Peter, do not know about your problem, but about this:
>ALso is there a way to check if a certain fullname already exists in outlook prior to adding it?
You can check Message #
1204707 for I think it will help you with that
"The five senses obstruct or deform the apprehension of reality."
Jorge L. Borges?
"Premature optimization is the root of all evil in programming."
Donald Knuth, repeating C. A. R. Hoare
"To die for a religion is easier than to live it absolutely"
Jorge L. Borges