Word crashes when i ....

[AChilli]

Hi,

If i have mergefield data that has a carriage return and a line feed in it
and the field is inserted into a textbox Word will crash when they mailmerge
document is saved (the merged data is showing). HELP! I'm slowly going insane
here ....

-> TAB
** Carriage Return Line Feed

Text datasource looks like this:

"Field1" -> "Field2"**
"Value1**
Value2" -> "Value3"

Now insert "Field1" into a textbox and show the merge data & hit save.
Word will crash.

Does anyone know of a workaround or if Microsoft will fix this?

Thanks.

 

[Graham Mayor]

I don't understand the layout of your data file, but that aside, there are
two issues that need to be addressed.

1. Text boxes are not in the text plane and therefore fields do not work
reliably if at all when placed in them.Use frames or tables.
2. If Word crashes it leaves all sorts of junk behind that needs attention
or the problems may be perpetuated. See
http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[AChilli]

Hi Graham,

I have sent you an email outlining the problem in greater detail.
This issue doesn't happen on any of the previous versions of word.

 

[Graham Mayor]

Please don't post unsolicited attachments!!!!

I have tested your data and it does not crash Word 2003 here.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[AChilli]

Hi Graham,

Are you sure you followed my steps properly?

I have been able to reproduce this behaviour on all machines within
my office and for the support staff at Microsoft Australia.

Step1. Open a blank document
Step2. Show the mail merge toolbar
Step3. Show the drawing toolbar
Step4. Click the first icon (main document setup) and click 'letters' and
click ok.
Step5. Click the second icon (open data source) and browse to the text file
i sent you.
Step6. Draw a textbox on the document.
Step7. Click the sixth icon (insert merge fields) and insert "Field1" into
the textbox.
Step8. Click the eigth icon (view merged data)
Step9. Now click save on this document.

I will be very surprised if word doesn't crash.

 

[Graham Mayor]

I have just repeated it - it still doesn't crash. However I have Word set to
confirm conversions (tools > options > general > convert conversions on
open) and this puts an extra step in the process to select the conversion
type between 5 & 6. Select plain text.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[AChilli]

Hi Graham,

Thanks for your reply, I tried setting the confirm conversions and selecting
plain text but it still crashes on my machine and others. I will try
completely uninstalling & reinstalling Office 2003 (Small Business Edition)
and reapplying SR1. Is there anyway to group frames similar to how shapes can
be grouped (we have complex documents which need this functionality)?

Thanks again for your help.