> You cannot "unset" that option. Nor can you leave dialing options unset if
> you plan to use phone number fields because Outlook will prompt you
> continuously to set it until you do.
> You must use one of the options I listed to store numbers in non-standard
> format. Sorry. That's just the way it is.
> --
> Russ Valentine
> [MVP-Outlook]
> "Frank" discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:1631EC20-A78C-4BC9-8011-7A9C2120AC41@microsoft.com...

>> ok, we are getting closer to understanding what is going on. Once again,
>> your answer has led me to understand another thing. You are right, once
>> you
>> set up your "dialing properties" in Microsoft, and you click the "radio
>> button" under "locations", you are done for. From that point on, you
>> can't
>> change the way phone numbers are store for you in contacts (unless, as you
>> suggested, you use " " or * or.....I do not wish to do this!!!) There
>> lies
>> the answer to my problem. How do we "uncheck" that radio button. I went
>> to
>> a number of other computers on my floor and experimented. If no one has
>> gone
>> into "dialing properties" and "checked" their "radio button" on a
>> computer,
>> you can enter a phone number in contacts any which way you want. As many
>> spaces as you want, where ever you want. This is what I wish to do. But
>> once you "check" that button, Microsoft will only save the phone number
>> for
>> you one way (formatted) I have proven this on 5 different computers. By
>> the
>> way, no one here uses their computer to dial out. We are not configured
>> for
>> that. We still use good old fashioned telephones and fax machines. Since
>> they re-built my hard drive last month, someone (&^%%$*^@)must have gone
>> into
>> my "dialing properties" and "checked" my radio button. Hence my problem.
>> How do I "uncheck" it. I tried a bunch of stuff but no luck. Once again,
>> I
>> am true to my words and my Tim's card offer still stands. (This is
>> driving
>> me nuts) !!!
>> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>>

>>> Outlook has always formatted phone numbers this way because that is
>>> standard
>>> international format. Outlook does not permit you to use a non-standard
>>> format and never has because telephony dialers require that format. If
>>> you
>>> need to store the numbers in non-standard format, use a different,
>>> non-phone
>>> field so Outlook won't mask it, or place the number in quotes.
>>> --
>>> Russ Valentine
>>> [MVP-Outlook]
>>> "Frank" discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>> news:65A7F50B-FEF0-48DD-A1B3-2FE184F0DC93@microsoft.com...

>>>> ok & thanks again for working on this with me. Basically, your latest
>>>> question to my problem is my problem. Outlook is "now" formatting my
>>>> phone
>>>> numbers in my contacts the way it wants to. (This was not the case a
>>>> month
>>>> ago) I can't alter them the way I want to. I type them as (905)
>>>> 123 -
>>>> 4567
>>>> but Microsoft Outlook is changing them to (905) 123-4567. That is my
>>>> problem. I wish them to remain as and stay as (905) 123 - 4567
>>>> (notice
>>>> the
>>>> spaces between the "3" and "-" as well as the "-" and the "4". I need
>>>> them
>>>> store that way for a reason. I can see them & read them better. I
>>>> have
>>>> dyslexia and have to function with it. My contacts are also viewable
>>>> on
>>>> my
>>>> BlackBerry but everything is so small...hard to see. The spaces make
>>>> sense
>>>> for me & help me. For years, this was not an issue. I have the same
>>>> computer with the same software. Something or some "setting" somewhere
>>>> is
>>>> different now since I had my hard drive rebuilt a month ago. Do you
>>>> know
>>>> what that is. All of the phone numbers that were stored and saved
>>>> prior
>>>> to
>>>> last month are still being saved as (905) 123 - 4567. Those are
>>>> ok...no
>>>> issues there. My problem is for any new entries. I enter them as
>>>> (905)
>>>> 123
>>>> - 4567 but they get saved as (905)123-4567. I change them back but its
>>>> no
>>>> use. Microsoft re-changes them back to (905) 123-4567. My offer still
>>>> stands. Thanks.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:
>>>>

>>>>> I don't understand your question. There are spaces where there should
>>>>> be.
>>>>> Why do you say there aren't? Outlook is formatting the phone number
>>>>> in
>>>>> standard format which is what it should do. That's what Outlook has
>>>>> always
>>>>> done. How Outlook masks phone numbers is hard coded.
>>>>> --
>>>>> Russ Valentine
>>>>> [MVP-Outlook]
>>>>> "Frank" discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:D38720B4-2DDC-491F-9271-51776FE2B7DA@microsoft.com...

>>>>>>I did that from both Outlook and Windows. It has not solved my
>>>>>>problem.
>>>>>>I
>>>>>> have set my default dialing location and selected "Apply" & "OK") I
>>>>>> have
>>>>>> re-started my computer twice. No luck. I still can't format phone
>>>>>> numbers
>>>>>> with spaces. It must be possible because I was able to do it with
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> same
>>>>>> computer & the same systems for years. What am I missing please.
>>>>>> Tim
>>>>>> Horton's gift certificate card to whom ever can solve this. I
>>>>>> promise.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Brian Tillman" wrote:
>>>>>>

>>>>>>> Frank discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>> Thanks Russ and sorry for the delay, but You were not specific
>>>>>>>> enough
>>>>>>>> for me. I went into Outlook help, typed "set default dialing
>>>>>>>> location" and tried a bunch of stuff but no luck. Can you
>>>>>>>> please
>>>>>>>> give me a few more details.

>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It's not an Outlook function, it;s a Windows function.

>>>>>>>>Control
>>>>>>>>Printers and Other Hardware>Phone and Modem Options. Of

>>>>>>> course,
>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> can also get at it from within Outlook. While viewing the Contacts
>>>>>>> folder,
>>>>>>> click Actions>Call Contact>New Call>Dialing Properties
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>

>