S
Stacy
When I go to open a merge document linked to an Excel spreadsheet, I get a message saying the DDE cannot re-establish connection. Why did this happen, and how can I correct it?
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P
Prashanth Kaankadae [MSFT]
This problem is addressed by the KB article
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=291458
Hope this helps.
========================
Error Message: Word Could Not Re-establish a DDE Connection
This article was previously published under Q291458
For a Microsoft Word 2000 version of this article, see 224048.
ERROR MESSAGE
When you insert a database in a Word document or attach a mail-merge main
document to a data source, you may receive the following error message
Word could not re-establish a DDE connection to Application to complete the
current task.
where Application refers to the program associated with the data source.
CAUSE
This error message occurs if there is a problem communicating via Dynamic
Data Exchange (DDE).
RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, select a different method for opening the data
source. To do this, verify that the Confirm conversion at open option is
selected, and then open the data source.
Select the "Confirm Conversion at Open" Option
On the Tools menu, click Options.
Click the General tab.
Click to select the Confirm conversion at open check box, and then click OK.
Open the Data Source
To open the data source, use either of the following methods:
Method 1: Insert a Database in a Word Document
On the Database toolbar, click the Insert Database button.
NOTE: To see the Database toolbar, point to Toolbars on the View menu, and
then click Database.
In the Database dialog box, click Get Data.
Change the Files of type box to the type of data file that you have.
Select your data file, and then click Open.
In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, click the via DDE method that is
appropriate for your data source, and then click OK.
Click the Insert Data button.
NOTE: If Word cannot re-establish a DDE connection, try starting the
database application and then repeat the previous steps. Or, as an
alternative, select the via ODBC method in step 5.
Method 2: Attach a Data Source to a Mail-Merge Main Document
Open your mail-merge main document.
On the Tools menu, point to Letters and Mailings, and then click Mail Merge
Wizard.
In the Mail Merge task pane, go to Step 3 Select Recipients. Click Use an
existing list, and then click Browse.
Change the Files of type box to the type of data file that you have.
Select your data file, and then click Open.
In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, click the via DDE method that is
appropriate for your data source, and then click OK.
Click OK in the Mail Merge Recipients dialog box.
NOTE: If Word cannot re-establish a DDE connection, try starting the
database application and then repeat the previous steps. Or select the
alternative via ODBC method in step 6.
MORE INFORMATION
This error message can also occur for the following reasons.
Query or Table Name Contains Quotation Marks
When you try to insert a Microsoft Access query or table whose name
contains quotation marks, Word adds a second set of quotation marks around
the name. Because this action returns incorrect information to Microsoft
Access, Microsoft Access cannot locate the query or table and returns the
error.
WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, rename the table in Microsoft Access to
contain single quotation marks (') as the marker.
-or-
Use the Microsoft Access ODBC driver instead of DDE.
You Select a Memo or Picture Field
If you select a memo field or picture field from a Microsoft Access version
1.0 table as a sort field in a Word document, you receive the error message
described in the "Symptoms" section. Both memo and picture fields are
automatically filtered out of the Sort menu when a Microsoft Access version
1.1 table is used as the data source. Word cannot remove the memo or
picture field names from the Sort dialog box for Microsoft Access 1.0. The
field types, as part of the data table file information, are not supplied
by Microsoft Access 1.0.
WORKAROUND
To avoid this error message, do not attempt to sort Microsoft Access 1.0
data tables by using the memo field or picture field.
The Database Is Opened Exclusively
The Microsoft Access database is opened "exclusively" by another user.
WORKAROUND
To allow shared access to the Microsoft Access database, clear the
Exclusive check box in the Open Database dialog box.
-and-
Change the Default Open Mode for Databases to Shared. (To locate this
option in Access 2.0, click Options on the View menu, and then select
Multiuser/ODBC in the Category list. To locate this option in Access 7.0,
Access 97, Access 2000, or Access 2002, click Options on the Tools menu,
click the Advanced tab, and then select the Shared option.)
Prashanth
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=291458
Hope this helps.
========================
Error Message: Word Could Not Re-establish a DDE Connection
This article was previously published under Q291458
For a Microsoft Word 2000 version of this article, see 224048.
ERROR MESSAGE
When you insert a database in a Word document or attach a mail-merge main
document to a data source, you may receive the following error message
Word could not re-establish a DDE connection to Application to complete the
current task.
where Application refers to the program associated with the data source.
CAUSE
This error message occurs if there is a problem communicating via Dynamic
Data Exchange (DDE).
RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, select a different method for opening the data
source. To do this, verify that the Confirm conversion at open option is
selected, and then open the data source.
Select the "Confirm Conversion at Open" Option
On the Tools menu, click Options.
Click the General tab.
Click to select the Confirm conversion at open check box, and then click OK.
Open the Data Source
To open the data source, use either of the following methods:
Method 1: Insert a Database in a Word Document
On the Database toolbar, click the Insert Database button.
NOTE: To see the Database toolbar, point to Toolbars on the View menu, and
then click Database.
In the Database dialog box, click Get Data.
Change the Files of type box to the type of data file that you have.
Select your data file, and then click Open.
In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, click the via DDE method that is
appropriate for your data source, and then click OK.
Click the Insert Data button.
NOTE: If Word cannot re-establish a DDE connection, try starting the
database application and then repeat the previous steps. Or, as an
alternative, select the via ODBC method in step 5.
Method 2: Attach a Data Source to a Mail-Merge Main Document
Open your mail-merge main document.
On the Tools menu, point to Letters and Mailings, and then click Mail Merge
Wizard.
In the Mail Merge task pane, go to Step 3 Select Recipients. Click Use an
existing list, and then click Browse.
Change the Files of type box to the type of data file that you have.
Select your data file, and then click Open.
In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, click the via DDE method that is
appropriate for your data source, and then click OK.
Click OK in the Mail Merge Recipients dialog box.
NOTE: If Word cannot re-establish a DDE connection, try starting the
database application and then repeat the previous steps. Or select the
alternative via ODBC method in step 6.
MORE INFORMATION
This error message can also occur for the following reasons.
Query or Table Name Contains Quotation Marks
When you try to insert a Microsoft Access query or table whose name
contains quotation marks, Word adds a second set of quotation marks around
the name. Because this action returns incorrect information to Microsoft
Access, Microsoft Access cannot locate the query or table and returns the
error.
WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, rename the table in Microsoft Access to
contain single quotation marks (') as the marker.
-or-
Use the Microsoft Access ODBC driver instead of DDE.
You Select a Memo or Picture Field
If you select a memo field or picture field from a Microsoft Access version
1.0 table as a sort field in a Word document, you receive the error message
described in the "Symptoms" section. Both memo and picture fields are
automatically filtered out of the Sort menu when a Microsoft Access version
1.1 table is used as the data source. Word cannot remove the memo or
picture field names from the Sort dialog box for Microsoft Access 1.0. The
field types, as part of the data table file information, are not supplied
by Microsoft Access 1.0.
WORKAROUND
To avoid this error message, do not attempt to sort Microsoft Access 1.0
data tables by using the memo field or picture field.
The Database Is Opened Exclusively
The Microsoft Access database is opened "exclusively" by another user.
WORKAROUND
To allow shared access to the Microsoft Access database, clear the
Exclusive check box in the Open Database dialog box.
-and-
Change the Default Open Mode for Databases to Shared. (To locate this
option in Access 2.0, click Options on the View menu, and then select
Multiuser/ODBC in the Category list. To locate this option in Access 7.0,
Access 97, Access 2000, or Access 2002, click Options on the Tools menu,
click the Advanced tab, and then select the Shared option.)
Prashanth
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.