Using Windows Live Mail desktop with Windows Contacts?

[DaViD_BRaNDoN]

Is there a way for Windows Live Mail desktop to use Vista's Windows Contacts when I click to select mail recipients? I have all my contacts details in Windows Contacts (imported from XP's Address Book). FYI, I don't want to import all the contacts into Windows Live Messenger in order to use it in WLMd. How to integrate WLMd with Windows Contacts?

[jmc777]

Edit: What happens if you open the contacts part of WLMd and then select 'import>address book for current windows user'. I'm guessing it'll create duplicates in Vista's contacts, but it should get all your contacts into WLMd without much trouble. Also, after you've imported them into WLMd, if you open WLM and click on Tools>Options>Security> and then untick 'Encrypt contact list data.....' your contacts (that are now in WLMd) should also appear in Vista's contacts, in a folder that's named after your email account.

I hope that isn't too confusing :wacko:

  DaViD_BRaNDoN said:

FYI, I don't want to import all the contacts into Windows Live Messenger in order to use it in WLMd.

You can hide email contacts in WLM by selecting Contacts>Filter contacts>Show Messenger contacts only (if it's contact list clutter that's putting you off importing them)

Edited April 4, 2007 by jmc777

[DaViD_BRaNDoN]

I've tried importing Address Book (back in XP) into WLMd and I didn't like it cos after that, WLM has all the non-Messenger contacts (WLMd and WLM shares the same list). It's a bit pain-in-the-you-know-where to have all the non-Messenger contacts in WLM (messy) and making starting/loading of WLM unbearable. I prefer a separate, dedicated list for Windows Contacts and WLM/WLMd.

Anyway, back to my original question - Is there a way for Windows Live Mail desktop to use Vista's Windows Contacts? A registry hack, maybe?

[Calum Veteran]

You can set it so the non-messenger contacts aren't in Windows Live Messenger:

"Contacts >> Filter Contacts >> Messenger Contacts Only"

I hope that helps somewhat, however, I do not know to answer to your other question

[DaViD_BRaNDoN]

Well, that would defeat my purpose of not wanting to import all Windows Contacts into WLM. I know do know of WLM's "show messenger contacts only" feature but it's gonna be be taxing (slow starting/loading of WLM) if I were to import all Windows Contacts (98% of which are non-messenger contacts) :(

[Calum Veteran]

Ah I see. Sorry then David I can't help you on that one :-(

I don't actually think it is possible yet. It mght be planned for future versions when it is out of beta, or you could suggest it at http://feedback.live.com

Or somebody else might know how to do it if it is possible?

[DaViD_BRaNDoN]

It's OK, no need to apologize ;) Hoping that WLMd developers will allow integration of Windows Contacts into future WLMd

[DaViD_BRaNDoN]

I posted this awhile ago in Windows Live Mail's newgroup. I think it may help others as well:

  Quote

Subject: Trick: Using Vista Contacts in WLM Beta 2 9/7/2007 8:40 PM PST

By: DaViD_BRaNDoN In: microsoft.public.windows.live.mail.desktop

For those of you who just want to use Vista Contacts and don't like the integration of Windows Live Mail contacts and Vista contacts, you can try this little trick. This also avoids creation of contacts unnecessary at "C:\Users\<your-user-name>Contacts" and

"C:\Users\<your-user-name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\Contacts" folders and having them at-sync.

- Remove "<your-email-address>" and "Default" folder from "C:\Users\<your-user-name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\Contacts" folder

- Fire up Command Prompt in administrative mode and navigate to "C:\Users\<your-user-name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\Contacts" folder

- Create a symbolic link (directory) called "Default" to your Vista contacts folder: mklink /d Default "C:\Users\<your-user-name>\Contacts"

- Fire up Windows Live Mail, create a new e-mail, type your contact e-mail addresses and pat yourself at the back for the success :)

Make sure you disable auto-login to Live Messenger and stop signing into Live ID using Live Mail option. Let me know if it works for you.

[Slimy]

Quite sad that it's necessary to resort to something like that for functionality you would expect to be built-in. WLMail needs a lot of work in terms of features that need implementing.