DDE Error

[Stag]

Hi,

I have made a mail merge document, between word 97 and
access 97.
Now we're going to update to Office 2003. So I'm testing
if it works.
On my computer at home it works perfect, no error or
anything. But here at work it gives a DDE-connection
error. I have no clue how to fix this.

 

[Graham Mayor]

See http://www.gmayor.com/mail_merge_labels_with_word_xp.htm

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
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[stag]

Okay and how is this information going to help me??
I already know how to mail merge.
But thanks for your fast reaction.

 

[Graham Mayor]

Had you read it, you would see that the connection method between Word and
its data changed for Word 2002/3. The article explains how to restore the
old method or adapt to the new.

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<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
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[Guest]

I have read it.
But how is it possible that it works on one computer and
not on the other?
And it's also weird that when access 2003 is started it
also works.

 

[Peter Jamieson]

At least two things can go wrong in Word 2003 when you try to connect to
Access 2003 using DDE:
a. if Access has Tools|Options|Advanced|Ignore DDE requests checked, the
connection should fail (this could be set differently "at home" and in the
office
b. Both Word and Access are likely to pop up security warnings. If the user
does not see the Access one, Word may time out ("This task is taking longer
than expected..."). If the user presses Cancel, there will be a DDE error.
In particular, if the entire task is automated, the process is not likely to
work.

Neither of those looks particularly likely but
a. you can always try connecting via ODBC or OLEDB instead (in Word 2003
only). You will probably have to deal with some formatting problems if you
do.
b. I would quite like to know which error message you are actually getting
if it isn't anything to do with the above possibilities.

 

[Peter Jamieson]

OK, I have now seen the error message you are getting in a nearby message. I
haven't seen that particular problem before but I would try going through
the Select Data Source process again on the Word 2003 box (if you haven't
already)

 

[Stag]

Already tried that
But then it doesn't work on 97.
I think i'm going to just select the database again, it
doesn't work on 97 but need to find some solution. That's
too bad.

 

[Peter Jamieson]

In general portability of mailmerge "applications" between 97 and 2003 is a
bit one-way, probably more trouble than it's worth trying to attempt it.