Thanks Diane.

I can get the contacts in outlook now using 'named ranges' in excel. However I have nicknames for my contacts and the 'nickname' field in outlook did not take that, e.g. I call my nephew, tiger, but the contact's nickname field showed as blank after the import from excel. I had to finally send it in the notes. Why did outlook not take the nickname?

Also what is the value to be sent in the 'file as' field. I sent 'First Last' and it still saved my contact as 'Last, First' Why?

Also what is the use of the 4 user fields if you can't tell outlook to add the 4 fields for all the contacts (current, and ones in future) as : 'date we met', 'favorite movie', 'favorite food' and favorite drink'.

For the last question I asked earlier.. (saving the contacts in external HDD) any format which Outlook can read again is fine.. If excel can also read then its great but I want outlook to read atleast... Will all my contacts in all folders go as one single file?

One very important question... Suppose one of my contacts has some important info in the notes field.. How can I search all my contacts to pin point that contact.. Ie are all fields (including Notes) searchable in outlook...

Thanks in advance.
Charles.