WD97: Word Ignores First Record in Excel Data Source

ID: Q146896

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you perform a mail merge using a Microsoft Excel data source that does not contain a header row, and you attach a separate header document, Microsoft Word ignores the first row of data from the Excel data file. As a result, if the first row in the Excel worksheet contains a data record, this record is not merged.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you are performing a mail merge via a DDE connection with a Microsoft Excel Worksheet as your data.

WORKAROUND

In Microsoft Windows, this problem does not occur when you use the Microsoft Excel Worksheet via an Excel Converter method or ODBC method.

This problem also does not occur when you use other types of data sources.

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

Method 1

In the Mail Merge Helper, when you click Open Data Source (Get Data under Data Source), click Select Method.

Select the file you want to Open and then click OK or click Open.

When the Confirm Data Source dialog box appears, select Microsoft Excel Worksheet via Converter (*.xls, *.xlw).

Click OK.

Method 2

Insert a row above the first record in your Excel data file. Word will ignore this first row and merge all of your records.

Method 3

Instead of using a Header document, insert a row above the first record in your Excel data file and type the header field names in this row.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words: excel xl datafile dde dynamic exchange converter field missing one initial

Keywords : kbinterop word97 kbmerge
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbbug kbhowto