Re: New Doc from Template w/Data Source Doesn't Inherit Data Source

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From: Charles Kenyon (msnewsgroup_at_remove.no.spam.addbalance.com)
Date: 03/10/04 

Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2004 09:59:24 -0600

I use merge enough that I have the merge toolbar permanently docked on the
right side of my Word screen. I can't think of a reason why that would
change the results I'm getting (that a data source in my template is linked
as the data source for the new document created from the template).

If you use File => Open to open your template (rather than creating a new
document) is the data source linked to it? I know it was created with the
link intact but changing your network setup or file locations can break that
link.

Again, I'm using Word 2003 but I've used merges on Word 97, 2000, and 2002
as well. I don't think this link behavior has changed. If the link is
present in your open template but not in the derivative new document, and no
one else has a solution, write back and I'll work with you on creating a
macro to automatically form the link on document creation. 

-- 
Charles Kenyon
See the MVP FAQ: <URL: http://www.mvps.org/word/> which is awesome!
 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.
<anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9f6d01c40658$80d7c6d0$a401280a@phx.gbl...
> Thank you so very much for replying to my post.  Forgive
> my "dumbness", but I'm having trouble getting this to work
> for me in Word 2K <Word XP lets me choose to use an
> existing template, so this is great!>.
>
> When I select "File/New" and then browse to my templates
> and select a template that has specifically been created
> as a Mail Merge document, including pre-defined data
> source links, Word 2K creates a new document, however, the
> Mail Merge toolbar is not automatically displayed.  In
> fact, when I go to the View menu, and select "Toolbars",
> it doesn't even give me the option of displaying the "Mail
> Merge" toolbar.  If I select "Mail Merge" from the "Tools"
> menu, the Mail Merge Wizard is presented, and it starts
> from "Ground Zero", assuming nothing about my current
> document; this forces me to start over with connecting my
> data source.
>
> Am I missing a step or a configurable item?
>
> Many thanks in advance for any guidance.
> >-----Original Message-----
> >When I use a mailmerge template to create a new document
> based on that
> >template, the file source linked in the template becomes
> linked to the new
> >document. That has been the case for me with Word 97-2003.
> >
> >To create a new document based on a template, use File =>
> New and find your
> >template. Select it or double-click on it. New, linked,
> document.
> >
> >If you are using the MailMerge Task helper in Word 2002-
> 2003, you could tell
> >it that you want your main document to be from an
> existing template and that
> >will take you to the same dialog. (Or at least close to
> the same dialog)
> >-- 
> >
> >Charles Kenyon
> >
> >See the MVP FAQ: <URL: http://www.mvps.org/word/> which
> is awesome!
> > --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------
> --
> >This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
> >and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
> >from my ignorance and your wisdom.
> >
> >"Barbara T" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
> in message
> >news:0c5f01c4055e$e556c430$7d02280a@phx.gbl...
> >> Is this correct:  if I create a Word Template (mostly so
> >> that users don't trash the Mail Merge Main Document) and
> >> link it to a data source (in this case, a table in a
> >> Microsoft Access database), when I select the template
> as
> >> my Mail Merge Main Document, I have to go find my data
> >> source again.
> >>
> >> Is there a way to work around this?
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance!
> >
> >
> >.
> >

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