Down With Global Distribution Lists!

Problem: Outlook/Exchange global distribution lists don't allow you to include members who are not Exchange users. This is very cumbersome in mixed workgroups where not all of the people are using the same email system. Hey, come on, the poor non-Exchange users deserve email, too, don't they?? Well, maybe not, but you might want to send them mail, anyhow.

Solution: Outlook/Exchange personal address books and Public Folders both allow you to add non-Exchange e-mail addresses to a distribution list. So, to solve the above issue, you can create a "Contacts Item" in the Public Folders, which are available to all your Outlook/Exchange users, and add any (non-Exchange) outsiders to a distribution list there.

Note: If you do this, anyone using this distribution list must also set the new "Contacts Item" to show as an e-mail address book, like this:

1. Right-click the new "Contacts Item" under the Public Folders.
2. Select Properties.
3. Select the Outlook Address Book tab.
4. Check the box labeled: Show this folder as an e-mail Address Book.
5. Hit Ok to save the change.