What I want to do is simply make my existing 'Contacts' folder from Outlook 2007 sync to the Workspace. I don't want multiple contact lists; just a simple way of keeping a single contact list sync'd to web and Outlook on multiple systems. Once I accomplish this I will probably wish to do the same thing for my Calendar.

So far the closest I have come is to rightclick contacts in my Outlook, select copy, and copy it to 'Sharepoint Lists'. Which is close, but no cigar. I suppose I could now delete the original Contacts folder, and be left with the one called 'Contacts in Sharepoint List'.

Oops, I take that back. The copy never syncs to the web workspace. So I guess the only option is:

1. Create a new (blank) contact list via the web workspace.
2. Save it.
3. Click 'Connect to Outlook' in the workspace.
4. It shows up under 'other contacts' in Outlook as Contacts - Office Live (Documents)
5. Copy primary 'Contacts' list to the new list.
6. Delete the primary 'Contacts' list, so that the new Contacts - Office Live (Documents) is the only contact list. Oops. Cannot delete the original 'Contacts' list. So, no matter how I go about it, I am stuck with two contact lists?

Is this the recommended way? Or is there something really simple I have overlooked?

 Thanks for any suggestions ...

 

Hi Quux, 

The Office Live Workspace Contact List is not meant to replace your main Outlook Contact list.  Outlook doesn't allow you to delete it.  However, there is nothing stopping you from storing all of your contacts in the OLW Contact List and keeping a blank Outlook Contact list.

You will have two contact lists but only one will have contacts.

Let me know if this helps.

I sync my Contact and claneder with my smart phone, so I can't use the ones created by Live Workspace, do youhave any suggestions.  It would be nice to be able to sync my phone, notebook and my desktop so that everything is the same!!!!

 Thanks, Scott

@Oscal Papel -

Nope, it really doesn't help. I understand that this is a current limitation of the two products (Outlook and OLW) so I guess what I'm asking for here is a new feature. Like ScottEslick says, my goal is easy synchronization of the Outlook contacts, calendar, notes, and tasks on:

• my personal system
• my smartphone
• a web 'in the cloud' service

I don't want or need a second list. Maybe it's nice to have the option of doing such a thing, but it seems clear to me that the first priority should've been to allow the sync of the primary lists to OLW. This is not a replacement of those lists - it is an added capability for them! Then again, I know I don't speak for all users ..

Two goals here, really. First is to be able to get at this info from any system on the 'net, second is to have a simple and secure backup should I have a need for it. If Google gets there first, I'll happily use their service ...

Thanks for your interest in this matter,

-quux

(happy to provide real contact details if needed)

This is exactly correct, in fact, the smartphone requirement will become more important. As we meet new individuals, in a social or business setting, we get "names & numbers". The ability to upload & sync this with the Outlook contacts file, or more importantly OLW will be very useful...Think MightyPhone from FusionOne http://www.mightyphone.com.....

Hi Quux & JHLynch,

Thanks for the detailed feedback.  One of the goals of the OLW beta program is to gather feedback from users as to how users would like to use the service.  We currently do not offer integration with mobile devices but this might be somehting that we may consider for a future release.  Thanks for taking the time to help make the OLW service better and more responsive to the needs of our users!

 I too would like TRUE Outlook sync capabilities.  This was the main appeal to me with OLWorkspace.  I was very disappointed of the way this was implemented.

 I think this is about more than just mobile device sync though.  It's about providing a true contacts & calendar synching solution for Microsoft Live customers.  I can get contact sync with just a Hotmail email address, yet no calendar sync.   The only options to get that are Full Office Live subscription services or MSN ($9.95 per month)..  Yet...Microsoft has published an article for Outlook that details instructions on how to sync users calendars wtih Google..  Google?  but not Microsoft? 

So what gives?  Why can't I get a full contact and calendar sync with a Microsoft Live account without having to pay a montly fee and yet it's free with Google?   I wouldn't mind paying for such service if it were reasonable.  I already pay $20 / year for Live Hotmail Plus and would pay another $20 for the Calendar sync..  IF it were available.  MSN is NOT an option as there's nothing there I need or want and calendar sync is not worth $120 per year.  

 It seems that Microsoft goes to great lengths to NOT provide needed services to it's customers.   This implementation of Outlook contact sync that OLW uses is far less than useful.  I tried it once then gave up on it.  

 We need true, no holes barred, marketing free, contact and calendar sync for a reasonable price.  And it would be nice to be able to sync those to a mobile device also.  I have a Motorola Mobile phone with Motrola Phone Tools that can sync contacts between Outlook and the phone.... it doesn't work with the address book that Live Hotmail creates though....    It seems as if there's a conspiracy within Microsoft to prevent customers from having full sync with the devices they use. 

 Like another user pointed out, if Google gets there first guess where I'm going.. and probably alot of others too.

 Thanks

Bryan

I also like to have one contact list! Also for calendar it will be very, very helpful.

I have used "Live Mobile" to sync contacts with Exchange and Live. It worked ... but I have some double entries of some contacts now .........

Maybe there should be a merge feature which asks the user if merging should happen or not: If a contact's first name + last name + birthday are equal there is no reason to create a second contact with the same data without asking the user ....

Again: One contact list, one calendar: Sync with Pocket PC, Smartphone, Live Mail, Office Live, Exchange, ...

 ... or add Google support to Live.com ;-)))

 I agree with the concept of one contact list, one calendar, one place to keep it. I would also add the ability to sync with a Blackberry. Is any of this possible right now?

I have a new HTC touch phone that snycs with my laptop and I have been able to get OLW to sync with my calender which works well. I have not however been able to send my contact list to OLW to see it remotely and I have hundreds. I'm not typing tham all in on OLW! I also have not been able to get OLW to create a shared folder for tasks  that I have added to OLW. So can they snyc? When I added appiontments to OLW, it automaticly added a sharepoint folder to my Outlook, why on earth doesn't it do the same for Tasks? Having said all of that; keep me posted if there is someone out there that comes up with a way to really do this right if Microsoft is not willing to. I have everything invested in Microsoft basing my worklife around Outlook and the ability to sync everthing in one place so Mr. Gates and company-- please reward me for that!!!

I also just found out that OLW doesn't support my notes I have created on Microsoft One Note. Why would you not support people whom have purchased your products?

 I absolutely agree with you! But I am afraid that Microsoft is not able to give us a sync support as suggested...

 I used "Live Mobile"  for a while to sync contacts to my mobile device which also syncs with Microsoft Exchange.

But if you like to sync contacts (etc.) with more than one device (e.g. Smartphone, Pocket PC) or if you have to establish a new ActiveSync partnership it is always the same story:

Birthdays, Contacts are duplicated (two times, three times, ...) ... Which is really annoying if having hundred of contacts in a contact list.

Why it is not possible to use  e.g. Firstname+Lastname+Birthday as unique ID!?

e.g.

FirstName=Harald
MiddleName=René
LastName=Flasch
DayOfBirth=1976-08-02

not:

ID=1
FirstName=Harald
MiddleName=René
LastName=Flasch
DayOfBirth=1976-08-02

ID=2
FirstName=Harald
MiddleName=René
LastName=Flasch
DayOfBirth=1976-08-02

ID=3
FirstName=Harald
MiddleName=René
LastName=Flasch
DayOfBirth=1976-08-02

I think it is nearly impossible that a person with first name + middle name + last name + birthday exists a second time on earth!?

So if syncing with a new partnershipf, new device or whatever, Microsoft's algorithm works like this:

1. Start sync
2. Oh, there is no contact with ID=4 on the device, so create a new contact
3. create new contact ID=4 with FirstName=Harald, MiddleName=René, LastName=Flasch, DayOfBirth=1976-08-02
4. So we have four contact objects now with same data ...!?

The same issue with birthdays: One Person (ID=FirstName+LastName+Birthday) can only have ONE birthday, not two or even three. There are appointment created for that birthday for remind me, but: AllDayEvent, wich starts at 00:00 so the device wakes me up at midnight to remember me that person x has birthday today...!

Maybe there exits third party tools which to better?