Export outlook address folder..3rd party tools

[scudsucker]

Hi- I'm trying to create a webmail app's front end. The client has asked if we can provide a service that will allow a user to easily upload their contacts list from outlook/outlook express as simply as possible, even if it is by downloading a small .exe to do it for them.

I am not a VB or ASP.NET developer, though apparently services like www.plaxo.com are made using VB and/or C#, and so I'd like to ask if this is possible using any flash third party tools, perhaps by processing .dbx files?

Any suggestions will be gratefully recieved!

[Northcode]

Assuming you want to automate this and not just use the export facility built into Outlook or Outlook Express you will have to create a utility that reads the WAB format. I have written a utility that pulls just the email addresses out of a WAB file, but to get more data (without jumping through hoops) you should do it properly (i.e. use the APIs that Microsoft exposes).

In C:\Program Files\Common Files\system there should be a file called wab32.dll (Microsoft Address Book DLL). This DLL ships with IE 5.5 (and later), presumably as part of Outlook Express. It contains a function called WABOpen that returns an IAddrBook interface that supports access to the MAPI address book.

[scudsucker]

Thanks very very much!

I've been searching around for a method, and am way out of my depth in the world of VB and ActiveX etc etc... so its nice to hear a straight and simple pointer.

But thats why I like the flash community, even the most newbie questions are answered with patience.

I'll get onto it, though at the moment it looks like I cannot do the project, we'll have to outsource.