Vista - Best way to maintain contacts

I have an Outlook Express contacts export file that I would like to use to populate my WLM contacts list. I have 3 computers on a home network that are ready to switch from OE to WLM. I have deleted all contacts from each computer's WLM contact list and I have deleted contacts from my Live web-site. What is the best way to propagate the new contact list contained in the OE export file to all 3 computers? As an example, should I import it into one of the PC's WLM contact list and then sign-in or should I export it at the Live web-site level and then sign-in each computer and let each fetch the contact list? Not fully understanding how this works, I don't know the best way to do this.

Once all my contact lists are sync'd, what is the best way to maintain the list (adds/deletes)? I guess the same questions adked above apply to this issue.

Thank you.

Import to your Contacts on Windows Live Online. Then it will sync with WLM on whatever computer you have it installed and set up on with that ID. Give it time to sync, though.

Any adds and deletes should be done at people.live.com and they will be synced to your computers when signed on through WLM.
"Bill W" <xxx@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:15843584-B4E0-4F12-92D2-83188772E72D@xxxxxx
I have an Outlook Express contacts export file that I would like to use to populate my WLM contacts list. I have 3 computers on a home network that are ready to switch from OE to WLM. I have deleted all contacts from each computer's WLM contact list and I have deleted contacts from my Live web-site. What is the best way to propagate the new contact list contained in the OE export file to all 3 computers? As an example, should I import it into one of the PC's WLM contact list and then sign-in or should I export it at the Live web-site level and then sign-in each computer and let each fetch the contact list? Not fully understanding how this works, I don't know the best way to do this.

Once all my contact lists are sync'd, what is the best way to maintain the list (adds/deletes)? I guess the same questions adked above apply to this issue.

Thank you.

If you have an OE-generated CSV file, I would suggest that you log
on to http://people.live.com using a Live ID and use the import tool
there. Then in WLMail on each of the three machines, sign in with
the same Live ID. It might take some time (a few hours) for the
synchronization to be completed. Once it is, any amendments,
additions and deletions will propagate to the other machines when
their users sign in.

If this is a family setup using a common list of contacts (and
calendar, which can also be very useful), a fresh Live ID dedicated
to the family might be a good idea. You will always have two
contacts lists - the common set when you're signed in, and another
set called Default when you're not. You'll have a third, if you
prefer, if you sign in with your own Live ID. That way, you could
keep your work contacts, say, out of the common list. The Default
list is unique to the Windows user account and is stored only
locally.
--
Noel

"Bill W" <xxx@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:15843584-B4E0-4F12-92D2-83188772E72D@xxxxxx

Thank you both very much. This is exactly what I needed.

I am going to echo Noel's and Michael's online suggestion for a few specific reasons..
1. The online import engine is more robust than WLM's.
2. WLM engine can only import one email address, the online engine can import(primary email address, work email, other email, and
IM)

Note: OE has a different method for storing secondary email addresses than Outlook or WLM. Those additional addresses may not
import in either route.
You will need to edit the csv file and add field headers and data to accomplish that task.

The only other alternative after setting up one pc, is to copy that LiveID's DBStore\contacts.edb file database(in a hidden folder
with a unique to that pc numerical folder name) to the other pc's Live ID unique folder



--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

"Bill W" <xxx@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:15843584-B4E0-4F12-92D2-83188772E72D@xxxxxx