WD97: Mail Merge with Merged Cells in Data Table Hangs Word

Last reviewed: October 10, 1997
Article ID: Q172328

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you attach a data file to a mail merge main document, Microsoft Word may stop responding when switching between Edit Data Source and Edit Main Document.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the data file contains too many merged columns, rows, and cells.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, reformat the data file into a standard format: such as a tab and comma delimited file, or a standard table or spreadsheet structure.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Word 97 allows you to merge (or combine) adjacent and vertical table rows, columns, or cells. By doing so, you can create a table that is too difficult for Word to parse into the correct rows and columns. If this occurs, Word may stop responding when working with the data file.

NOTE: Because the table drawing tool uses cell merging and splitting frequently to create and format tables, it may create a table that is too difficult for Word 97 to parse.

REFERENCES

For more information about creating data files, click the Office Assistant, type "creating a data file," click Search, and then click "Create a new mail merge data source in Word."

For more information about merging and splitting cells, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE ID: Q161671
   TITLE     : WD97: "Word Could Not Split..." Attempting to Split Cells

   ARTICLE ID: Q166951
   TITLE     : WD97: Merge Cells Before Split Setting Causes Unexpected
               Results

   ARTICLE ID: Q155910
   TITLE     : WD97: Table Column Selection May Show Incorrect With Merged
               Cell

   ARTICLE ID: Q157478
   TITLE     : WD97: What's New in Word 97

Or, click the Office Assistant, type "merging table cells," click Search, and then click "merge cells into one cell in a table"

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Word Help is not installed on your computer, 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

Keywords          : kbmerge kbtable
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbworkaround

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Last reviewed: October 10, 1997
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