PRB: "Cannot Start Microsoft Word" with Empty Database

ID: Q117215

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

The following error messages may occur when you are performing a mail merge in FoxPro 2.6 for Windows: 

   Cannot start Microsoft Word
If Microsoft Word is already running, the following error message will be reported by Word: 

   Word could not merge the main document with the data source
   because the records were empty or no data records match your
   query option.

CAUSE

The database file does not contain any records.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, add a record to the database, and then perform the mail merge. Word will now start correctly.

Make sure you check the database for existing records before performing a mail merge.

MORE INFORMATION

If FoxPro 2.6 is terminated before you close Word after you have received the error message "Cannot start Microsoft Word," the following Windows DDE error message will appear on the screen: 

   An Application Using DDE did not respond to the system exit command.

   *Choose Retry to attempt to close the application and
    return to WINDOWS.
   *Choose Continue to repeatedly attempt to close the application and
    return to WINDOWS.
   *Choose Close to exit the application that is not responding. You may
    lose any unsaved information in this application.
Additional reference words: FoxWin 2.60 initiated errmsg err msg KBCategory: kbinterop kbprg kberrmsg kbprb KBSubcategory: FxinteropDde

Last Reviewed: June 26, 1995