Bulk Import Contacts into Exchange 2003

[TheFopp]

We are looking to add details of parents names and email addresses as contacts in Exchange 2003 so that the Head or other necessary staff can easily email parents either in bulk (via distribution list) or seperately through Outlook. We want to put it into exchange so that when/if details change we only have to make the change in one place (rather than each user making their own distribution list and altering each time)

I will export the details out of SIMS.net, but what order/format should I sort the data into and how do I go about bulk importing contacts in Exchange/AD?

I could just create the initial list of contacts for AD manually...... but I'd rather not!

Alternatively, how have your schools got your parents email addresses stored so that Senior Management or whoever can email them easily, but with a centralised management of the email addresses.

Cheers in advance.

[mrforgetful]

Your SMT use email?

[TheFopp]

Your SMT use email?

I know.... its a miracle!

[ilisle]

Hi,

I don't know if you've solved this or not, but my HT just asked for the same facility.
After a little digging, I found the correct file format to allow me to bulk import contacts (ie, users without a domain logon) into the AD and Exchange 2003.

The .csv attached only configures the bare minimum required to create a contact, but if you want to add more details you just need to know the AD schema names.

To import your users, edit the contents of the DN column to match your domain, fill in the other columns accordingly, and then run CSVDE on the server with this syntax:

csvde.exe -i -f parents.csv -j c:\

The "-j C:\" is optional, but useful as it saves a log file for the job.

All you need to do after this is done is create a distribution group within the AD and add all the imported users to that group. You may wish to change the SMTP address of the group, otherwise parents will be able to email all of the other parents! (I changed mine to Parents@Arnold.Middle - exchange allows it, but mail to this address goes nowhere).

Any questions or problems, drop me a line.
Hope all this helps,

Ian

[soundje]

Very nice solution

Soundje