Microsoft KB Archive/188567

= WD: Word Cannot Open  as a Data or Header Source =

Article ID: 188567

Article Last Modified on 8/17/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 6.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 6.0a
 * Microsoft Word 6.0c
 * Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 95a

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This article was previously published under Q188567





SYMPTOMS
When you set up a mail merge in Word, the following error message is displayed:

Word cannot open  as a data or header source because it is a mail merge main document.



CAUSE
This behavior is by design of Microsoft Word. The file that you are attempting to attach as a data (header) source has been previously set as a main document in Word.



WORKAROUND
To reset the condition of the data source, follow these steps:  Close all documents currently open in Word. Open the data file you want to use in the merge. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge. In the Mail Merge Helper, click the Create button. From the Create list, click "Restore to Normal Word Document."

The following message will appear:

By restoring <file name.doc> to a normal Word document, the text of the document will not change. However, <file name.doc> will no longer be a mail merge main document. Do you want to continue?

Click the Yes button.</li> From the Mail Merge Helper, click the Close button.</li> Save and close from the data source.</li> Perform the mail merge process again.</li></ol>

Additional query words: printmerge mailmerge datasource datafile

Keywords: kbinfo kbmerge KB188567

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