Sorry if it wasn't clear, I'll try again.

I am using Outlook 2003 and I created a contacts file in the Contacts
folder. I exported the file to excel using the import/export routine and used
the list thus created to make a file of address labels using mail-merge in
Word. (If there is another way of creating labels from an outlook contacts
file I would be grateful if you could tell me how.) I later made changes in
the contacts file and needed to export it again, but it wouldn't allow me to
(I cannot remember the error message) so I deleted the previous exported file
and it then did allow me to do another export
so that I could update the labels.  I can now still see the contacts file
but it says it has been deleted and I cannot access it any more. If I try to
access it, it forces Outlook to close and reopen.

I am not sure how else to describe what is happening.