WD:Slow Performance Retrieving Access Data with Insert Database

ID: Q181861

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Insert Database feature in Microsoft Word by retrieving information via DDE from Microsoft Access on a Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0 operating system, it will retrieve the information from Microsoft Access very slowly as compared to performing this same action in Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows NT 3.51.

WORKAROUND

To retrieve data from Microsoft Access into Microsoft Word by using the Insert Database button on the Database toolbar without a performance deprivation, use the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) method of retrieval rather than the Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) method of retrieval. To do this, follow the steps appropriate for your version of Word.

Word 97

Follow these steps:

1. Open the document in which you want to insert information from Microsoft

   Access.

2. On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Database.

3. On the Database toolbar, click Insert Database.

4. In the Database dialog box, under Data Source, click Get Data.

5. In the Open Data Source dialog box, click to select the Select Method

   check box, select the Microsoft Access file, and then click Open.

6. In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, click to select MS Access 97
   Database via ODBC (*.mdb) and then click OK.

7. If a Select Table dialog box appears, select a table, and then click OK.

Word 7.x

Follow these steps:

1. On the Insert menu, click Database.

2. In the Database dialog box, under Data Source, click Get Data.

3. In the Open Data Source dialog box, click to select the Select Method

   check box, select the Microsoft Access file, and then click Open.

4. In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, click to select MS Access 7.0
   Database via ODBC (*.mdb), and then click OK.

5. If a Select Table dialog box appears, select a Table, and then click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

If you do not get the selections for ODBC in the Confirm Data Source dialog box, the ODBC drivers may not have been installed. If the ODBC drivers have not been installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component

For additional information ODBC, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q110093
   TITLE     : WD: ODBC--Open Database Connectivity Overview

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163256
   TITLE     : WD97: Updated WBODBC Files Available

For additional information the Insert Database function, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q156486
   TITLE     : WD97: Database Command Missing from the Insert Menu

Additional query words: word95 word7 word97 word8
Version           : WINDOWS:7.0,7.0a,97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending

Last Reviewed: February 11, 1999