WD2000: "Word was unable to open the data source" Using Address Book

• Microsoft Word 2000

SYMPTOMS

When you try to attach a data source for a mail merge document using Use Address Book, the following error message appears:

Word was unable to open the data source.

CAUSE

You may have an Outlook Personal Distribution List that contains a Global Distribution List and one or more single members.

To view your personal distribution list in Outlook 2000, do the following:

1. In Outlook 2000, click on the Contacts folder.



2. In your list of contacts, find your Personal Distribution List.



3. Double-click the Personal Distribution List to view the contents.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, you can set your Exchange Services Keep Personal Addresses In setting to Personal Address Book.

1. In Outlook, on the Tools menu, click Services.



2. On the Addressing tab in the Keep personal addresses in list box, click to select Personal Address Book.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about Personal Distribution List, click Microsoft Outlook 2000 Help on the Help menu, type "Personal Distribution List" in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.

REFERENCES

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

Q224056 WD2000: ErrMsg: "Word was unable to open the data source."

Q211191 WD2000: Unable to Open Data Source Using MS Query

Q198298 WD2000: Can't Insert Address with Netscape Navigator

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kbdta wd2000 
Version           : WINDOWS:2000
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug 

Last Reviewed: May 13, 1999