WD97: Batch Conversion Wizard Enters Endless Loop

Last reviewed: September 23, 1997
Article ID: Q168448

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Batch Conversion Wizard to convert a Word mail merge main document, you will be unable to cancel the Open Data Source dialog box if Word cannot locate the data source.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because Visual Basic for Applications takes control from the wizard and does not give the control back; in this situation, the Open Data Source dialog box will not respond to the Cancel button.

WORKAROUND

To get out of the loop, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Connect to Any Data Source

Connect to any data source; although, this may cause some data field problems. For information about how to address these problems, look in see the "More Information" section of this article.

Method 2: Create a New Data Source

Create a new data source file within Microsoft Word that contains the same mail merge data fields. This file does not need to contain any data. Once the file has been created, open it as the data source when running the Wizard.

Method 3: Force Word to Close

Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to bring up the Close Program dialog box and then press End Task for Microsoft Word. You may have to press End Task a second time.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The StartConversionWizard is a macro within the Convert8.wiz file that is shipped with Microsoft Word 97. The default location for the Convert8.wiz is Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Macros. This wizard is not installed during a Typical Installation.

For additional information concerning the Batch Conversion Wizard, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q157094
   TITLE     : WD97: Using StartConversionWizard To Convert Multiple
               Documents

   ARTICLE-ID: Q162490
   TITLE     : WD97: How to Access Sample Macros for Word 97

For additional information on how to add or remove a component of Office, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office Program or
               Component

For additional information concerning mail merge data sources, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q142756
   TITLE     : WD: How to Design and Set Up Mail Merge Data Sources

   ARTICLE-ID: Q115247
   TITLE     : WD: Cannot Cancel "Invalid Merge Field" Error Loop

Additional query words: 97 8.0 8.0
Keywords : kbhowto winword word8 word97 kbtool kbusage
Version : 97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb
Solution Type : kbworkaround

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Last reviewed: September 23, 1997
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