DOCUMENT:Q257951  14-NOV-2000  [word97]
TITLE   :WD97: Incorrect Result Performing Mail Merge w/Excel Data Source
PRODUCT :Word 97 for Windows
PROD/VER:WINDOWS:97
OPER/SYS:
KEYWORDS:kbdta word8 word97 kbmerge

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The information in this article applies to:

 - Microsoft Word 97 for Windows 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you perform a mail merge with an Excel data source, the results of the mail
merge may not be correct. For example, a record that contains a blank field in
the data source displays the data from the previous record in the merge results.

CAUSE
=====

Microsoft Word used Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE), which is the default, to
connect to your data source.

RESOLUTION
==========

The Select Method check box in the Open Data Source dialog box lets you choose
other connection methods, including ODBC.

WORKAROUND
==========

To work around this problem, use the Excel Worksheet Converter to connect to
your data source. To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.

2. In the Mail Merge Helper dialog box, click Get Data, and then click Open Data
   Source.

3. In the Open Data Source dialog box, click "MS Excel Worksheet (*.xls)" in the
   Files of type list, and then locate and select your Excel data file.

4. Select the Select Method check box, and then click Open.

5. In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, select "MS Excel Worksheet via
   Converter (*.xls, *.xlw)", and then click OK.

6. In the Open Worksheet dialog box, click Entire Workbook in the Open Document
   in Workbook list, and then click OK.

   -or-

   In the Open Worksheet dialog box, click the appropriate sheet in the Open
   Document in Workbook list, click the appropriate Name or Cell Range, and then
   click OK.

7. Follow the Mail Merge Helper prompts to set up your main document, and
   continue the mail merge.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that
are listed at the beginning of this article.

REFERENCES
==========

For additional information, click the article numbers below to view the articles
in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   Q155179 WD97: How to Use Microsoft Excel Data Source for Word Mail Merge

   Q141922 WD97: How to Start a Mail Merge

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbdta word8 word97 kbmerge 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbnofix

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