Mail merge - how to stop SQL msg on merged docs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark Tangard
  • Start date Start date
M

Mark Tangard

Word 2003 has done something to mail merge where, if we open a document that's
the result of a merge (like a sheet of labels, etc.), we're always asked if we
want to do a re-merge.

Why? I can't imagine most people want or need this, and it's confusing my users
beyond belief. Is there a way to stop that prompt?

TIA
Mark Tangard
 
I think you're misinterpreting the message, but see "Opening This Will Run
the Following SQL Command" Message When You Open a Word Document
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=825765

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

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Thanks, Suzanne, that helps. I'm still not clear on why you'd ever want the
datasource attached once you've done the merge (this is a merged-results
document, not a merge main document), unless it actually would redo the merge
with (presumably) some difference/update in the data.

MT
 
That puzzled me, too, as none of my merged documents do this. Are you sure
the document you're looking at doesn't contain merge fields? Sometimes this
isn't obvious, because Word will populate the fields with data from one of
the records even in a mail merge main document. Alt+F9 should show you the
fields if any are present.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

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all may benefit.
 
I actually considered that, but there are no fields in the result. They're all
pretty simple docs, mostly catalog, oops############# directory merges. The
only quirk, if it is one, is that the merge main doc is created from a template,
rather than from a plain, assembled-on-the-fly collection of merge fields,
because we want a very specific format in the output (certain lines bolder and
different font sizes) and the field structure is a bit complex (if firstname=""
bold the company name, blah blah). The template isn't ancient but was created
in a pre-2003 version of Word. Hmm.

MT
That puzzled me, too, as none of my merged documents do this. Are you sure
the document you're looking at doesn't contain merge fields? Sometimes this
isn't obvious, because Word will populate the fields with data from one of
the records even in a mail merge main document. Alt+F9 should show you the
fields if any are present.
Click to expand...
-- Suzanne S. Barnhill Microsoft MVP (Word) Words into Type Fairhope, Alabama
USA Email cannot be acknowledged; please
 
Most of my merge documents were created in earlier Word versions, too, so I
think that's probably a red herring. All I can say is that I get the message
box only on mail merge main documents, not on the merged results. Sorry I
can't offer any other ideas (especially since I just noticed it's you, Mark
<g>).

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.
 
Hi Mark,

Have you tried attaching the merge result to a different template? Opening a
document does open the template, sort of, in the background...
I actually considered that, but there are no fields in the result. They're all
pretty simple docs, mostly catalog, oops############# directory merges. The
only quirk, if it is one, is that the merge main doc is created from a template,
rather than from a plain, assembled-on-the-fly collection of merge fields,
because we want a very specific format in the output (certain lines bolder and
different font sizes) and the field structure is a bit complex (if firstname=""
bold the company name, blah blah). The template isn't ancient but was created
in a pre-2003 version of Word. Hmm.
Click to expand...

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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the newsgroup and not by e-mail :-)
 
Hi Suzanne,

Actually believe I am having the same problem, but with a slight twist. In my
case I created a mail merge template with a graphic and saved it. When I open
the merged document I get the message "Opening This Will Run the Following SQL
Command", I click ok, and all the merged info is in the document (BTW, I
checked the resulting merge document for fields and there aren't any). However,
two other people have also tried to open the merged file, one gets the SQL
message, the other doesn't, but in both cases, they only see the graphic in the
merged document.

I have posted this puzzle in the word.docmanagement group (subject template
woes). My apologies for cross-posting, but when I saw this thread, the problem
seemed very similar to the one I am having. Cindy Meister has offered a
solution, which is to see if the "non-printing" character checkboxes are
activated. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find that option.

I'd be interested to know if anyone else has had the same issue - and found a
solution. <g>

Cheers,

Jason
 
solution, which is to see if the "non-printing" character checkboxes are
activated. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find that option.
Click to expand...

Tools | Options | View: Formatting marks (in recent versions)

I'm not sure how this relates to your problem. Alt+F9 would display field
codes if any were present.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.
 
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