DOCUMENT:Q195202 05-MAR-2002 [word97] TITLE :WD97: Err Msg: "Word Could Not Merge the Main Document..." PRODUCT :Word 97 for Windows PROD/VER:: OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbdta word97 kbmerge ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Word 97 for Windows ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you try to merge a range of records from your data source, the following error message may appear: Word could not merge the main document with the data source because the data records were empty or no data records matched your query options. CAUSE ===== This problem may occur when the query condition you are trying to set in the query options does not match your data source. WORKAROUND ========== Use one of the following methods appropriate for your situation. Method 1: Correct Your Query Options ------------------------------------ Edit your data source and make sure that the "Compare to" of your query options matches exactly the data contained in your data source. For example, if you are trying to set a query option to filter the FirstName field to match a particular first name, make sure that the name is contained in the FirstName column of your data source. NOTE: The FirstName field value must match EXACTLY the value you typed in the "Compare to" field of your query option (query option values are case sensitive). Method 2: Reattach Your Data Source ----------------------------------- When you attach and save a data source to a mail merge main document, Word "remembers" which data source is attached by saving the attached file's path and file name in the main document. Word also remembers the query options that may have been previously set. Use the following steps to reattach your mail merge main document to your data source: 1. Open your mail merge main document. 2. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge. 3. In the Mail Merge Helper, click Create and then click "Restore to Normal Word document". NOTE: At this point, your mail merge main document does not have a data source attached. Therefore, all information pertaining to the data source link and query options will be lost. 4. Click Create and then click the type of main document you had previously set for your mail merge main document. NOTE: When Word prompts you to use either the active document or a new document, click Active Document. 5. Click Get Data, attach your data source to your mail merge main document, and then try setting your query options, if needed. To work around this problem, instead of merging to a new document or to the printer with query options set, follow these steps: 1. In your main document, click View Merged Data on the Mail Merge toolbar. 2. Click Next Record to find the correct record you want. NOTE: You see one record at a time, and the information will populate your main document. 3. On the File menu, click Print. 4. Repeat steps 2-3 for each record that you want to merge. MORE INFORMATION ================ As an example of the error message, if you have the following records in your data file Record_Number First_Name Last_Name ----------------------------------------- 1 Erin O'Melia 2 Lani Ota 3 Suanne Nagata 4 Jeff Smith and you instruct Word to merge records 2 through 4, and you set the query options to filter those records in which First_Name is equal to Smith, Word displays the error message. For information about using the Query Options feature, click Microsoft Word Help Topics on the Help menu. On the Find tab, type "query" (without the quotation marks). Select the "Select data records from a data source" topic. Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbdta word97 kbmerge Technology : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2 Version : : Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.