserNameOfUserRunningTheImportCommand
Replacing the username with the domain admin user that will be running the import command next.
Thanks,
Alan.
ASKER
Thanks. Ran both commands. No errors but nothing has appeared in the GAL in Outlook. Could it take a while?
Did it show in EMC as an external contact?
If so, try logging in to OWA, and see if it shows in the GAL from there.
If so, then it should be just a syncing / timing issue into Outlook. I believe that if you turned of cached-mode in Outlook, it would appear instantly, but you could also just wait.
You can also update your OAB from the GAL in Outlook, see this article for instructions:
http://accc.uic.edu/answer /how-manua lly-update -your-copy -global-ad dress-list -gal-outlo ok
Alan.
If so, try logging in to OWA, and see if it shows in the GAL from there.
If so, then it should be just a syncing / timing issue into Outlook. I believe that if you turned of cached-mode in Outlook, it would appear instantly, but you could also just wait.
You can also update your OAB from the GAL in Outlook, see this article for instructions:
http://accc.uic.edu/answer
Alan.
ASKER
Turned the server and test workstation this morning. No, it doesn't seem to appear anywhere. (See Screenshots). I have tried to update the GAL in outlook and turned off the cache.
Have I typed the commands correctly.
Many thanks
Updated-GAL.jpg
EMC.jpg
Have I typed the commands correctly.
Many thanks
Updated-GAL.jpg
EMC.jpg
Hi,
Sometimes quote marks get mucked up on webpages, so you might try copying the command above into Notepad, and manually replacing all the doube-quotes with shift-comma (immediately to the left of 'enter' at least on my keyboard) to make sure that hasn't happened.
By all means save the notepad file and upload it here so that we can compare commands.
Alan.
Sometimes quote marks get mucked up on webpages, so you might try copying the command above into Notepad, and manually replacing all the doube-quotes with shift-comma (immediately to the left of 'enter' at least on my keyboard) to make sure that hasn't happened.
By all means save the notepad file and upload it here so that we can compare commands.
Alan.
Hi Floyd,
Please can you check that ZZ_OU_Test exists in ADUC.
Thanks,
Alan.
Please can you check that ZZ_OU_Test exists in ADUC.
Thanks,
Alan.
ASKER
Double checked OU - Screenshot attached
OU.jpg
OU.jpg
ASKER
Not sure where to go with this. Have tried the commands again with no errors but nothing seems to appear
Hi Floyd,
When I tested the above, I created the new OU (ZZ_OU_Test) manually in ADUC, and I dropped it under MyBusiness - Users.
I can't see why it would matter, but could you try moving the OU to be a sub-folder of that location, and see if that makes any difference?
Thanks,
Alan.
When I tested the above, I created the new OU (ZZ_OU_Test) manually in ADUC, and I dropped it under MyBusiness - Users.
I can't see why it would matter, but could you try moving the OU to be a sub-folder of that location, and see if that makes any difference?
Thanks,
Alan.
ASKER
I have created the OU as per above. i assume the path needs amending. Would this be correct
OrganizationalUnit "MyBusiness\Users\ZZ_OU_Te st}
Thanks
OrganizationalUnit "MyBusiness\Users\ZZ_OU_Te
Thanks
Yes - that is where I put it when I tested.
ASKER
Sorry for any confusion. I meant is the power shell command correct?
Hi Floyd,
I did not put the 'path' in the Powershell command, I ran it with the OU under MyBusiness - Users, and with this command:
Make sure that the CSV file is still there with the same name though.
Thanks,
Alan.
I did not put the 'path' in the Powershell command, I ran it with the OU under MyBusiness - Users, and with this command:
Import-Csv C:\Temp\EE-29057817-ExternalContact-Version2.csv|%{New-MailContact -Name $_.ExternalEmailAddress -Alias $_.Alias -ExternalEmailAddress $_.ExternalEmailAddress -OrganizationalUnit "ZZ_OU_Test"}
Make sure that the CSV file is still there with the same name though.
Thanks,
Alan.
ASKER
I don't know if there is anything wrong with powershell on my test system or something else but still getting not recognised errors. Though I have just tried again but with no errors but nothing seems to have appeared
Okay, I am going to go back and re-check everything in case I missed or mistyped something myself.
Will post again in a few mins.
Alan.
Will post again in a few mins.
Alan.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Hi Floyd,
Can I also check: Are you doing this from the Exchange Management Shell or from PowerShell?
If not already, please can you try it from the Exchange Management Shell.
Thanks,
Alan.
Can I also check: Are you doing this from the Exchange Management Shell or from PowerShell?
If not already, please can you try it from the Exchange Management Shell.
Thanks,
Alan.
ASKER
I have been doing it all from powershell
Okay, please can you try from EMS.....
ASKER
I have used the older csv file not the latest as that was already on the system. ran it from EMS and the contact now appears in EMC
and ADUC. Doesn't as yet seem to have appeared in Outlook in the GAL on the workstation
and ADUC. Doesn't as yet seem to have appeared in Outlook in the GAL on the workstation
ASKER
The contacts in Outlook show up in All contacts. Should this be correct
ASKER
If there are not too many contacts may it be worth just creating them manually in the EMC using mew mail contact
ASKER
Just logged in as another user on the worksation - which has configured outlook for use and the contacts appear
in their GAL and all contacts but they are not yet there in the original users Outlook only all contacts. Hopes that
makes sense.
in their GAL and all contacts but they are not yet there in the original users Outlook only all contacts. Hopes that
makes sense.
Hi Floyd,
So, it is working now, running from EMS?
The contacts are showning up in the GAL (you can see them from, for example, OWA)?
The only issue is one or more Outlook installs have not (yet) updated? If you reboot those machines, does the GAL update?
Thanks,
Alan.
So, it is working now, running from EMS?
The contacts are showning up in the GAL (you can see them from, for example, OWA)?
The only issue is one or more Outlook installs have not (yet) updated? If you reboot those machines, does the GAL update?
Thanks,
Alan.
ASKER
Ems has worked. The contacts show up in owa I have tried 2 user accounts. regarding the outlook on the workstation I set up the workstation with 1 user using the connect computer wizard. I then switched user and logged in with another user account and configured outlook. The contacts are here but they are not listed under the gal. If you login to the account set up first and then configure outlook they are listed under the gal and all contacts. Many thanks.
Hi Floyd,
Does that mean that you are good to go?
I apologise for not thinking about the possibility you were running the command from a generic powershell prompt, rather than EMS. Should have thought of that much earlier!
Alan.
Does that mean that you are good to go?
I apologise for not thinking about the possibility you were running the command from a generic powershell prompt, rather than EMS. Should have thought of that much earlier!
Alan.
ASKER
Yes I think so. I was thinking it may be as well to create the contacts manually ( I don't know how many there are yet) using the emc and new mail contact as I will have to put them into a CSV file anyway. If I use the emc I wouldn't have to do this. Which way do you think is best.
Hi Floyd,
I would use the CSV import if the source of the date is already structured in some way (maybe even in a CSV to start with). This might be, for example, if two businesses were being merged into a single AD setup, and you received a list of new employees from an HR system or something similar.
If not, then you are right, it might be just as fast to enter them manually, especially if there are only a few.
Alan.
I would use the CSV import if the source of the date is already structured in some way (maybe even in a CSV to start with). This might be, for example, if two businesses were being merged into a single AD setup, and you received a list of new employees from an HR system or something similar.
If not, then you are right, it might be just as fast to enter them manually, especially if there are only a few.
Alan.
ASKER
If using the emc would you recommend creating the ou in SBS users and calling it something like company contacts instead of ou_test and then choosing that location when you get the option in the emc. Thanks
Yes - I would only ever create them under SBSUsers unless I had a compelling reason to put them elsewhere.
You can call the OU anything that makes sense (within reason!), and in the 'New Mail Contact' wizard, there is an option to choose which OU to put them in (rather than letting SBS put them in the default one). I always tell it where to put them, just because I like to know for sure what it is doing. Now I think about it, I may never have actually left the option to put them in the 'default' OU.
My most common OU name would be.... SBSUsers\Contacts
Call me Mr Imagination :-)
Hope that helps,
Alan.
You can call the OU anything that makes sense (within reason!), and in the 'New Mail Contact' wizard, there is an option to choose which OU to put them in (rather than letting SBS put them in the default one). I always tell it where to put them, just because I like to know for sure what it is doing. Now I think about it, I may never have actually left the option to put them in the 'default' OU.
My most common OU name would be.... SBSUsers\Contacts
Call me Mr Imagination :-)
Hope that helps,
Alan.
Hi Floyd,
Did this work for you?
If all good, please can you close the question off.
Thanks,
Alan.
Did this work for you?
If all good, please can you close the question off.
Thanks,
Alan.
ASKER
Hi Alan,
Sorry for the delay. Just waiting for them to come back with the contacts details they want adding. is it
OK to keep the question open until then in case I require any further assistance.
Thanks
Sorry for the delay. Just waiting for them to come back with the contacts details they want adding. is it
OK to keep the question open until then in case I require any further assistance.
Thanks
Sure :-)
Hi Floyd,
Did it work okay when they gave you the contacts they wanted adding?
Alan.
Did it work okay when they gave you the contacts they wanted adding?
Alan.
Hi Floyd,
Did the above solution work for you?
If not, please let me know what is not working, else please close the question.
Thanks,
Alan.
Did the above solution work for you?
If not, please let me know what is not working, else please close the question.
Thanks,
Alan.
Solution provided.
ASKER
Sorry I haven't been back earlier. The client has decided not to go ahead with it. Many thanks for your time
and help.
and help.