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I sometimes get asked how do you get rid of duplicate contacts from Outlook? Well, below is an easy way for you to get rid of them via your Desktop PC. I just tried this on my Laptop running Vista and Office 2007 and it works great. The reason why I have to do this is I forgot to uncheck a new PIM Backup application from saving my contacts. I was using it to back up my SMS. When I restored my SMS, along came the contacts too. Oops. Anyway, here is an easy way to handle these little oversights:

FROM YOUR DESKTOP PC:

1. In Contacts, select the contacts folder where there are duplicate contacts.
2. In the Navigation Pane (Navigation Pane: The column on the left side of the Outlook window that includes panes such as Shortcuts or Mail and the shortcuts or folders within each pane. Click a folder to show the items in the folder.), under Current View, click Phone List.This gives you the best view to scan your contacts list and see the duplicate contacts. Now you can sort the list by modified date to group the duplicates together.
3. On the View menu, point to Arrange By, then point to Current View, and then click Customize Current View.
4. Click Fields, and in the Available Fields list, click Modified, and then click Add.
5. Click Move Up until Modified is at the top of the Show these fields in this order list.
6. Click OK twice.
7. In the list of contacts, press CTRL while you click each duplicate contact. (NOTE: You can also sort the modified column and delete the duplicate contacts by date.)
8. When you have selected all the duplicate contacts, press DELETE.

Then all you have to do is sync your device if it isn’t already and you are now rid of those duplicate contacts. Remember to use Kaiser Tweaks to “Hide” your SIM Contacts if needed. Click Here for Kaiser Tweaks info.

Doug Smith (301 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook