How to display the Contacts list in last name, first name order in Outlook 2002 (319142)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2002

This article was previously published under Q319142

SUMMARY

When you compose a new message, and then click the To or cc button, the Contacts list may display names that are sorted by the contact's first name. This article describes how to display the entries in your Contacts list sorted by the contact's last name, the same way as they appear by default in the Contacts folder.

MORE INFORMATION

NOTE: Each entry in your Contacts list has a number of associated properties, such as File As or First Name. To view the properties of your contacts, open your Contacts list, and then double-click the entry that you want to view.

To change the Contacts list sort order, follow these steps:
  1. Sort the Contacts list by the File As field:
    1. Start Outlook 2002.
    2. On the Tools menu, click E-mail accounts.
    3. Click View or change existing directories or address books, and then click Next.
    4. Click Outlook Address Book, and then click Change.
    5. Under Outlook Address Books, click Contacts: Mailbox - MailboxName, and then click File As(Smith, John).
    6. Click Close, and then click Finish.
    NOTE: The File As field contains the "last name, first name" (without quotation marks) sort order by default.

  2. Verify that the newly created contacts are filed in "last name, first name" order:
    1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
    2. Click the Preferences tab, and then click Contact Options.
    3. In the Contacts Options dialog box, click Last, First in the Default "File As" order list.
    4. Click OK twice.
  3. Restart Outlook 2002 to view the new Contacts list sort order.
NOTE: If you want to display a particular contact in a different order than the rest of the Contact list, you can modify the File As field for individual entries. For example, you may want to sort some contacts by the Company field. To do so, double-click the contact that you want to modify, click the DOWN ARROW key in the File As field to open the list of options, and then click the option that you want.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/7/2006
Keywords:kbcontacts kbhowto KB319142