The value for nondefault attribute added to the Outlook Details Template isn't displayed in Exchange Server 2010

  • Article
  • Applies to:
    Exchange Server 2010 Enterprise, Exchange Server 2010 Standard

Original KB number:  2599330

Symptoms

Consider the following scenario:

  • You install Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 or an earlier version of Exchange Server.
  • You create a mailbox user on the server that's running Exchange Server 2007.
  • You add a nondefault attribute that's displayed in the Outlook Details Template.
  • The mailbox user verifies that the nondefault attribute is populated in Microsoft Outlook.
  • You install Exchange Server 2010 on a different server.
  • You move the mailbox user to Exchange Server 2010.
  • The mailbox user starts Outlook.

In this scenario, the nondefault attribute isn't populated in Outlook as expected.

Cause

This issue occurs if the attribute isn't enabled for global catalog replication.

Resolution

To enable an attribute for replication to the global catalog, follow these steps:

  1. Start Microsoft Management Console (MMC).

  2. Expand Active Directory Schema, and then click Attributes.

  3. Right-click the attribute that you want, and then click Properties.

  4. Click to select the Replicate this attribute to the Global Catalog check box, and then click OK.

  5. Right-click Active Directory Schema (domain.com), and then click Reload the Schema.

  6. Force Active Directory replication.

  7. Run the Update-GlobalAddressList cmdlet if it's necessary.

    Note

    Microsoft Outlook clients that are running in cached mode have to wait for the Outlook Address Book to be updated.

More information

In Exchange Server 2007 and earlier versions, global address list (GAL) requests from Outlook clients are referred to a domain controller. Because Outlook communicates directly with the domain controller, the attribute that was added in the Details Template is always available.

However, GAL requests from Outlook clients are handled by the Address Book service in Exchange Server 2010. The Address Book service runs on the Client Access server (CAS). The CAS server retrieves the details from the local global catalog and provides those details to the Outlook client. So an attribute must be replicated to the global catalog to be displayed in the Outlook client.

By default, most default attributes are enabled for replication to the global catalog. For example, the givenName, Surname, and DisplayName attributes.

However, some frequently used attributes aren't enabled by default for replication to the global catalog. For example, the employeeNumber, employeeID, and personalTitle attributes.

Important

Creating new attributes and then using the new attributes in the Outlook Details Template isn't supported in any version of Exchange. Instead, use custom attributes to add information about a recipient.

References

For more information about how to install the Active Directory Schema snap-in, see Install the Active Directory Schema Snap-In.

For more information about the Update-GlobalAddressList cmdlet, see Procedures for address lists in Exchange Server.

For more information about custom attributes in Exchange Server 2010 and Exchange Server 2007, see Custom attributes.

For more information about how to administer the offline address book when Outlook clients are running in cached mode, see KB 841273.