Microsoft KB Archive/81897

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Print Merge w/Data File in Excel 4.0 Format Causes Error

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Q81897

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a

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SUMMARY
In Microsoft Word for Windows versions 2.0 and 2.0a, when you perform a print merge using a data file in Microsoft Excel version 4.0 XLS format, you receive the following error message:

Word has detected a Field name in the Header record which is not valid. This error must eventually be corrected in order to complete a successful Print Merge.

The error message dialog box contains the following buttons:

Fix Error Now

Fix Error Later

Help

If you choose the Fix Error Now button, Word for Windows attempts to open the Excel spreadsheet. This file is filled with unreadable code and is not editable. You should close the file and choose the No button when prompted to save any changes.

MORE INFORMATION
This problem occurs because Word for Windows version 2.0 and 2.0a didn't come with a converter for Excel 4.0 files. Attempting to directly open an Excel 4.0 file in Word for Windows or insert an Excel 4.0 file into a Word for Windows document will result in the alert, &quot;Excel File Conversion: File is not an Excel formatted document.&quot;

Workaround
Upgrade to the latest version of Word for Windows. Word for Windows version 2.0b and later included a converter that could read Excel 4.0 file format.

To work around this problem, return to Excel 4.0, open the data file, and choose to save it in one of the following three formats:

Excel version 3.0

Excel version 2.1

CSV (Comma Separated Values) Return to Word for Windows, and attempt the print merge again.

Additional query words: 2.0 2.00a 2.00b 2.0b 2.00c 2.0c excel xl err msg errmsg textconv xlbiff

Keywords : kbconversion

Issue type :

Technology :