Microsoft KB Archive/182233

= DMM: "Format Option Is Invalid" Importing Address Book as Text =

Article ID: 182233

Article Last Modified on 11/7/2000

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Direct Mail Manager for Windows

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This article was previously published under Q182233



SYMPTOMS
If you import your address list as a text file and you choose 'Other' as the delimiter, when you click OK the following error message may be shown:

Error (3442) - In the text file specification '', the Format option is invalid.

This error occurred when attempting to open the address list file ' :\ \'. Please check that (1) the file exists, (2) you have selected a file format supported by Direct Mail Manager, and (3) it is not locked or your access is otherwise restricted.

NOTE: This problem occurs when you do not type the specific delimiter that is contained in your text file and you leave the "Other" box blank.



CAUSE
This behavior is by design. Direct Mail Manager does not automatically recognize the type of delimiter that is contained in your text file.



WORKAROUND
To work around this behavior, type the specific delimiter that is contained in your text file. To do this, follow these steps:  In Direct Mail Manager, click OK to close the error message and return to the "Where is your address list?" dialog box. Click the Next button to import the same delimited text file. In the "Delimited Text File Options" dialog box, type the delimiter from your text file in the box next to the "Other" option. For example, if your text file looks like

Name~Address~City~State~Zip

Stu~222 2nd St.~Seattle~WA~98025

Sam~333 3rd Dr.~Everett~WA~98005

then you would click to select (check) the "Other" check box and type a tilde (~) inside the text box.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information about delimited text files, click the Help button Microsoft Direct Mail Manager, and then click the Index button. On the Index tab in Help Topics, type the following text

delimited

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Delimited Text" topic.

Additional query words: dmm

Keywords: kbprb KB182233

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