use Word 2003 and export my data files from Access 2003. I save merge files
as templates (eg letters, labels, envelopes etc) and each time I select them
- file/new the data file has been removed from the doc.

If I save the merge file as a .doc file and just open it, this doesn't
happen, but it defeats the purpose of the whole template idea.

Any suggestions how to stop this happening. My export files are text file
and are comma and para mark delimited.