Mail Merge Compatibility

[Dave]

Hello,
I am in the process of upgrading a client’s office by ordering new PC's.
Most users only need MS Word with a few needing MS Office XP Pro. I would
like to save them some $$$ by ordering only what they need. They use a MS
Access developed application that uses MS Word for the custom documents. The
data for the custom documents is pulled from the MS Access application
database using mail merge. Can I use MS Word 2002 on some PC's and MS Office
XP Pro on other PC's and still be able to share the custom documents of this
application or will using MS Office XP Pro save the document in a format that
MS Word 2002 will not be able to use?

Thanks for any help.
Dave

 

[Peter Jamieson]

In my experience, the only way to be sure about this kind of thing is to
test the specific configurations you are proposing to use.

For example, in this particular case, one factor is the method Word uses to
connect to its (Access) data source. If the application requires that the
DDE connection method is used (DDE is the default in Word 97/2000 and may be
needed for other reasons even with Word/Office XP), then Access must be
present on the machine doing the merge. Otherwise, it should not be
necessary - it should be enough to have the appropriate bits of the data
access kit (MDAC) and Jet installed - but I would still want to verify that
on a real system

Peter Jamieson

 

[Graham Mayor]

Are you sure you have your versions correct here? Word 2002 is the Word
component (Word 10) of Office XP. Office 2003 is the current version (Word
11).

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


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[Dave]

I think you are right. I don't think I will feel great about placing the
software order unless I have tested this out on a real test PC.
Thanks

 

[Dave]

I am trying to order Dell PC's. One configuration will have MS Office XP Pro
and the other will have MS Works Suite which Dell states includes Word 2002.

 

[Graham Mayor]

The Works suite certainly has Word 2002, but I would have though Dell would
have been shipping Office 2003.

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


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[Dave]

Buy ordering the MS Works Suite with Word 2002 for $20 I can save about $300
per PC. Most users only need Word at this office. Only a few need MS Access
and Excel.

 

[Graham Mayor]

I understand that, but are Dell shipping the old version of Office for the
extra $300, or the new version with Word 2003? My point was that I would
have expected the latter.

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


<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>