WD6X: Merge Data Source Saved as Word Document (179307)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Word for the Macintosh 6.0
- Microsoft Word for the Macintosh 6.0.1
- Microsoft Word for the Macintosh 6.0.1a
This article was previously published under Q179307 SYMPTOMS
If you use a Microsoft Excel worksheet as a mail merge data source, Word
saves the worksheet in Word document format if you choose Yes when Word
prompts you to save the data source. In other words, Word overwrites the
Microsoft Excel worksheet with a Word document if you choose Yes in
response to the following message:
<Document Name> is a mail merge main document that is attached
to a data source <Worksheet Name> that has not been saved. Do
you want to save <Worksheet Name>?
Word does not warn you that the Microsoft Excel worksheet will be
overwritten with a Word document.
WORKAROUND
To workaround this problem, use one of the following methods.
Method 1: Not using File Type Excel Worksheets via DDE
If your mail merge data source is a Microsoft Excel worksheet, do not
modify it by clicking the Edit Data Source button on the Mail Merge toolbar
in Word. Instead, open the worksheet in Microsoft Excel, modify it, and
then save it in Microsoft Excel.
Method 2: Using File Type Excel Worksheets via DDE
This method should only be performed on Macintosh computers with at least
16 megabytes (MB) of Random Access Memory (RAM) installed.
Select the option to use a Microsoft Excel Worksheet via Dynamic Data
Exchange (DDE) by doing the following when selecting an Excel spreadsheet
as a mail merge data source:
- On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.
- Under Data Source, click Get Date, and then click Open Data Source.
- In the Select A Data File dialog box, under List Files Of Type, click
Excel Worksheets Via DDE.
- Select your Excel spreadsheet, and then click Open.
- Select a Named or Cell Range, and then click OK.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products
listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem
and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it
becomes available.
MORE INFORMATION
When you use an Excel data source via Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE), the DDE
operation requires that Excel be started, which opens up a channel between
Excel and Word to supply the data to Word for the merge operation. When you
click the Edit Data Source button (on the Mail Merge Toolbar), Excel comes
to the foreground. You can make your changes in Excel and then save the
file. After you complete the merge, the Excel file is preserved.
Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 12/15/1999 |
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Keywords: | kbbug KB179307 |
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