Mailmerge field limits in Word 2000 & above ?

[Avi]

Hi,

I created a mail merge data source from FoxPro program I wrote, a text file, with approx. 511 merge fields.

I can create a mailmerge document document using the above source file using Word 97. However, I can not do it in Word 2002, nor make changes (ie sortiing) in mail mail merge documents created in Word 97 in Word 2002. I have been told by others that they can't make changes in Word 2000 either. When I try in Word 2002, the program stops & asks me to send a bug report.

Is there a limit to the number of merge fields you can have in Word 2000 & above ??

Any help would be appriciated.

 

[Avi]

FYI

I just tried the same data file in Word 2003 and had no problem opening it up as a data source file

So, is the large # of field problen just limited to Word 2000 and 2002(XP)

Thanks

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?QXZp?=,

I created a mail merge data source from FoxPro program I wrote, a text file, with approx. 511 merge fields.

I can create a mailmerge document document using the above source file using Word 97. However, I can not do it in Word 2002, nor make changes (ie sortiing) in mail mail merge documents created in Word 97 in Word 2002. I have been told by others that they can't make changes in Word 2000 either. When I try in Word 2002, the program stops & asks me to send a bug report.

Is there a limit to the number of merge fields you can have in Word 2000 & above ??

Let's leave Word 2000 aside for the moment, since I have a pretty good idea what's happening with Word 2002. If we ccan get that straightened out, then we can see what we can do with Word 2000...

The problem you're seeing in Word 2002 is likely the bug in the Recipients dialog box, that crashes as soon as you have 286 fields or more. In this case, you should use the mail merge toolbar to link in thedata source - and NEVER display the Recipients dialog box! You can use the older interfaces, instead, to set query options. You'll find a list of these on my website,
in the Word 2002 section of the mail merge FAQ.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep 30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail

 

[Avi]

Hi Cindy,

Thanks for your reply.

I am looking at your site right now. I found this on it under Word 2002:

"If the data source contains more than 286 fields, Word 2002 will crash when trying to display the Recipients dialog box. This problem was fixed in SP-2. "

I am running SP-2 and still crash when the source contains more than 286 fields.

As to using the older interfaces to set query options, how do you get to them without going through the mail merge recipients (which causes WOrd to crash) ?

Thanks,

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?QXZp?=,

Glad you're at least up and running

I am looking at your site right now. I found this on it under Word 2002:

"If the data source contains more than 286 fields, Word 2002 will crash when trying to display the Recipients dialog box. This problem was fixed in SP-2. "

I am running SP-2 and still crash when the source contains more than 286 fields.

Somehow, it doesn't surprise me Maybe there's a new upper limit. Did you try with 287 fields? Or lots more?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep 30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail

 

[Avi]

----- Cindy M -WordMVP- wrote: -----

Hi =?Utf-8?B?QXZp?=,

Glad you're at least up and running

I am looking at your site right now. I found this on it under Word 2002:

Somehow, it doesn't surprise me Maybe there's a new upper limit. Did you try with 287 fields? Or lots more?

Only tried it with my data source which has more than 500 fields.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep 30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail