I am using Office 2000 with forms created in Word (mail merge codes)
utilizing Excel 2000 for my database.

Recenly we have begun to experience a disconnet with the DDE associations to
the database in Excel.  The forms open fine and work fine until you want to
close them.  At that point the form file takes an extended amount of time to
close, an error box pops up asking if I want to continue to wait.  I say "no"
a box pops up asking me to choose the source file to associate to this form
file.  I navigate to it and choose the same Excel file that we have been
using all along.  I have to then merge the file again so that the filter
categories in the query box are available.  Then save the file.

I have plenty of RAM on the individual computer stations as well as the
server, and plenty of HD on the server.

The Excel database file is read only to everyone but me.  I notice that I do
not have any problems if I am the only person using the word and excel files,
but once someone else accesses a file the DDE connections are lost.

Why is this happening?

Thank you for your help.