Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Changing GAL to Lastname, Firstname

1,166 views
Skip to first unread message

D.P. Roberts

unread,
Oct 26, 2008, 8:53:38 PM10/26/08
to
Currently our GAL in Exchange 2007 is showing names as "Firstname Lastname."
I understand this comes from the DisplayName property in AD. Our users like
having their name show up in the From field of an email message as
"Firstname Lastname," but they would prefer to have the names in the GAL
sorted by last name. Is there a way to change the GAL to the "Lastname,
Firstname" format while keeping the From field in the "Firstname Lastname"
format?

Thanks...

Milind Naphade

unread,
Oct 27, 2008, 3:47:01 AM10/27/08
to
Exchange 2007 also pulls this data from your global catalog that is your
active directory. refer the articles below you will have a good idea how to
do it.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/277717
and off course using ADModify for the users which are already there in your
AD isnt a bad idea. Take a look at below.
http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/MF023.html
Thanks

M.

"D.P. Roberts" <dpro...@nospampleeze.com> wrote in message
news:OUMtz58N...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

D.P. Roberts

unread,
Oct 27, 2008, 12:36:23 PM10/27/08
to
Yes, I've seen these articles before but I don't think you fully understand
my question. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I change the DisplayName to
"Last, First" format, both the GAL and the From field in Outlook email
messages will show names in the "Last, First" format. This is not what we
want. We want the GAL to show "Last, First" but the From field to show
"First Last" -- is this possible?


"Milind Naphade" <milind....@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1662FA07-7488-41F7...@microsoft.com...

Milind Naphade

unread,
Oct 27, 2008, 3:57:25 PM10/27/08
to
So you mean you wanted to preserve Senders Display Name correct?

Global Settings | Internet Message Formats | Default -> properties |
Advanced tab | "Preserve Sender's Display Name on messages"


I hope that helps you.

M.

"D.P. Roberts" <dpro...@nospampleeze.com> wrote in message

news:uZMmnIFO...@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

D.P. Roberts

unread,
Oct 27, 2008, 5:51:24 PM10/27/08
to
I appreciate the info, but unfortunately this does not help. That setting
simply controls whether or not the sender's Display Name is shown in the
From field. It does not control what format the display name is in. My
original question still has not been answered: How can I make the GAL sort
by Last Name AND make the From field in Outlook use the "First Last" format?


"Milind Naphade" <milind....@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:F5FFC828-259B-4957...@microsoft.com...

Susan

unread,
Oct 27, 2008, 6:17:13 PM10/27/08
to
i don't believe there is a way to do what you're asking...

--
Susan Conkey [MVP]

"D.P. Roberts" <dpro...@nospampleeze.com> wrote in message

news:eBGBp4HO...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

D.P. Roberts

unread,
Oct 27, 2008, 7:16:06 PM10/27/08
to
Well if there's no way to do this, then the next logical question is: What
is the industry standard or best practice? I'd guess one of these three is
most common:

1. Configure GAL to sort by First Name, which makes From field display
sender's name in "First Last" format.
2. Configure GAL to sort by Last Name, which makes From field display
sender's name in "Last, First" format.
3. Configure GAL to sort by Last Name and uncheck the "Preserve Sender's
Display Name" setting, which makes From field only display sender's email
address.


"Susan" <sco...@mgmmirage.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:uy%23fDHIO...@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

Ed Crowley [MVP]

unread,
Oct 27, 2008, 7:15:52 PM10/27/08
to
You can use the simple display name and configure Exchange 2007 to send that
as the "friendly name". You can even configure it on a specific recipient
domain basis. Here's a description from fellow MVP Jim McBee's blog:
http://mostlyexchange.blogspot.com/2008/09/exchange-2007-and-simple-display-name.html
--
Ed Crowley MVP
"There are seldom good technological solutions to behavioral problems."
.

"D.P. Roberts" <dpro...@nospampleeze.com> wrote in message
news:OUMtz58N...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

Jamestechman

unread,
Oct 28, 2008, 10:25:04 AM10/28/08
to
Modify the schema.

DisplaySpecifiers and select, CN=409.

http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/exchange2003/exchange2003_ADSI_edit.htm


James Chong (MVP)
MCITP | EMA; MCSE | M+, S+,
Security+, Project+, ITIL
msexchangetips.blogspot.com

Rich Matheisen [MVP]

unread,
Oct 28, 2008, 10:15:18 PM10/28/08
to
On Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:25:04 -0700 (PDT), Jamestechman
<jamest...@gmail.com> wrote:

>Modify the schema.
>
>DisplaySpecifiers and select, CN=409.
>
>http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/exchange2003/exchange2003_ADSI_edit.htm

For Exchange 2003 (and 2000), sure. But he's running E2K7 and that
pays no heed to that.
---
Rich Matheisen
MCSE+I, Exchange MVP

Jamestechman

unread,
Oct 29, 2008, 11:13:13 AM10/29/08
to
Did not know that; is there a doc or did you happen to test?

James Chong (MVP)
MCITP | EMA; MCSE | M+, S+,
Security+, Project+, ITIL
msexchangetips.blogspot.com

On Oct 28, 10:15 pm, "Rich Matheisen [MVP]"


<richn...@rmcons.com.NOSPAM.COM> wrote:
> On Tue, 28 Oct 2008 07:25:04 -0700 (PDT), Jamestechman
>

> <jamestech...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >Modify the schema.
>
> >DisplaySpecifiers and select, CN=409.
>

> >http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/exchange2003/exchange2003_ADSI_e...

Rich Matheisen [MVP]

unread,
Oct 29, 2008, 9:35:14 PM10/29/08
to
On Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:13:13 -0700 (PDT), Jamestechman
<jamest...@gmail.com> wrote:

>Did not know that; is there a doc or did you happen to test?

Make the change to the AD. Then create a new user with Powershell (or
through the Exchange Management Console) and check the displayName
property.

ADUC still works the same way.

0 new messages