Updating and sharing contact lists in Outlook

Ben Regier

This isn't necessarily Blackbaud-related, but I wondered if anyone here has a solution to the problem I'm trying to solve.

Basically, this is what I need.

• I need to create a contact list that can be updated with Power Automate
• I need to be able to share this contact list with specific co-workers
• The contact list needs to be accessible from the Modern Outlook desktop app

Context:

In the past, we've accomplished this using SharePoint contact lists. We update them with a flow, and the users who need those contacts would use the “Connect to Outlook” button to add them to their email client.

Problem is, Microsoft seems to be moving away from this solution. Modern lists don't have the “Connect to Outlook” button, so you have to use Classic. And Modern Outlook can't add a contact list from SharePoint, so you also have to use Classic Outlook.

Seems like there must be a new way of accomplishing this, but so far, I have not been able to find it.

Alex Wong

@Ben Regier
https://www.damobird365.com/add-members-to-a-distribution-list/

Ben Regier

@Alex Wong
Hmm, I think in order for that solution to work, I'd have to add everyone in the distribution list to our environment, either as contacts or guest users, right? Which would mean that when a new person needs to be added, the flow would need to check whether they exist in our environment (and add them if they don't) before adding them to the group?

Because only a few staff need to be able to access these contacts, I hadn't considered that route before. I'll have to think a bit about whether it would make sense for our use-case.

Alex Wong

@Ben Regier
sorry might have been too quick to post

It really depends on what contact list are you talking about. Is it constituent? is it staff?

Ben Regier

@Alex Wong
Nope, these are external contacts. Some of them are actually coming from Raiser's Edge. Certain staff that work with those groups need an easy way to access them in Outlook, but most staff do not.

Alex Wong

@Ben Regier
can't think of anything for this case then. good luck