ACC2000: Export to MS Word for Windows Creates .TXT Extension (208455)

SYMPTOMS

Exporting a Microsoft Access table to a Microsoft Word for Windows merge file creates a text file with a .txt extension instead of a Word for Windows document with a .doc extension, as you would expect.

CAUSE

Microsoft Access cannot export data to Word for Windows native file format. However, the text file that is exported by Microsoft Access can be used by Word for Windows. Microsoft Access can export data as a .rtf (Rich Text Format) file, which can be read by Microsoft Word.

NOTE: In Microsoft Word version 6.0 or later, you can merge data directly from Microsoft Access without having to export the data into another file. For more information, consult the Microsoft Word documentation.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Start Microsoft Access and open the sample database Northwind.mdb.
Click any table, and then click Export on the File menu.
Click Microsoft Word Merge (.txt) in the Save as Type box, and then click Save. Note that the file that is created has a .txt extension, not a .doc extension.

REFERENCES

For more information about sharing information between Microsoft Word and Microsoft Access, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type export data or database objects to another database or file format. in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.

For more information about merging Microsoft Access data with Microsoft Word, click Microsoft Access Help on the Help menu, type merge data from a table or query by using the Microsoft Word Mail Merge Wizard in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.