WD2000: Error Message: "Error! Reference Source Not Found" with Blank Ask or Fillin Field (212125)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000

This article was previously published under Q212125

SYMPTOMS

If the result of an ASK or FILLIN field is blank, the following error message may appear when you use a REF field to recall the ASK or FILLIN field:
Error! reference source not found
If you refer to the blank ASK or FILLIN field with a bookmark name, the following error message appears:
Error! bookmark not defined
Additionally, if the result of the field is blank during a mail merge operation, the following message appears as each record with blank results is merged:
A field calculation error occurred in record X
There is no context-sensitive Help for this error message.

WORKAROUND

To work around these errors, place a space in the field so that it is no longer empty; do so either by typing a space in the dialog box when prompted or by setting the field default as follows

{Ask Answer "Question" \d " "}

where the \d switch sets the default result for a field.

An alternative workaround is to select the field and then reapply the bookmark to the field. The \d switch is not necessary.

The bookmark that Word applies to the ASK field is placed at the end of the field and looks like "][" (without the quotation marks) when the bookmarks are visible. For example, the formula

{ASK bookmark "question"}

looks like this:

{ASK bookmark "question" ][}

To correct this, select the field and reapply the bookmark. When you are finished, the bookmark looks like this:

[{ASK bookmark "question" }]

STATUS

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

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/6/2000
Keywords:kbbug kbfield kbmerge KB212125