WD97: Main Document Not Connected to Data Source in Word 6.x/7.x

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Word 6.x or 7.x, if you use the Word 97 import converter to open a mail merge main document created in Word 97, the data document is no longer attached to the main document.

NOTE: The text, formatting, and field codes of the main document remain intact, but the main document is no longer a mail merge main document and the data file is no longer attached. No error messages are displayed.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Reattach the Data File in Word 6.x or 7.x

If you have the Word 97 import converter, follow these steps:

1. Open the main document in Word 6.x or 7.x using the Word 97 import converter.

2. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.

3. Under Main Document, click Create, and then click Form Letters.

4. Click Active Window.

5. Under Data Source, click Get Data, and then click Open Data Source.

6. Navigate to and select the Word 97 data document.

7. Click Open.

8. In the Mail Merge Helper dialog box click Close.

Method 2: Save the Documents in Word 6.0/95 Format

If you do not have the Word 97 import converter, save both the mail merge main document and the data document in Word 6.0/95 format. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the mail merge main document in Word 97.

2. On the File menu click Save As.

3. In the Save As Type list, click Word 6.0/95, and type a new file name.

4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 for the data document.

5. In Word 6.x or 7.x, open the main mail merge document you saved in step 3.

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.

REFERENCES

For more information about how to obtain the Word 97 import converter, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q162214
   TITLE     : WD: How to Obtain the Word 97 Converter

   ARTICLE-ID: Q157091
   TITLE     : WD97: How to Import Word 97 Documents into Word 2.x, 6.x,
               7.x

   ARTICLE-ID: Q143480
   TITLE     : WD97: Updated Word 6.0/95 Export Converter Available

   ARTICLE-ID: Q166957
   TITLE     : WD: Problems with Mail Merge Main Documents Saved as RTF