Symptom

The Global Address List (GAL) does not update on a Outlook client despite changes/new addresses appearing on other machines.

Cause

Outlook is not updating the OAL (Offline Address List) with the new data from the GAL.

Resolution

  • Ensure cached exchange mode is not enabled, if it is then changes to the Offline Address List (wich is used as the GAL in cached Mode) is just updated once every 24 hours and in most cases early in the morning. When the Offline Address List is updated it has to be downloaded by Outlook for you to see the changes, and that is also just done automatically once every 24 hours, making a total of 48 hours in some cases.
  • Another option is to set the HKCU\\software\\policies\\microsoft\\office\\\\\\outlook\\\\cached mode\\\\DownloadOAB setting to 0 on the client. This will prevent the OAB from being downloaded to the client and in Outlook 2003 in cached mode will hit the GAL if no OAB is available.

Category:Outlook