Need to Sync Only Selected Contacts from Office 2007?

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Level 1

18 points

Need to Sync Only Selected Contacts from Office 2007?

I talked with an Apple Rep and he said that I needed to create a "Group" in Outlook Contacts and put the selected contacts there. Then under the Info Tab in iTunes I can select Sync with Selected Groups. Yup that option is there.

However, I have not been able to figure out how to copy contacts into the "iPhone" group I created. Also the Group I created, is not being seen in iTunes. Is itunes supposed to see it or am I just supposed to type in the name?

Suggestions are appreciated.

Dell XPS420, Windows 7

Posted on Apr 17, 2010 5:05 PM

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Answer 1

dvscrobe

Level 1

42 points

Apr 17, 2010 5:12 PM in response to jangell2

I ran into this issue with Outlook 2003; not sure how much different from 2007. I was able to create groups in Outlook. When I did my synch from iTunes, I was able to see the group on the iPhone. The way to get contacts into the group is through Outlook and a synch, or by creating new entries into the group while using the iPhone.

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Answer 2

jangell2 Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 17, 2010 6:06 PM in response to dvscrobe

Are you saying the only way to get contacts into the group in outlook is to create them on the iphone?

I've got a bunch of contacts but only want some on the iphone, but it's still more than I'd like to enter from the iphone. I'd like to be able to use a selected number of contacts from Outlook.

I guess I still don't fully understand the purpose of Groups in Outlook.

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Answer 3

dvscrobe

Level 1

42 points

Apr 17, 2010 6:14 PM in response to jangell2

No, another way is to create them on Outlook. The synch will then put those contacts into your group.

If you want certain contacts on the iPhone, then just make a group for just those you want on the iPhone. Then in iTunes, select that group. The synch will move only the contacts in that group to your iPhone.

Having groups is a little useful for me because I usually find my information by scrolling (other people find their information differently). If I have one long list of business, family, etc, my scrolling will take a little longer. If I know I want to contact a family contact, I go to my family group and my scrolling doesn't take as long.

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Answer 4

jangell2 Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 17, 2010 7:40 PM in response to dvscrobe

If I understand correctly, I need to create a group or a folder that contains only the contacts I want to sync. I'd like to create a group (or folder) and COPY all my contacts into it and then delete the ones I don't want to sync.

Having done this I will have a folder or group with just the contacts I want to sync, while still having my original and complete Contacts folder. I then want to tell iTunes that I want to sync with the group or folder that has only a subset of my contacts.

How can I do this? In outlook I have created a Group. Couldn't copy into that. I can move my contacts folder into it, but I've still only got one contacts folder and I can't delete contacts from that. I created an iPhone folder in the My Contacts group, but I can't copy into it.

I think I've read someplace that what iTunes thinks a Group is and what Outlook thinks a Group is, are two different things.

Can you specifically tell me how you are getting a selection of your Contacts synced? If I had hair, I'd be tearing it out now.:)

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Answer 5

dvscrobe

Level 1

42 points

Apr 17, 2010 7:55 PM in response to jangell2

You almost got it. When you are the part, "I want to tell iTunes...," open up iTunes after you make the group and plug in your iPhone. When your device loads up, click the Info tab, check off Sync Contacts, Check off Selected groups, and find the group you made. It should be there. If not, click out and go back it in. When you find it, check it and you should be set. The drawback of doing this however, the contact in your master list on Outlook and the copy you made, if you need to update a phone number in the future, you will have to update both of them, which doesn't seem practical.

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Answer 6

diesel vdub

Level 7

22,184 points

Apr 17, 2010 8:00 PM in response to jangell2

In Outlook:

File > New > Folder.
Give the new folder a name, make certain that "Folder Contains" is set to "Contacts" and tell it where to place the folder.

Now you can drag contacts from your main contacts folder to your new contacts folder.

Both contact folders should also display in iTunes.

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Answer 7

dvscrobe

Level 1

42 points

Apr 17, 2010 8:03 PM in response to diesel vdub

Yeah, but that drag will take the contact out of your main list. I think the original post wants to make a copy.

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Answer 8

jangell2 Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 17, 2010 8:31 PM in response to dvscrobe

Yes, I do. I want a copy so I can delete unwanted contacts and still have the original.

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Answer 9

dvscrobe

Level 1

42 points

Apr 17, 2010 8:34 PM in response to jangell2

Yeah, you should be able to do as I listed, like I said, the only drawback is in updating the contact information in the future. If someone changes their phone number, you will have to update twice. The original in your main list and the copy you made.

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Answer 10

jangell2 Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 18, 2010 1:36 PM in response to dvscrobe

Ok, gang, it's fixed. Creating the folder (and not a group) as a contact folder was the key. I was able to COPY all my contacts into an iPhone contact folder and then delete the ones I don't want.

I did have to clean up my contacts to get them to sort properly on the iphone. I learned that if the contact is a company, put the name in the company field in Outlook and not in the Full Name field. Also make sure the File As field is correct. I had to do a lot of cleanup.

Of course now when I add or change or delete a contact I have to make the changes in two places, but there's no way around it.

Apple is trying to control too much in iTunes and should give the user a little more flexibility. There's no reason they couldn't have presented a list of my contacts with check boxes. I check the ones I want to import into my phone. It would have been so much easier.

I haven't even started to look at music, images, audible book, and videos. Jeez, I hope there's more flexibility there.

Any, thank you all very much for the help. I was tearing my hair out, and I didn't have much to start with.

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