WD2002: Word Quits Unexpectedly When You Click "Mail Merge Recipients" Command (286859)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2002
This article was previously published under Q286859

SYMPTOMS

When you attach an existing data source to your main merge document, and then click the Mail Merge Recipients command on the Mail Merge toolbar, Microsoft Word quits unexpectedly. You may also receive the following error message:
Microsoft Word has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
To view the details of the error signature, click the link in To see what data this error report contains, click here in the error dialog box. The following error signature appears: 
AppName        AppVer         ModName     ModVer    Offset
-------------------------------------------------------------
Winword.exe    10.0.4009.0    unknown     0.0.0.0   00000122
This message also appears when you are using the Mail Merge Wizard.

CAUSE

If your mail-merge data source contains more than 294 fields or columns, Microsoft Word quits unexpectedly when the Mail Merge Recipients dialog box opens.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, do one of the following:
  • Reduce the number of fields in your data source to 294 or fewer. -or-

  • Do not click the Mail Merge Recipients command on the Mail Merge toolbar. -or-

  • Do not use the Mail Merge Wizard. Use the merge commands on the Mail Merge toolbar, but do not click the Mail Merge Recipients command.
You can customize your Mail Merge toolbar to remove the Mail Merge Recipients command. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Customize.
  2. On the Mail Merge toolbar, click and drag the Mail Merge Recipients command button off the toolbar.
  3. In the Customize dialog box, click Close.
NOTE: If you remove the Mail Merge Recipients button from the Mail Merge toolbar, you cannot sort or filter your data.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about data sources you can use in mail-merge operations, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type data sources in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/27/2006
Keywords:kbbug kbmerge kbpending KB286859
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