Cannot print Word data source before merging with document

[K Spiller]

I am clearly being obtuse. I am using Windows XP and I would like to print a data source, created in Word, before I merge the document. It used to be so easy but now I just cannot figure it out. I have tried opening the letter and then the data source but no such option presents itself. Help!

Thanks.

K

 

[Peter Jamieson]

I am clearly being obtuse.

Not really. Assuming you also now have Word XP, the data sources is set up
as a .mdb file. To print its contents, you can either
a. Create a directory merge in Word and connect to the same data source or
b. Use Access (if you have it), or any other package capable of opening a
..mdb, to print the contents. But I would be careful not to modify the
contents or structure because Word is quite picky about these "Office Addess
List" sources.

--
Peter Jamieson
MS Word MVP

I am clearly being obtuse. I am using Windows XP and I would like to

print a data source, created in Word, before I merge the document. It used
to be so easy but now I just cannot figure it out. I have tried opening the
letter and then the data source but no such option presents itself. Help!

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi =?Utf-8?B?SyBTcGlsbGVy?=,

I am clearly being obtuse. I am using Windows XP and I would like to print a

data source, created in Word, before I merge the document. It used to be so
easy but now I just cannot figure it out. I have tried opening the letter and
then the data source but no such option presents itself.The version of Word involved would be more relevant than that of Windows <sigh>

I'll assume it's Word 2002 (Office XP) and that you created the data source
using that versions tools? In this case, the data source is an Access database
(*.mdb file). And if you don't have Access (and know how to use it) you won't be
able to print the data source directly.

You CAN, however, set up a DIRECTORY type of mail merge (instead of letters, or
labels). Assuming your data source as less than 64 fields, set up a table with
the number of fields. (You may want to change to landscape paper orientation and
work in the NORMAL view). Insert one merge field to a cell. Execute the merge.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep 30 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

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