mail merge, templates and edit data source

[mike]

I'm using Windows XP and Office XP Professional. I create
mail merge forms and save them as templates. I can't edit
the data source when opening a new document based on
template. I get error message: "Operation can't be
completed because of dialogue or database engine failure."
I can edit if I "open" the template rather than create new
document but this defeats the purpose of a template. I
use Access as the database. If I save the form as a word
document I can edit the database, but I want to use
templates. In Office 97 when word saved the data as a
word document the edit function worked for templates. I
don't want to work around by creating a word table nor do
I want to save the form as a read only word document
because my macros will not function.

Suggestions?

 

[Mike]

I tried this and it didn't work. I have access to 3
different computers all running Windows XP and Office XP
professional and experience the same problem on all
computers. I have even created simple mail merge forms
from scratch using the mail merge wizzard and as soon as I
save the document as a template and then reopen a new
document based on the template I can't edit the data base
and get that error message. It seems like the template
and the new document are trying to access the information
at the same time. Is this just a glitch with XP?
Thanks for any suggestions.

-----Original Message-----
Hi Mike,

I can't edit
the data source when opening a new document based on
template. I get error message: "Operation can't be
completed because of dialogue or database engine failure."

I'm not certain, but try the "Resolution" mentioned in this
KB article.

WD2002: "Operation Could Not Be Completed " Mail Merge Err
Msg [Q322215]
http://support.microsoft.com?kbid=322215

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jan
24 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

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.

 

[Cindy Meister -WordMVP-]

Hi Mike,

I have even created simple mail merge forms
from scratch using the mail merge wizzard and as soon as I
save the document as a template and then reopen a new
document based on the template I can't edit the data base
and get that error message.

OK, I'm able to duplicate this. The problem should only be
with XP and 2003 (currently in beta), not earlier versions,
since they're the only ones with this functionality.

The only way around this that I can see is to edit the
records *in Access*. I'm reporting the problem, but I doubt
we'll see any kind of fix in the near future (if ever).

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jan
24 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow
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