Mail Merge XP - Access Database

[Briana]

In Word XP, mail merge is quite a bit different...It
forces you to use a wizard and the data source that is
created is automatically saved as an Access file. I need
to know if #1) Is there a way to get around the wizard
and do a mail merge without it? #2) Is there a way to
have the data source saved as something OTHER than
Access? Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Peter Jamieson]

#1 in Word XP the simplest way around the Wizard is probably to enable the
Mailmerge toolbar (e.g. using Tools|Customize) and use the icons starting at
the left hand end. Unlike in Word 2000 and earlier, the toolbar is not
displayed/hidden depending on whether the document is a mail merge main
document. Or you can also use Tools|Customize|Commands, select category All
Commands, and locate the old MailMergeHelper dialog and drag it to a
toolbar. It doesn't work in exactly the same way as it used to but you may
find it useful.

#2 Using the Create Data source button in the old MailMergeHelper is one way
to do this. Creating whatever data source you need outside the mail merge
process and using Open Data Source/Select Data Source to connect to it is
also an option. However, some data sources can be edited in Word 2002's
Recipients dialog and others cannot, which may have a bearing on your
choices.

 

[briana]

Thank you SO much. The MailMerge Helper was exactly what
I need. Thanks for all your help!