WD97: Error Message: Word Could Not Open <File Name.doc> 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
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Word 97 Standard Edition
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 file name.doc 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 file name.doc to a normal Word document, the text
of the document will not change. However, file name.doc will no
longer be a mail merge main document. Do you want to continue?
- From the Mail Merge Helper, click the Close button.
- Save and close from the data source.
- Perform the mail merge process again.
Additional query words: printmerge mailmerge datasource datafile
Keywords: kbmerge KB157106