Yes, this is how it works. I've put a button on my merge toolbar that locks
all the merge fields. It could also change the document to a regular Word
document (non-merge) so as to close out the data file I suppose. (I have a
separate button that converts non-merge documents into merge documents,
attaches my data file, and brings up a dialog to select a data file.)
--
Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide

See also the MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word which is awesome!
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wrote in message
oups.com...
Case: an excel file is currently in use as data source (mail merge with
a Word 2003 document).

Question: is it normal that the excel file can not be opened in excel
(i.e. for altering data) at the same time by the same or another user?