WD98: Mail Merge with Merged Cells in Data Table Hangs Word

• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you attach a data file to a mail merge main document, Microsoft Word may stop responding when switching between Edit Data Source and Edit Main Document.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the data file contains too many merged columns, rows, and cells.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, reformat the data file into a standard format such as a tab-delimited or comma-delimited file, or a standard table or spreadsheet structure.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Word 98 allows you to merge (or combine) adjacent and vertical table rows, columns, or cells. By doing so, you can create a table that is too difficult for Word to parse into the correct rows and columns. If this occurs, Word may stop responding when working with the data file.

NOTE: Because the table drawing tool uses cell merging and splitting frequently to create and format tables, it may create a table that is too difficult for Word 98 to parse.

REFERENCES

For more information about creating data files, click Contents And Index on the Help menu (or on the Balloon Help menu if you are using a version of the Macintosh operating system earlier than 8.0), click the Index button in MS Word Help, type the following text

   mail merge,setting

Keywords          : kbmerge
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbpending