WD97: Merge Data Source Fails to Attach, Merge, or Allow Check (115171)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q115171

SYMPTOMS

When you are working with a mail merge data source, the following symptoms may occur:

  • Error message: "Word was unable to open the data source"
  • The data source appears to have not attached after you try to attach it.
  • Navigation of data records may be prevented.
  • Merging may halt at a particular record prematurely.
  • Data source searching may halt prematurely.
  • More than one record merges to the same merged document page unexpectedly.
The lack of helpful error messages that explain the reasons for the problems make troubleshooting difficult.

CAUSE

These problems are most likely caused by mismatched double quotation marks in a mail merge data source document.

RESOLUTION

These problems can be resolved by correcting the quotation marks. Open the data source file without attaching it to the main file. Browse or search for any mismatched quotation marks and correct them by providing matching left and right quotation marks or by removing the offending quotation marks.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The following are more detailed descriptions of the symptoms:

  • Choosing the navigation buttons on the main document Mail Merge toolbar does not allow navigation past the record with the mismatched double quotation mark. The record number displayed on the toolbar will correspond to the last good record. If the mismatched quotation mark is in the first data record, the record number displayed will be 0 *(zero).
  • Merging will quit after the last good record. The following warning message will appear:
    Word could not finish merging these documents or inserting this database.
  • Data record searches will begin at the current insertion point location and quit after the last good record. No warning or error messages will appear.
  • Data source error checking will quit after the last good record without pinpointing the error and will display the following warning message:
    Word could not finish merging these documents or inserting this database.
  • The header delimiter selection screen will display when the data source is attached to the main document if the mismatched double quotation mark is in the first record of the data source. A delimiter can be selected, but the data source will not attach. No errors or warnings will display. The record number box on the main document Mail Merge toolbar will show a 0 (zero).
  • In the Data Form dialog box, if Word is attempting to read a record that contains a mismatched quotation mark, then the following message may appear:
    Word cannot read the next record from the data source because the data source has a mismatched double quotation mark.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/7/2001
Keywords:kbmerge kbprint KB115171
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