WD97: Mail Merge Helper Behaves Differently When Called by a Macro (197149)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q197149

SYMPTOMS

When the Mail Merge Helper dialog box is activated by a macro command, some of the options either are unavailable or are already activated with the use of defaults rather than offering you choices.

For example, when you run the following macro example while you are in a mail merge main document

Sub MyMailMergeHelper()
   Set mydialog = Dialogs(wdDialogMailMergeHelper)
   With mydialog
      .Show
   End With
End Sub
the following problems may occur:
  • The Create Document Type option does not allow you to select a new main document. The macro automatically changes the active window to the new mail merge main document that you selected.
  • The Restore to Normal Word Document option does not offer a confirmation dialog box. The macro immediately removes all data file and header file information.
  • The Edit Data Source button opens the data source in View Source mode rather than the Data Form dialog box. To open the file in the Data Form dialog box, click the Data Form button on the Mail Merge toolbar.

WORKAROUND

To show the Mail Merge Helper while you are in a mail merge main document, do one of the following:
  • On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.

    -or-
  • On the Mail Merge toolbar, click Mail Merge Helper.

MORE INFORMATION

The following are descriptions of what Microsoft Word normally does when you click in the Mail Merge Helper. The Mail Merge Helper does not respond normally when you use a macro to display it, and the problems described in the "Symptoms" section of this article may occur.
  • When you click Create in the Mail Merge Helper dialog box and click to select a different type main document, Word prompts you with a message similar to the following to verify the change of document type:
    You can change filename from form letters to mailing labels or you can create a new main document.
  • When you click Create and click Restore to Normal Word Document in the Mail Merge Helper dialog box, Word prompts you with a message similar to the following to verify that you want to revert the existing document back to a normal Word file and break the link to its data source:
    By restoring filename to a normal Word document, the text from the document will not change. However, filename will no longer be a mail merge main document.

    Do you want to continue?
  • When you click Edit (under Data Source) in the Mail Merge Helper and click to select the attached data file, Word displays the Data Form dialog box.
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For more information about how to use the sample code in this article, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

173707 OFF97: How to Run Sample Code from Knowledge Base Articles

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/17/2005
Keywords:kbmerge kbprb KB197149
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