Microsoft KB Archive/157106

= WD97: Error Message: Word Could Not Open  as a Data or Header Source Because It Is the Active Mail Merge Main Document =

Article ID: 157106

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q157106





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

Word could not open  as a data or header source because it is the active mail merge main document.



CAUSE
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 appears:

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

Click Yes.</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: kbmerge KB157106

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