Address Book auto update (sync?)

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Level 1

11 points

Address Book auto update (sync?)

I'm having an issue where when I send an email, the contact it is attached to in address book is being automatically updated, so I'm having to go into address book and fix the change. For example:

In Address Book I have a friend named in Jessica. When she sends me an email it reads in mail as coming from "Jessica -" (I guess this is how it's configured with her mail provider). So when I reply to that email Address Book updates "Jessica"'s entry to read "Jessica -" (first & last name), when I don't want a last name at all.

Also, when I compose a blank email, I start typing Jessica and the To: field displays as "jessica - <address@place.com>" until I change fields and then it displays as "Jessica <address@place.com>". However, once the email is sent, Address Book is edited so her entry is "Jessica -".

I've tried looking in the preferences of both programs, but don't see where this action is controlled. Any help is appreciated.

iMac (24-inch Mid 2007), Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Aug 16, 2009 6:29 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 16, 2009 7:30 PM in response to weaver.vbc

Greetings,

Is there some reason why you can't enter your recipient's last name, since that's how she has it in her mail program? There could be many different people you know, all named Jessica, and you know that would not work in Address Book without a last name to distinguish each of them.

Address Book is updated automatically when you receive email from someone that is in your contacts already, and it will change the name and/or email address to whatever your sender has. That's why you need to get in the habit of using first and last names for everyone, even if you only address them personally by their first name.

You can't see where this is controlled, so you shouldn't look for it; you won't find it. There is a way to stop it, but it will also stop anyone from being added to the Previous Recipients list. If that's what you really want to do, I can tell you how. But it's much easier to do what I suggested above.

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Answer 2

weaver.vbc Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 17, 2009 3:34 PM in response to Golden Shoes

If i add last names to everyone, will they not be overwritten when new mail comes in or is sent? Like if in Address Book, if I list my friend as "Jessica Lastname", next time I send mail to her, will it stay that way or be changed to "Jessica -"?

If not, could I just add a blank space in the last name field? The reason for this is I call some of my friends by their last name only so they're in my iPhone as "Lastname" - but their last name is actually in the first name field so as to get proper alphabetizing...does that make sense (maybe not logical sense, but organizational sense)?

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Answer 3

Aug 17, 2009 4:00 PM in response to weaver.vbc

No, they will not be overwritten, regardless of whether you send email or receive email from any of them.

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