WD97: Incorrect Results When You Perform Mail Merge with Excel Data Source (257951)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q257951

SYMPTOMS

When you perform a mail merge with an Excel data source, the results of the mail merge may not be correct. For example, a record that contains a blank field in the data source displays the data from the previous record in the merge results.

CAUSE

Microsoft Word used Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE), which is the default, to connect to your data source.

RESOLUTION

The Select Method check box in the Open Data Source dialog box lets you choose other connection methods, including ODBC.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use the Excel Worksheet Converter to connect to your data source. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.
  2. In the Mail Merge Helper dialog box, click Get Data, and then click Open Data Source.
  3. In the Open Data Source dialog box, click MS Excel Worksheet (*.xls) in the Files of type list, and then locate and select your Excel data file.
  4. Select the Select Method check box, and then click Open.
  5. In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, select MS Excel Worksheet via Converter (*.xls, *.xlw), and then click OK.
  6. In the Open Worksheet dialog box, click Entire Workbook in the Open Document in Workbook list, and then click OK.

    -or-

    In the Open Worksheet dialog box, click the appropriate sheet in the Open Document in Workbook list, click the appropriate Name or Cell Range, and then click OK.
  7. Follow the Mail Merge Helper prompts to set up your main document, and continue the mail merge.

STATUS

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

REFERENCES

For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

155179 WD97: How to Use Microsoft Excel Data Source for Word Mail Merge

141922 WD97: How to Start a Mail Merge

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/14/2000
Keywords:kbbug kbmerge KB257951
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