Bulletin 6: Post-Migration Issues - Sending to a Distribution List

2012-04-03

NOTE: A number of users have encountered an error the first time they try to send to a Distribution List after they have been migrated to the Exchange system.

The error is most cases is due to a problem with the “auto-complete” list in the user's account. The “auto-complete” list tries to provide helpful matches as you type letters into the recipient box for a new email message. After being migrated to Exchange this list gets confused on where the Distribution Lists are saved and will give an error message until you manually select the Distribution List from your Contacts. Manually selecting the Distribution List updates the “auto-complete” list and prevents the error from occurring when sending future messages.

Provided below are instructions for selecting a Distribution List from your Contacts:

• Click the New E-mail button in the Outlook toolbar.
• Click the To… button next to the message recipient box.
• In the Select Names dialog box, use the drop-down menu under Address Book to select Outlook Contacts (2007) or Contacts (2010).
• Use the Search box or scroll through the list to locate your Distribution List.
• Click the Distribution List, then click the To→ button at the bottom of the dialog box.
• Click OK.
• Compose and Send the message as normal.
• The Outlook “auto-complete” list should now remember your Distribution List correctly for future messages.

• Click the New button in the Outlook Web App toolbar.
• Click the To… button next to the message recipient box.
• In the Address Book dialog box, select Contacts under the My Contacts section.
• Use the Search Contacts box or scroll through the list to locate your Distribution List.
• Click the Distribution List, then click the To→ button at the bottom of the dialog box.
• Click OK.
• Compose and Send the message as normal.
• The Outlook Web App “auto-complete” list should now remember your Distribution List correctly for future messages.