WD: Word Cannot Open <Filename> as a Data or Header Source
Article ID: 188567
Article Last Modified on 8/17/2005
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Word 6.0 for Macintosh
- Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
- Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
- Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Word 6.0a
- Microsoft Word 6.0c
- Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Word 95a
This article was previously published under Q188567
SYMPTOMS
When you set up a mail merge in Word, the following error message is
displayed:
Word cannot open <filename.doc> as a data or header source because
it is a mail merge main document.
CAUSE
This behavior is by design of Microsoft Word. 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 will appear:
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?
Click the Yes button.
- 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: kbinfo kbmerge KB188567