Exchange Global Address List (GAL) Question.

[Ambient]

Hi

 

I've been making some major changes to our global address list for our Exchange users (which is only our SLT and ICT Support staff). I've made loads of new distribution groups which are "query based" (very simple and user friendly so set up I think....if your AD is set up in a friendly way)

 

Anyway, my question is this:

 

Is possible for non-exchange users to somehow utilise the Global Address List in Outlook to e mail the distribution groups (their Outlook is set to download e mail via POP3 by the way)

 

If this isn’t possible (which I don’t think it will be), my next question is this:

 

What would be the best way for me to populate the address book of each individual POP3 user so they effectively have the same contacts and distribution groups which appear in the Global Address Book.

 

Ideally, I don’t want to have to visit the Outlook setup of each individual member of staff who uses Outlook, but if I have to...I will.

 

Many thanks

 

A

 

p.s. - If I had my own way, I’d have each and every member of staff using Exchange for their mail...but that’s not the way it works in our school

[SYNACK]

You can add directories to any outlook profile along with their primary mail account so I would suggest adding an address book to their account that points over MAPI to the exchange server. They mak need an exchange enabled account to access this but that account does not actually have to be used for their email. This would allow them to use the GAL directly.

 

If you wanted to you could also set them up to use a LDAP address book. As it is LDAP you should be able to point this directly at Active Directory and pull addresses/names off there. This may not give you all the nice customized lists though.

[Ambient]

Ace, thanks for the suggestions. I've read up on the LDAP "solution" to this problem...however, i understand there there can be pitfalls to it. So, i'm more interested in your first suggestion. ?

 

In all honesty, i'm quite new to working with Exchange and Mail setups, so my experience and knowledge is somewhat low. I dont suppose (if possible) you could put it in more of an idiot proof lauguage could you? (your first suggestion i mean). I arent really sure what you mean by "adding directories" etc.

 

Many thanks

 

A

[SYNACK]

Depends on whic version of Outlook you are using, the idea is to go into the mail applet in control pannel for the user and click the "email Accounts" button there should then be a tab called "Address books" where you can choose add different address book sources including exchange based ones. To access the GAL you may need to make sure that the user in question does have an exchange enabled account by (exchange 2003) right clicking their user account in AD and adding an exchange email account. You would then want to go into the properties of the user and change their email to the one they actually use.

 

I have not done this myself but that should provide a very good start to enabling this functionality from the outlook client.

[Ambient]

Ah rite, i see. Thats helps a lot, and i'll give it a go.

 

Many thanks

 

Aaron