HT2486: Mac Basics: Address Book

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BrecMom

Q: How can I send an email to all of the email addresses associated with one contact? Similarly, in regard to group lists, how do you include for distribution all email addresses associated with each contact in the group?

Often times there are multiple email addresses associated with a single contact in address book.  How can I included all of these email addresses when creating an address book group?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Sep 4, 2013 10:34 AM

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Q: How can I send an email to all of the email addresses associated with one contact? Similarly, in regard to group lists, how do you ... more

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  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Sep 4, 2013 8:43 PM in response to BrecMom
    Level 8 (49,623 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 4, 2013 8:43 PM in response to BrecMom

    I don't believe there is an easy way. The only thing I can think of would be to create multiple groups and set different email addresses in each. I haven't tried it, though.

  • by BrecMom,

    BrecMom BrecMom Sep 6, 2013 10:27 AM in response to BrecMom
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 10:27 AM in response to BrecMom

    Thanks -- I just can't believe that Apple didn't consider making this practical desire a 'preference' choice.  In my case, my group is a youth sports team and each group member is a player's family.  The multiple email addresses associated with each 'family' includes multiple parents/guardians, home and work addresses, etc. --  all of which need to be contacted when there is a team announcement.  I think it's horribly inefficient to be required to create and maintain separate contact entries for each of these addresses.  I would think there would be many situations where this would apply.

  • by kostby,Helpful

    kostby kostby Sep 6, 2013 4:22 PM in response to BrecMom
    Level 4 (2,799 points)
    Sep 6, 2013 4:22 PM in response to BrecMom

    Don't be surprised.

    Apple offers free, basic Mail and Address Book apps and creates paid, more sophisticated solutions, also allowing Developers to provide more sophisticated solutions for sale in the marketplace.

     

    When I need to repeatedly email to multiple contacts, I create a blank draft email, and use the Address Book button to list the appropriate address book group. With the Address Book window open, it's easy to click to add multiple email addresses for a single contact name. Each is added to the message email address list. Then I save that blank email to iCloud Drafts, and it retains the email addreses I've entered. Next time I need to send a message I double-click on it in Drafts to open it, and drag it to one of my other email accounts to add Subject and details, then send from the other account.

     

    Message was edited by: kostby

  • by Barney-15E,Helpful

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Sep 6, 2013 8:04 PM in response to BrecMom
    Level 8 (49,623 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 6, 2013 8:04 PM in response to BrecMom

    Another way to manage that list is to create a text clipping of the addresses. Address an email with all the addresses you need, select them all, then drag the whole list to the Desktop (or another location). That will create a text clipping. You can drag that text clipping back into the To field of a new message.

     

    That allows you to keep the addresses out of your Contacts if their only purpose is to contact the team.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Sep 7, 2013 4:17 PM in response to BrecMom
    Level 5 (7,883 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 7, 2013 4:17 PM in response to BrecMom

    There is an easy way that is built in. Open AddressBook, highlight the group's name, on the menu, click, "Edit," then select, "Edit Distribution List." Then highlight the individual address to be used by that group.

     

    From that point on, when you enter the name of the group into one of Mail's address fields, it will go to the addresses that you selected.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Sep 7, 2013 6:00 PM in response to BrecMom
    Level 5 (7,883 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 7, 2013 6:00 PM in response to BrecMom

    Sorry, misread your question.

  • by BrecMom,

    BrecMom BrecMom Sep 8, 2013 7:48 AM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 8, 2013 7:48 AM in response to Lanny

    Yeah -- Thanks for trying.  ...It should be that easy.  (I thought for sure I was missing something, hence my post.  Apple should have made it possible to highlight multiple individual addresses within a single contact to be used in a group. A simple preference...)  Oh well... On to more important things in life

  • by kevin-jml,

    kevin-jml kevin-jml Jul 3, 2014 6:55 AM in response to BrecMom
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 3, 2014 6:55 AM in response to BrecMom

    I had to make a duplicate of the contact in Contacts, with the second email address. Then I created a group with both contacts and I email to that group. It's a clumsy solution but it's the only way I can automatically email to both email address someone has.

  • by Rich Rydalch,

    Rich Rydalch Rich Rydalch Dec 25, 2014 3:33 PM in response to kevin-jml
    Level 2 (304 points)
    Dec 25, 2014 3:33 PM in response to kevin-jml

    I found this reply to this problem in another discussion group (not Mac).

    In your contacts, select the mail list/group. You should see each "contact". Then select the contact with multiple emails. This will take you to the details for that individual contact. Near the top, under the area where it says "job description, Company" you should see a little drop down with the name of the list/group in it. Click the down arrow, which will expose the multiple addresses. Next to each email, there is a check box. The ones checked will get mail when sent to the list, so put a check in the additional email address checkboxes. Once you do this, moving forward, all mails to the group will get the email, including the multiple addresses you checked.

    But I cannot find the pull down menu mentioned. What am I missing here?

  • by reg_glen iris,

    reg_glen iris reg_glen iris Sep 6, 2015 1:40 PM in response to kostby
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 6, 2015 1:40 PM in response to kostby

    Thanks for this most helpful tactic.  I am using it to individually address to multiple contacts an email with some customised content but a large body of common content.  It will save me a lot of hassle.

  • by urbananchorite,

    urbananchorite urbananchorite Feb 17, 2016 10:32 AM in response to Rich Rydalch
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 17, 2016 10:32 AM in response to Rich Rydalch

    My Apple ID address won't eliminate from a smart list when I don't want it.  Two addresses are listed for me in the Smart List Edit Distribution List Box, and I cannot figure out how to eliminate one of them .  The correct address is selected in the first listing, but the second listing (My apple id address) springs back after I click the correct address and close the dialog box.  I tried adding a company and job title listing (even though I'm not one) but no check box re selecting which address.  Running new MacBook Pro and El Capitan up to date.