Mail Merge data source opens or closes in Word 2002 each time that you click or press a key (834011)

Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

In Step 3 of 6 of the Mail Merge Wizard (on the Tools menu, point to Letters and Mailings) in Microsoft Word 2002, when you use a document that is saved in a document management program as a data source, the data source may repeatedly open and close each time that you click or press a key.

CAUSE

This problem may occur after you install Word 2002 Security Patch: September 3, 2003.

For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824934 Overview of the Word 2002 Security Patch: September 3, 2003

RESOLUTION

How to obtain the hotfix

This issue is fixed in the Word 2002 post-Service Pack 3 Hotfix Package May 5, 2004. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

830807 Word 2002 post-Service Pack 3 hotfix package: May 5, 2004

After you install this hotfix, follow the steps that are listed in the "More Information" section of this article to set the MMDataSrcHeuristic registry key and to activate the hotfix.

MORE INFORMATION

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
To activate this hotfix, follow these steps:

Quit Word.
Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate, and then click to select the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Word\Options
After you select the key that is specified in step 4, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD Value.
Type MMDataSrcHeuristic, and then press ENTER.
Right-click MMDataSrcHeuristic, and then click Modify.
In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.