data source issue

[Humbertt]

Hi, I'm creating a merge for a mail listing but I'm having
a problem with my data source. When I select the data
source file I get an error message,"word cannot open
FILENAME.doc as a data or header source because it is mail
merge main document". I don't know what that means and
how do i correct this issue? Thanks.

 

[Peter Jamieson]

A "mail merge main document" is the kind of document you are trying to
create - i.e. a template (in the general sense of the word - it can be a
..doc or .dot) connected to a data source. What has probably happened is that
you have inadvertently set your data source up as a mail merge main
document, and in that case Word will not allow you to use the document as a
data source.

If you close any open documents in Word, then open FILENAME.doc (or whatever
the data source document is called). Then in Word 2000 and earlier you will
probably see the mail merge toolbar. Find the MailMergeHelper button and
click Create|"Restore to normal Word document". In Word 2002 and later,
enable the Mailmerge toolbar with Toos|Customize if it isn't visible, click
the first icon, and select the Normal document radio button. Then save and
close the data source .doc and try creating your mail merge again.