WD2000: Mail Merge Main Document Cannot Find Data Source
ID: Q189196
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The information in this article applies to:
SYMPTOMS
When you create a mail merge main document and attach it to an Outlook 97
(or Schedule+) data source, the link to the data source is lost when you close
Word. When you restart Word and open the mail merge main document, one of the following error messages may appear:
If you are using Outlook 97 as your data source:
<main document file name> is a mail merge main document. Word cannot
find its data source, ~~~_virtual_file_~~~.olk.
If you are using Schedule+ as your data source:
<main document file name> is a mail merge main document. Word cannot
find its data source, ~~~_virtual_file_~~~.scd.
CAUSE
When you attach an Outlook 97 (or Schedule+) data source, Word converts the
contact list and creates a temporary copy of the file in table format
called ~~~_virtual_file_~~~.olk (~~~_virtual_file_~~~.scd).
This behavior is to prevent you from accidentally overwriting
the original Outlook 97 (or Schedule+) contact list with a format not
recognized by Outlook 97 (or Schedule+). Because this file is a temporary
file, it is deleted when you quit Word.
WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use either of the following methods.
Method 1: Use this method when the error appears.
- Click Options in the Error dialog box, and then click Remove Data/Header Source.
- With the document open, click Mail Merge on the Tools menu.
- In the Mail Merge Helper, click Get Data, click Use Address Book, select
Outlook Address Book (or Schedule+ Contacts), and then click OK.
This creates a new virtual file, based on the current contact list
information.
NOTE: You need to repeat these steps each time that you restart Word and
open the mail merge main document attached to this data source.
Method 2: From Microsoft Outlook 97, export the file as either .csv or .tsv.
- On the File menu, click Import and Export.
- Select Export to a file and click Next.
- Select the folder you want to export from (for example, select the
Contacts folder), and click Next.
- In the Create a file of type list, select either Comma Separated Values
(Windows) or Tab Separated Values (Windows), and then click Next.
- Type the full path and file name for the new file in the Save exported files as box, and click Next.
-or-
Click the Browse button and move to the folder to which you want to save
the exported file. Type a name for the file, click OK, and then click Next.
- Click Map custom fields, select the default map, and then click OK.
- Click Finish.
Method 3: From Schedule+, export the contact list as a text file.
- Start Schedule+.
- On the File menu, click Export, and then click Text.
- In the Text Export Wizard, choose Contact List, and then click Next.
- Select the field delimiter and the character that you want to use to
surround your fields, and then click Next.
- Select each field that you want to export, and then click the Add
button. If you want to export all the fields, click the Add All button.
Click Next.
- Type a name for the file that will contain the exported data, and then
click Finish.
NOTE: If the ODBC drivers are installed, Word attempts to use the Text
ODBC driver when you attach the data source. To prevent an error
message such as the following:
Open Database Connectivity Error: <fieldname> isn't a valid name
select the data source, click to select the Select Method check box,
and then click Open. Click Text Only. (If Text Only is not in the
list, click Show All, and then select Text Files.) Word will use its
own text converter.
STATUSMicrosoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed
at the beginning of this article.
Additional query words:
schedule + pab contact list virtual data outlook97
Keywords : kberrmsg kbinterop kbdta wd2000
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug
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