Re: Why can't Word initiate DDE link with Excel in mail merge?

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It may be worth trying to do something like:
a. use File|Save As to save whatever document is provided to you in a
different format, such as rtf or an older .doc format, or disconnect from
the data source altogether (only the data source info. and sort/selection
info is lost - all the fields should be preserved) by changing the document
to be a "normal Word document", then try to reconnect, or try to save in a
different format
b. re-open and try to make the connection.

Of course, you may not be able to do that if the connection hangs.

I would actually guess it's a problem at the sender end, in which case it
may be worth trying to persuade them either to
a. disconnect from the data source before they send you the document, or
b. save in a different format before they send, or
c. do a bit of troubleshooting, e.g. rename their Normal.dot or
rename/delete the data key in the Word part of the Windows registry. I'm not
sure any of the articles at http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/index.htm is the sort
of thing you could direct your sender to in this particular case, but
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ProbsOpeningWord.htm may be relevant
even if their copy of Word is not crashing or opening slowly.

Peter Jamieson

"ANorth" <ANorth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:79676D83-0961-423D-A57A-9DE8DF20977A@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Thank you for your reply. After several attempts I (think) I have
> concluded
> that the problem is with the Word form letter, rather than the Excel
> spreadsheets I receive. My sender creates a letter in Word that I am to
> convert into a merge form letter. I went back and used an older form
> letter
> that I knew would merge with the spreadsheets. So, it appears that it has
> to
> do with Word; either their version or, as you suggested, an update I've
> installed. Any further suggestions you have are most appreciated.
> Thanks!
>
> "Peter Jamieson" wrote:
>
>> The old DDE communications method hasn't been reliable for quite some
>> time
>> now (not that any of the other methods are ideal). In this case, it may
>> be
>> worth checking to see whether older Spreadsheets work fine (in which case
>> something has probably changed at the "other person's" end). If not, the
>> problem might be
>> a. the result of a Windows or Office update applied recently on your
>> system
>> b. that you are using another application that relies on DDE and which
>> is
>> hanging for some reason
>>
>> If it's (b) you'll probably know about it as it would suggest you are
>> using
>> something you hadn't used much before.
>>
>> If it's (a), there are a couple of potentially relevant Microsoft KB
>> articles concerning DDE (have a look at http://support.microsoft.com - I
>> can
>> probably be more specific if you can't find anything that looks relevant)
>>
>> In any case, you could always try connecting to the Excel *** using
>> ODBC
>> or the Excel converter (check "Select method" in the Open Data Source
>> dialog
>> box, and select the ODBC or converter option). However, there are
>> significant differences in the way that the DDE/ODBC/Converter methods
>> behave, and in particular you may need to start using numeric and
>> date/time
>> "switches" in your Word MERGEFIELD fields to get similar results to the
>> ones
>> you're used to.
>>
>> Peter Jamieson
>>
>> "ANorth" <ANorth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:752DB4A2-A260-4CEF-8408-9EDDFD7F2D7A@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >I use Word 2000 for mail merge frequently. Lately when trying to merge
>> >a
>> > spread*** from Excel into a form letter it just runs and runs and
>> > won't
>> > finish "initiating the DDE link". I receive the Excel spreadsheets,
>> > via
>> > email attachment, from another person who may be using Office 2003. My
>> > operating system is XP.
>>
>>
>>


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