Microsoft KB Archive/172819

= WD97: Main Document Not Connected to Data Source in Word 6.x/7.x =

Article ID: 172819

Article Last Modified on 1/20/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q172819



SYMPTOMS
In Word 6.x or 7.x, if you use the Word 97 import converter to open a mail merge main document created in Word 97, the data document is no longer attached to the main document.

NOTE: The text, formatting, and field codes of the main document remain intact, but the main document is no longer a mail merge main document and the data file is no longer attached. No error messages are displayed.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: Reattach the Data File in Word 6.x or 7.x
If you have the Word 97 import converter, follow these steps:
 * 1) Open the main document in Word 6.x or 7.x using the Word 97 import converter.
 * 2) On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.
 * 3) Under Main Document, click Create, and then click Form Letters.
 * 4) Click Active Window.
 * 5) Under Data Source, click Get Data, and then click Open Data Source.
 * 6) Navigate to and select the Word 97 data document.
 * 7) Click Open.
 * 8) In the Mail Merge Helper dialog box click Close.

Method 2: Save the Documents in Word 6.0/95 Format
If you do not have the Word 97 import converter, save both the mail merge main document and the data document in Word 6.0/95 format. To do this, follow these steps:
 * 1) Open the mail merge main document in Word 97.
 * 2) On the File menu click Save As.
 * 3) In the Save As Type list, click Word 6.0/95, and type a new file name.
 * 4) Repeat steps 1 through 3 for the data document.
 * 5) In Word 6.x or 7.x, open the main mail merge document you saved in step 3.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

