Word 2000 - Mail merge helper not there

[JMattero]

Hello. I am trying to do a mail merge in Word 2000. I have gone to th
MS web-site and looked for the "How to article, and get the following:

Step 1: Open or Create the Main Document
If you have a document that contains the boilerplate text that you wan
to use, open it. Or, if you want to create a new form letter and n
blank document is currently displayed, click New on the Standar
toolbar.
On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.
In the Main Document area of the Mail Merge Helper dialog box, clic
Create.
Click Form Letters.

You are prompted to either use the active window for the main documen
or create a new main document. Click Active Window. The active documen
becomes the mail merge main document.

Word returns to the Mail Merge Helper.
Go to Step 2: Open or Create the Data Source.

However, when I click on the Tools menu, as directed, I do not have
menu item called "Mail Merge". I have tried re-installing MS Offic
2000, but nothing changed. What am I doing wrong? Also, I will attemp
to do the mail merge using names and addresses listed on an Exce
spreadsheet. Should I convert the spreadsheet to an Access file first
Thanks for any help you may be able to give

 

[LJCox]

I can't tell you why you can't find "mail merge" in your tools menu, bu
you should be able to merge with an excel spreadsheet in 2000 since
do it all the time in '97. There's a drop-down box somewhere in th
process of choosing the source of your data that will allow you t
choose between several inputs, including Access and Excel.

Hope that helps a little, at least

 

[JMattero]

Thanks. I will try that part later. First, though, I have to get to th
Mail Merge Helper. Thanks again for your quick response

 

[Charles Kenyon]

As Dayo Mitchell puts it:
Please note that WordForums.com is a very inefficient way to access these
newsgroups. It is not an independent, self-sufficient website, but simply
piggybacks onto public, international newsgroups. It mirrors the Microsoft
public news server, and mirrors it slowly at that. Your questions show up on
the server hours after you post them, and it seems the answers show up back
at the site late. The majority of the people who may respond to your
question are not using the site.

See here for some suggestions on other ways to access the newsgroups,
including how to find the best VBA group for you.
http://word.mvps.org/FindHelp/index.htm

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi JMattero,

However, when I click on the Tools menu, as directed, I do not have a
menu item called "Mail Merge".

Was your version of Word originally installed as part of the Works
suite? As standalone? As part of Office 2000?

You can try
- Tools/Customize/Commands
- Click on "Mail merge"
- Then drag the Mail Merge Helper button to your Tools button; wait
a while until it drops down (don't let go of the mouse button!);
continue dragging to the position where you'd like to have it.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep 30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question
or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail