ACC: Cannot Connect DDE from MS Word to Microsoft Access

ID: Q109948

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 7.0
Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0

SYMPTOMS

Moderate: Requires basic macro, coding, and interoperability skills.

When you are running a Mail Merge in Microsoft Word for Windows, you cannot connect to a Microsoft Access database using dynamic data exchange (DDE) because the DDE option is not available in the Confirm Data Source dialog box.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when Microsoft Word cannot determine that Microsoft Access is installed on your computer.

RESOLUTION

If Microsoft Access is installed on your computer, you may need to reinstall it to ensure that all of its settings are registered correctly. However, depending on your version of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Access, you may need to perform these additional steps:

If Using Microsoft Word 7.0 with Microsoft Access 2.0

You must add the path of the Microsoft Access folder to the PATH setting in the Autoexec.bat file.

-or-

Manually add the Microsoft Access settings to the Windows 95 registry.

NOTE: This resolution will not work when using long file names.

For more information on adding settings to the registry, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q137076 WD: Can't Use Microsoft Access Files (.MDB or DDE) with Word

If Using Microsoft Word 6.0 with Microsoft Access 7.0

Microsoft Word version 6.0 looks in the Extensions section of the Win.ini file to determine whether Microsoft Access is installed. Because Microsoft Access version 7.0 registers itself only in the Windows 95 registry, the Win.ini file must be updated manually or by using the following steps:

Start File Manager by clicking the Start button, clicking Run, and opening the Winfile.exe file.

In File Manager, click Associate on the File menu.

Type MDB in the Files With Extension box.

Click the Browse button.

Select your Access folder in the Directories box, and then select the Msaccess.exe file in the File Name box.

Click OK.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbinterop
Version : WINDOWS:1.0,1.1,2.0,6.0,7.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb