Browse the Global Address List

[KillJoyHoliday]

After doing many web searches, I have given up searching for an existing app and have decided to create one of my own. I need, quite simply, to open the Global Address List (GAL) from one small desktop app instead of having to go into Outlook, create a new email, and then opening the To dialog. If this is possible without the need to create an application to do this, that would be great as well. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

 

[KillJoyHoliday]

This request must be harder than I thought.

 

[Mike_R]

Youd need someone who knows Outlook really, really well. Automating Outlook would be one thing (and I dont personally have experience with it), but trying to do an end around and directly access one of its files without actually opening Outlook, is another thing altogether. You need to know which file it is and how it is organized... Outlook uses a lot of compression as well. I dont know if this file (wherever it is) is compressed or not, but that could be a serious stumbling block if it is...

Also, is this an end-around Outlooks security features? I dont know enough about Outlook, and I know that its full of security holes that they are constantly patching as new holes are found... but wouldnt the Address List be something that they would want to compress or encrypt and then only allow access via Outlook itself. This way Outlooks macro security settings and the like could be in force to protect its access?

Anyway, I dont think we can solve this here . I would persue VBA Forums that have a lot of Outlook talent. If you get it worked out, then converting your solution to .Net should be a snap. Definately come back here if you need help with the .Net conversion.

 

[KillJoyHoliday]

...trying to do an end around and directly access one of its files without actually opening Outlook, is another thing altogether. You need to know which file it is and how it is organized... Outlook uses a lot of compression as well. I dont know if this file (wherever it is) is compressed or not, but that could be a serious stumbling block if it is...

To my knowledge, its not a local file. Its an address book located on the exchange server. Every time you click the To button in a new email, Outlook creates a form and obtains the Global Address List from the server to propagate a listbox. Theres more than likely an API call for it, but I have no clue what it is. I will go try a few searches there again, but I havent had much luck so far.