Microsoft Word and Access Mail Merge

B

BOSCO

I have recently converted a database to Office 2003.
When we try and run the mail merge an error
"word was unable to open data source" would appear.
Any suggestions ?
 
B

BOSCO

Yes, all of this is part of MS Office Pro 2003.
Initially I converted the Database up to 2000. Then I had to wrestle with
the security group settings. In the end I was left with this issue of not be
able to load the file. I will be prompted for the file, and browse to it
select it, wait, then the same error would occur.
What do ya know ?
 
B

Beth Melton

If you are using a secured database then you may need to create an
ODBC datasource which will allow you to supply the path to your
Workgroup file along with the additional information you need to
establish the connection.

BUT, if it worked before then using the DDE method to establish the
connection may work. In Word 2003 the default connection uses OLE DB
instead of DDE.

So you can try the following:
- In Word go to Tools/Options/General and turn on "Confirm conversion
at open"
- Then select the Access database again and when prompted select the
DDE method

If you created an ODBC datasource then you'll still need to select the
connection method using the above steps.

Failing the above, try creating the merge from within the Access
database. Just select the table or query you are using for the merge
and on the Database toolbar click the "Office Links" command, select
"Merge it with Microsoft Word", and use the "Link your data to an
existing Microsoft Word document" option.

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/
 
B

BOSCO

Beth,
Thank you for your response. I may have neglected to say that this all
happened after I install a 2003 SBS. I will follow your instructions and let
you know of the outcome. Thanks again...
 
B

BOSCO

Hi Beth,
This seems to have solved the issue of accessing the recently updated
database via Office 2003 and SBS 2003. Evidently the combination of these two
additional layers of security reaquired the DDE conversion.
Now that I have made the conversion, can I turn off the confirm conversion
option ?
Will other users need to take the same actions the first time or any time
here after ?
Thanks again...
Bruce Blady
Accurate Technologies
aka BOSCO
 
B

Beth Melton

Good to hear. :)

The "confirm conversions" option can be turned off once you've
selected the database for your data source. However, should you need
to select it again, or use a different data source, you'll need to
turn it back on.

Note you aren't converting the database, the "confirm conversions"
option allows you to select a specific data connection for your data
source. Past versions of Word had a "Select Method" option in the
"Select Data Source" dialog.which would prompt the "Confirm Data
Source" dialog. I'm not sure whey they removed it - it certainly made
more sense than using the "confirm conversions" option in order to
prompt the dialog!

Personally, I always have the "confirm conversions" option turned on.
I rarely see it since it only surfaces if I open a document other than
a Word document or, of course, when I select a data source for mail
merge. :)

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/
 
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