Word encountered an error during mail merge process. Help!

[Toody]

Hello Everyone,

Every time I tried to update my datasource (Word 2000 .doc datasource) or
perform any of the mail merge proceses in Word 2003 today.. I get several
error messages. This happens after I select the datasource and attempt to
select "next arrange your labels>" Initially, it made it to the end of the
mail merge, but each successive time, I attemped a mail merge, the error came
earlier and earlier in the process.

This is what happens when I click on any one of the Mail Merge commands:

"Microsoft Office Word -- Micorosoft Office Word has enountered a problem
and needs to chlose. We are sorry for the incomvenience." I am given the
option to recover my work and restart word and tell MS about the problem. I
selected Yes.

Another dialog box appeared with a list that I can't make heads or tails of.
One thing I was able to make out is: The following document will be added to
this report: C:\Docume~1MyName\Locals~1\temp\1776703.cvr.

I sent the report.

This dialog box appeared:

"Microsoft office Word autmatically saved changes to the normal template. Do
you want to lod it?" (The help menu suggested that I not do this if I didn't
think I made any changes, since it may unleash some malicious macros. I
declined to load it.

I clicked on "See more information," but the a web page with the ID 10305
Office 11.0 appeared with the message that there are no articles on this
error.

Another dialog box appeared, saying "opening this document will run the
following SQL command Select* (It gave the location and name of the folder,
file and sort options that I selected from mail merge.)"

"Data from your database will be placed in the document. Do you want to
continue?" If I select 'Yes,' I get another 'Word has encountered a problem
and needs to close' comment. Do you want to save... If I opt to save, the
Word screen appears and the redaction screen shows the name of my recovered
file appears on the left side of the screen. If I try to click on it, nothing
appears. If I select "No" one page of my recovered file appears: one label
contains all the proper information, the rest (29) show fields only.

I'm then prompted to save changes to redaction. If I say "yes" I get into
more problems, so I select "no." As long as the original file has been saved.
I'm okay. However, sometime I have to resort to editing/updating up my Word
2000 .doc datasource by opening it and changing the information in the tables.

I was able to do complete and print two mail merges today -- out of the 10+
that I tried. (I took a break between each, so as not to overload Word 2003.)

I tried checking for viruses and spyware, but they found nothing unusual. I
also deleted my temporary files and tried one last time. One datasource under
Word 2000 merged, one did not. The third one, save under My Documents
Datasource folder allowed me to edit and merge.

This just started happening today, and nothing odd has happened or been
installed in my computer, except for the Word Redaction add-on, which was
installed a month ago. Since then, I have received the comment, "Asking me if
I want to save changes made to my Normal.dot template," which I declined

Any help you can give me will be much appreciated...I have a lot of merges
to perform!! I'm sorry that this is so long.

 

[Graham Mayor]

See http://www.gmayor.com/what_to_do_when_word_crashes.htm then
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProblemsStartingWord.htm. with
particular attention to the normal template and any add-ins you may have
installed.
Re the SQL message - You receive the "Opening this will run the following
SQL command" message when you open a Word mail merge main document that is
linked to a data source - http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=825765. See
also the Word macro to toggle the registry setting referred to in that link
at http://www.gmayor.com/word_vba_examples.htm#SQL.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Toody]

I'll have to read your links more thoroughly, but I'll have to admit, I'm no
computer genius. Will getting rid of the temporary files listed on one of
your links help me to continue and complete my merge, or will it only help me
to recover from the crash?

Also, do I need the redaction add-on? If not, is there a way to delete it?

Thanks for your quick response with the links!

 

[Graham Mayor]

Getting rid of the temporary files will improve stability.
If you don't know whether you need the redaction add-in then you clearly
don't need it. Uninstall it.
If these measures don't fix the problem then read through the
troubleshooting tips in the links I provided
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Toody]

Sorry to bother you again, but...Will your instructions on "What to Do if
Word Crashes" work on Word 2003? I just see a reference to Word 2007. And
lastly, how do I properly remove the redaction add-in from Word?

I appreciate all your help. I was at my wits end!

 

[Graham Mayor]

The measures apply to all versions of Word - where there are differences
they are mentioned in the texts hence the reference to 2007

You can uninstall the add-in by running the Windows Control Panel Add or
Remove Programs applet and removing Microsoft Office Word 2003 Redaction
Add-in

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Toody]

Great! Okay, I seem to have fixed the problem. Thank you very much for your
help. I do have one last question: When I went to clear the temporary files
in Word, there was one that could not be removed because it was in use by
another program, thus, preventing the removal of the ones listed after it.
What do I do in a case like this? Remove the rest one at a time? (I closed
all my programs before performing this procedure.)

Have a great day.

 

[Graham Mayor]

It rather depends on which temporary file you are talking about. If you have
any instance of Word running (check with CTRL+ALT+Delete > processes) it
will hold open at least the normal.dot lock file. If however you mean files
in the Windows temporary folder, then leave them until immediately after a
reboot. If you still cannot delete then supply some more information.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Toody]

Hello Again,

The temp file was ~DF483, but I don't see it anymore! (It was located in
C:\Documents and Settings\MyName\Local Settings\Temp.)