A reader called to ask how to copy the names from an AOL Address Book into another email program's Address Book. Some email programs make this easy with File>Import/Export options. However, the following works with any of them:

In AOL click Write to begin a new email. Click Address Book and select all screen names by holding down SHIFT while you click the top and bottom ones.

Right-click the selection and do Ctrl+C to COPY the names, whereupon they can be pasted into the outgoing email (which you send to yourself) or PASTE them into a text document.

Outlook Express users will click on Addresses and follow the above steps.

Now the names can be individually copied and pasted into another Address Book.

However, there is no way of pasting them all at once. This is why I keep all my contacts in an MSWord document, which makes them accessible with all the various email programs I use. When I send out a newsletter to multiple recipients, I just copy and paste the names as a block into an email program's BCC (blind carbon copy) box.

An even faster way to access these names is to put them on a Yellow Sticky Note that always remains on your Desktop. However, putting sensitive data on a sticky is not recommended if your PC is located if others have access to it.

Nonetheless, I find Yellow Stickies invaluable for copying and pasting bits of data found on web sites or in an email. This amazingly helpful program is completely free, and a link to downloading can be found here: Yellow Sticky Notes.

If you have any questions about any of the above, Don's contact info can be found HERE.