Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Why do I have to redefine the fields every time in mail merge
Hi
I created a document called "MergeLabels.doc" for a friend several years ago. I formatted it for some avery lables and linked it a to a "labels.csv" file. She has another (internet based) application which she uses to create new "labels.csv" files when necessary. She would replace the old "labels.csv" file, open "MakeLabels.doc", click the "Merge to new documents button" and bingo, the new labels appear in a new doc. Now she's upgraded and when she opens the doc she gets a "Word cannot find the datasource" message box with the full document and pathname displayed. I went throught various dialog boxes and the mail merge wizard and was able to connect and create the labels. MY PROBLEM is that I have not been able to figure out HOW TO "SAVE" THE "CONNNECTION" to the "labels.csv" file. Every time, I open the file I get some message which forces me to map to the file and/or fields again. Can anyone help? Thanks! Steve |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Now she's upgraded and when she opens the doc she gets a "Word cannot
find the datasource" message box with the full document and pathname displayed. I went throught various dialog boxes and the mail merge wizard and was able to connect and create the labels. MY PROBLEM is that I have not been able to figure out HOW TO "SAVE" THE "CONNNECTION" to the "labels.csv" file. Every time, I open the file I get some message which forces me to map to the file and/or fields again. To which version has your acquaintance upgraded? Are you/she trying to save any filters/record selections? If one links the csv file to a newly created document and saves that (as a test), is the behavior more as you'd expect? Cindy Meister INTER-Solutions, Switzerland http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004) 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 :-) |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Hi Cindy
Thanks for responding. She's using 2003. Yes, if when I go through the wizard in a new doc; e.x. (no necessarily in this order) 1) create a new document 2) start the mailmerge wizard 3) choose the style of labels, 4) format the data on the labels 5) link to the csv file, 6) map the fields etc, etc.. it works fine. I can then merge the labels to a new document or directly to a printer without a problem. I think somewhere in the wizard I selected sort and "ignore blanks" options. However, in the past, she didn't have to do steps 1 - 6. I did it once, and saved the file. She could then open the saved file, click the "merge to new document" button and it would create the labels based on the data in the csv file. Is this no longer possible? Thanks! Steve |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
I just realized that I didn't answer your question. When I create a
new file and save it, then open it I still get the message "Word cannot find the datasource..". The csv file is on her C: drive. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
I just realized that I didn't answer your question. When I create a
new file and save it, then open it I still get the message "Word cannot find the datasource..". The csv file is on her C: drive. Hmmm. Usually, I'd expect to see the problem when - the data source is Excel or Access - one has selected particular records from the "Recipients" list If that's not the case here, then I'm not sure what, exactly, could be causing the problem. I'd like you to try something. Word changed the default connection method starting in Word 2002 to OLE DB. Before that, for delimited text files, Word used either its internal text converter or ODBC. The former was considered the most reliable. In order to CHOOSE a connection method in Word 2003 you have to activate "Confirm conversions on open" in Tools/Options/General. After selecting the data source file, you should get a list of possibilities. Try all three and see if any of them work better. Cindy Meister INTER-Solutions, Switzerland http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004) 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 :-) |
Reply |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Calculate Time in Word Tables | Tables | |||
ASK and FILLIN fields in INCLUDETEXT documents do not merge correc | Mailmerge | |||
Custom Fields in Word 2002 (XP) | Microsoft Word Help | |||
Using MAILMERGE fields within HYPERLINK fields for Merge to Email | Mailmerge | |||
posting data from text input fields to fields later in document | Microsoft Word Help |