Error message: "Word could not re-establish a DDE connection to Microsoft Access" (291445)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Office Word 2003
- Microsoft Word 2002
This article was previously published under Q291445
For a Microsoft Word 2000 version of this article, see 189259.
For a Microsoft Word 97 version of this article, see 123698.
For a Microsoft Word 7.0 and earlier versions of Word version of this article, see 188077.
SYMPTOMS
When you insert a Microsoft Access database by using Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE), you may receive the following error message:
Word could not re-establish a DDE connection to Microsoft Access to complete the current task.
CAUSE
This problem can occur for one of the following reasons.
Case 1: The query or the table name contains quotation marks
When you try to insert an Access query or table whose name contains quotation marks, Microsoft Word adds a second set of quotation marks around the name. Because this action returns the incorrect information to Access, Access cannot locate the query or table and returns the error.
Case 2: You select a memo or picture field
If you select a memo or picture field from a Access version 1.0 table as a sort field in a Word document, you receive the error message described in the "Symptoms" section. Both memo and picture fields are automatically filtered out of the Sort menu when a Access version 1.1 table is used as the data source. Word cannot remove the memo or picture field names from the Sort dialog box for Access 1.0. The field types, as part of the data table file information, are not supplied by Access 1.0.
Status
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Access version 1.0. This problem was corrected in Access version 1.1.
Case 3: The database is opened exclusively
The Access database is opened "exclusively" by another user.
WORKAROUNDCase 1: The query or the table name contains quotation marks
To work around this problem, rename the table in Access to contain single quotation marks (') as the marker. Alternatively, use the Access ODBC driver instead of DDE.
Case 2: You select a memo or picture field
To avoid this error message, do not attempt to sort Access 1.0 data tables using the memo or picture fields.
Case 3: The database is opened exclusively
To allow shared access to the Access database, clear the Exclusive check box (in the Open Database dialog box). Additionally, change the Default Open Mode for Databases to Shared.
To locate this option in Access 2.0, click Options on the View menu, and then select Multiuser/ODBC in the Category list.
To locate this option in Access 7.0, Access 97, Access 2000, or Access 2002, click Options on the Tools menu, click the Advanced tab, and then select the Shared option.
STATUSMicrosoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 9/25/2006 |
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| Keywords: | kbbug kberrmsg kbinterop kbnofix KB291445 |
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