DMM: "Format Option Is Invalid" Importing Address Book as Text

ID: Q182233

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Direct Mail Manager for Windows

SYMPTOMS

If you import your address list as a text file and you choose 'Other' as the delimiter, when you click OK the following error message may be shown:

   Error (3442) - In the text file specification '<file name.txt>', the
   Format option is invalid.

   This error occurred when attempting to open the address list file
   '<drive>:\<path>\<file name.txt>'. Please check that (1) the file
   exists, (2) you have selected a file format supported by Direct Mail
   Manager, and (3) it is not locked or your access is otherwise
   restricted.

NOTE: This problem occurs when you do not type the specific delimiter that is contained in your text file and you leave the "Other" box blank.

CAUSE

This behavior is by design. Direct Mail Manager does not automatically recognize the type of delimiter that is contained in your text file.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, type the specific delimiter that is contained in your text file. To do this, follow these steps:

1. In Direct Mail Manager, click OK to close the error message and return

   to the "Where is your address list?" dialog box.

2. Click the Next button to import the same delimited text file.

3. In the "Delimited Text File Options" dialog box, type the delimiter

   from your text file in the box next to the "Other" option. For
   example, if your text file looks like

      Name~Address~City~State~Zip
      Stu~222 2nd St.~Seattle~WA~98025
      Sam~333 3rd Dr.~Everett~WA~98005

   then you would click to select (check) the "Other" check box and type a
   tilde (~) inside the text box.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about delimited text files, click the Help button Microsoft Direct Mail Manager, and then click the Index button. On the Index tab in Help Topics, type the following text

   delimited

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Delimited Text" topic.

Additional query words: dmm

Keywords          : kbdta kbdmm 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 12, 1999