Error when trying to merge with Word 2003.

[Sue Davey]

We've just upgraded to Office 2003 and when I do a mail
merge and try to select a folder it comes back with the
message....."This operation cannot be completed because of
dialog or database engine failure. Please try again later"
Any ideas what can be wrong? I've never had a problem
with merging before.
Sue

 

[Peter Jamieson]

What is your data source? Is it Outlook?

 

[Sue Davey]

Yes.

I always set up my Outlook contacts into categories and
then merge from this into Word.

 

[Peter Jamieson]

Sue,

I can only make guesses at this one I'm afraid, but I've heard of two
possible reasons for this problem:
a. the precise location of your contact data may make a difference. Trouble
is that I have had no difficulty here whether my data is in a "normal"
Outlook contacts folder in a .pst file or an Exchange server Public Folder.
If your data is stored elsewhere (perhaps a .ost file or in another type of
address book, that may make a difference.
b. do you have the latest version of the "MDAC" (Microsoft Data Access)? It
may be worth looking on the MS website for any updates. Sorry I can't be
more precise right now.

Since you are initiating the merge from Outlook, (a) looks more likely than
(b) as good area to look for a solution.

 

[Sue Davey]

I am initiating the merge in Word and trying to pull in
contacts from an Outlook 2003 public folder, not
initiating it from Outlook.

I am finding the whole transition to XP and Windows 2003
and Office 2003 to be very frustrating. It is pretty
well the same, but MS has just made things more
complicated! I am thinking of reverting back to 98 and
Word 2000!

 

[Graham Mayor]

It is not more complicated as much as different. You need to initiate the
merge from Outlook and you can set up Word to operate more like the earlier
versions.
See http://www.gmayor.com/mailmerge_from_outlook.htm
and http://www.gmayor.com/mail_merge_labels_with_word_xp.htm


--
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP

Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
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[Bernd R.]

Hi,

I have had the same problem with Word 2003 and Exchange Server 2000.
We have about 30 installations of Word 2003 and XP around that all
have the same problem. Neither updating XP or Office 2003 helped.

Graham's work-around does the trick but why has Word a feature
built-in that does not fully work? And why does this not get fixed in
a SP or SR?

Thanks and take care, Bernd.