Excel linking to Outlook Public Disribution list (2003)

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I have an Excel file with the names of members of various distribution lists. By each list is a hyerlink to that distribution list. When I click on the link, it starts an email to the members of the distribution list. Works great except when the distribution list has an & in it – like G Hou FC&A. If the name reads G Hou FCA all works well.
Can any of you think of a way to handle that? I cannot rename the list – does not belong to me. Also, is there a way to update the names in the Excel file regularly with the names in the list?

Thanks in advance.

itconc

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Try replacing the ampersand character & with %26
For example: G Hou FC%26A
(The & character has ascii code 38 decimal = 26 hexadecimal)

Keeping the lists up to date would require using Automation to control Outlook in VBA. Perhaps someone else will have a suggestion; if not, you might ask in the Outlook forum.

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Thanks, Hans.
However, I am afraid that did not work. The to: box in outlook reads up to the & and omits all else. I have tried it without the ampersand also and that will not work either. Like fc#37;26a.

itconc

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I don’t know what my suggestion looked like for you. In case it was mangled by the browser or mail handler, I am attaching a screenshot of what works for me (the Outlook window is in Dutch, but you’ll get the idea, I hope)

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Worked like a charm. Thank you so much! No problem with the dutch – I am german.

itconc

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