WD: Cannot Cancel "Invalid Merge Field" Error Loop

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

The following "Invalid Merge Field" error message appears when a mail merge is executed or checked for errors:

   This merge field is used in the main document,
   but it does not exist in the data source.

CAUSE

The mail merge main document contains a MERGEFIELD with a field name that does not match any of the field names in the data source header record. This error most often occurs when a new data source is attached to a main document and the spelling of a field name is changed. For example, if a mailing list with the field "FirstName" is replaced by a data source with the field name "Fname", the MERGEFIELD <<FirstName>> is no longer valid in the main document.

This error can also occur when the original mail merge document has been converted from Word 2.x for Windows and uses a comma- or tab-delimited data source. For more information on how to correct the problems in this case, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   delimiters and invalid and merge and field

RESOLUTION

   To interrupt the merge process, press the ESC key repeatedly while the
   error message is displayed.

   -or-

   Choose the Remove Field option to remove the incorrect field from the
   main document.

   -or-

   Choose the Replace Field option to replace the incorrect field with a
   field that does exist in the data file.