Microsoft KB Archive/116266

“Reference Source Not Found” Converting MS-DOS Word Main Doc

PSS ID Number: Q116266 Article last modified on 11-01-1994

6.00 6.00a | 6.00

WINDOWS | MS-DOS

= SYMPTOMS =

When you convert a Word 6.0 for MS-DOS print merge main document to Word 6.0 for Windows format, the following error occurs in place of the mail merge field codes:

Error! Reference source not found.

= CAUSE =

Word for Windows incorrectly converts the Word for MS-DOS <> print merge field code to a REF field instead of a MERGEFIELD field.

Word for Windows converts the <> print merge code to the following REF field:

{REF Firstname}

instead of converting it to the following correct MERGEFIELD field:

{MERGEFIELD Firstname}

Because of the REF field, Word looks for a bookmark named “Firstname,” which does not exist.

= WORKAROUND =

After you convert your Word for MS-DOS document to Word for Windows file format, use the following procedure to replace the REF fields with MERGEFIELD fields and update the modified fields:


 * 1) Press ALT+F9 to switch to field codes view.
 * 2) From the Edit menu, choose Replace.
 * 3) In the Find What box, type “REF” (without the quotation marks, in caps, with a space after) and select the Match Case option.
 * 4) In the Replace With box, type “MERGEFIELD” (without the quotation marks, with a space after).
 * 5) Choose the Replace All button.
 * 6) Choose the Close button.
 * 7) From the Edit menu, choose Select All.
 * 8) Press F9 to update all the fields in the document. The “Reference source…” error message should be replaced by MERGEFIELD fields.
 * 9) Press ALT+F9 to return to field results view. In place of the MERGEFIELD fields, you should now see the mail merge record names, such as <>. You can now use this document in a Word for Windows mail merge operation.

KBCategory: kbinterop KBSubCategory: Additional reference words: 6.00 6.00a w4wmerge wdmerge ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.