WD: Err Msg: "Word Could Not Re-Establish a DDE Connection..."

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

SYMPTOMS

When you insert a Microsoft Access database using 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 error may occur for one of the following reasons:

Case 1: When you try to insert a Microsoft Access Query or Table whose

        name contains quotation marks, Word will add a second set of
        quotation marks around the name. Since this action returns the
        incorrect information to Microsoft Access, Microsoft Access cannot
        locate the Query or Table and returns the error.

        version 1.0 table as a sort field in a Word document, the above
        error message will be returned. Both memo and picture fields are
        automatically filtered out of the Sort menu when a Microsoft
        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 Microsoft Access 1.0. The field types, as part of the data
        table file information, are not supplied by Microsoft Access 1.0.

STATUS

Case 1: We are researching this problem and will post new information

        here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

        version 1.0. This problem was corrected in version 1.1.

WORKAROUND

Case 1: Rename the table in Microsoft Access to contain single quotation

        marks (') as the marker.

        -or-

        Use the Microsoft Access ODBC driver instead of DDE.

        Access 1.0 data tables using the memo or picture fields.

        check box (located in the File/Open Database dialog box).

        -and-

        Change the Default Open Mode for Databases to Shared. (To locate
        this option in Access 2.0, click Options on the View menu, and
        select the Multiuser/ODBC in the Category list. To locate this
        option in Access 7.0 or Access 97, click Options on the Tools menu,
        click the Advanced tab, and then choose the Shared option.)