WD: Slow Performance Retrieving Access Data with Insert Database (181861)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95 7.0a, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
This article was previously published under Q181861

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Insert Database feature in Microsoft Word by retrieving information via DDE from Microsoft Access on a Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0 operating system, it will retrieve the information from Microsoft Access very slowly as compared to performing this same action in Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows NT 3.51.

WORKAROUND

To retrieve data from Microsoft Access into Microsoft Word by using the Insert Database button on the Database toolbar without a performance deprivation, use the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) method of retrieval rather than the Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) method of retrieval. To do this, follow the steps appropriate for your version of Word.

Word 97

Follow these steps:

  1. Open the document in which you want to insert information from Microsoft Access.
  2. On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Database.
  3. On the Database toolbar, click Insert Database.
  4. In the Database dialog box, under Data Source, click Get Data.
  5. In the Open Data Source dialog box, click to select the Select Method check box, select the Microsoft Access file, and then click Open.
  6. In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, click to select MS Access 97 Database via ODBC (*.mdb) and then click OK.
  7. If a Select Table dialog box appears, select a table, and then click OK.

Word 7.x

Follow these steps:

  1. On the Insert menu, click Database.
  2. In the Database dialog box, under Data Source, click Get Data.
  3. In the Open Data Source dialog box, click to select the Select Method check box, select the Microsoft Access file, and then click Open.
  4. In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, click to select MS Access 7.0 Database via ODBC (*.mdb), and then click OK.
  5. If a Select Table dialog box appears, select a Table, and then click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

If you do not get the selections for ODBC in the Confirm Data Source dialog box, the ODBC drivers may not have been installed. If the ODBC drivers have not been installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

120802 Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office Program or Component

For additional information ODBC, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

110093 WD: ODBC--Open Database Connectivity Overview

163256 WD97: Updated WBODBC Files Available

For additional information the Insert Database function, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

156486 WD97: Database Command Missing from the Insert Menu

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/17/2005
Keywords:kbbug kbpending KB181861
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