Article: Q166957
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s): kbinterop winword word97 kbmerge
Last Modified: 14-NOV-2000
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
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SYMPTOMS
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After a mail merge main document has been saved in Rich Text Format (RTF) or
Word 6.0/95 format, you may experience one or both of the following problems.
Case 1: Error Message Opening the File
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When opening the file, you may receive the following message:
<file name>.rtf is a mail merge main document. Word cannot find its
data source.
This message may be followed by:
<file name>.rtf is a mail merge main document. Word cannot find its
header source.
NOTE: These error messages seem to occur most often when opening a mailing label
main merge document in Microsoft Word 6.x for the Macintosh or Microsoft Word
for Windows 95, version 7.x. But they may occur at other times.
Case 2: Merge Type Changed
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Once the file is opened, the merge type of the main document is changed to "Form
Letters."
NOTE: This problem occurs regardless of which merge type the mail merge main
document is set to initially.
WORKAROUND
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To work around this problem, use the appropriate method for your situation.
Method 1: If You Receive the Error Message When You Open the File
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To find the data source, follow these steps:
1. Click Find Data Source.
2. Select the data file associated with the mail merge main document.
3. Click Open.
4. If the following message appears:
<file name>.rtf is a mail merge main document. Word cannot find its
header source.
click Options.
5. In the next dialog box, click Remove Data/Header Source.
Method 2: If the Merge Type Is Changed
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Use the appropriate method for your situation.
Form Letters or Catalogs:
For form letters or catalog merge types, follow these steps:
1. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.
2. In the Mail Merge Helper, click Create, and then click either Form Letters or
Catalog.
You receive the following message:
You can change <file name>.rtf from form letters to <merge type>
or you can create a new main document.
3. Click "Change Document Type."
The document "Merge Type" is now shown correctly in the Mail Merge Helper.
Envelopes or Mailing Labels:
For Envelopes or Mailing Labels merge types, follow these steps:
1. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.
2. In the Mail Merge Helper, click Create, and then click either Envelopes or
Mailing Labels.
You receive the following message:
You can change <file name>.rtf from form letters to mailing labels or
you can create a new main document.
3. Click "Change Document Type."
This may activate the Setup button (in step 1 Main Document) which disables
the Merge button (in step 3 "Merge the Data with the document"). To perform a
mail merge if the Merge Button is disabled, use either of the following
methods.
Use the Mail Merge Toolbar
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a. Click Close to close the Mail Merge Helper.
b. Click the "Merge to New Document" icon on the Mail Merge Toolbar.
Use the Mail Merge Helper
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a. Click Setup.
b. Select the Product Number and click OK.
c. Insert your merge fields and click OK.
You receive the following message:
This mail merge main document is not empty. Continuing will replace all text
in this document with new text.
d. Click OK.
NOTE: You may want to save your mail merge main document in Word format to
prevent this problem from reoccurring.
STATUS
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Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Word
listed at the beginning of this article.
MORE INFORMATION
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For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:
Q161978 WD97: RTF Format Given to File Send in Word 6.0/95
Q162602 WD: Questions About Saving in the Word 6.0/95 File Format
Additional query words: 8.0 8.00
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Keywords : kbinterop winword word97 kbmerge
Technology : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version : WINDOWS:97
Issue type : kbbug
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