Word Mail Merge 2003, using Access Query vs Table

[Angie]

We have recently upgraded to Office 2003. We have a
mailmerge that has been using an Access query as the data
source for a couple of years. When I try to establish the
new data source location for the merge document, it only
let's me select Access tables and not the query I need to
select because it contains joined and derived fields.

Any ideas how I get to see and select queries in 2003?

Also, is there a way to access the MailMerge Helper in
Word 2003. I'd like to use the Query Options to filter the
records each time the mail merge is run.

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Angie,

I'd say the best solution for all the issues you list would
be to use the older interfaces from Word 2000 and earlier.
You'll find a list of these, and how to get them back, in the
Word 2002 section of my website's Mail Merge FAQ.

About the queries, particularly: I'm not sure what you mean
by "joined and derived fields". Are you using functions
you've defined in VBA? Parameter queries? Union queries?
Wildcards?

Strictly speaking, there shouldn't be a problem with picking
up straight-forward SELECT queries. In practice, however,
some people have been seeing this, but no one really knows
why the OLE DB interface isn't bringing them across into the
lists. There has been some speculation that it may be due to
different users having created them, or a problem with
permissions...

We have recently upgraded to Office 2003. We have a
mailmerge that has been using an Access query as the data
source for a couple of years. When I try to establish the
new data source location for the merge document, it only
let's me select Access tables and not the query I need to
select because it contains joined and derived fields.

Any ideas how I get to see and select queries in 2003?

Also, is there a way to access the MailMerge Helper in
Word 2003. I'd like to use the Query Options to filter the
records each time the mail merge is run.

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

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[merlin_hatch]

Angie,
I found this problem with 2002 and quickly reverted back
to 2000. Now I am using 2003 and the problem is back. So
far I have traced the problem to split mdb files ie a
backend for tables and the front end for everything else.
With this condition the only way I get to the desired
query is to create the desired query in the backend. I
consider this a critical problem. Having to create the
queries in the backend ruins the logic and need for
splitting the mdb file. Hope Microsoft fixes this in the
very near future. If you have any more data on the problem
please let me know.

 

[Graham Mayor]

Have you seen Cindy's web site article on the different way that Word 2002/3
connect s to data - and the way to resolve the problems?
I don't know if I explain it any better, but see the Excel data section
(Excel and Access have the same issues) at
http://www.gmayor.com/mail_merge_labels_with_word_xp.htm

--
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>

 

[Merlin]

Thanks very much she answered the problem. Her web site is http://www.gmayor.com/mail_merge_labels_with_word_xp.htm

 

[Graham Mayor]

That's *my* web site. The relevant part of Cindy's is
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister/MM2002/MM2002.htm

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>

 

[Jerry]

In the tools->Options->General select the confirm
conversion on open. When you open the file select DDE as
the type and all of your queries will be available.