The original thread was
http://groups.google.co.uk/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&frame=right&th=1d6
b8b3dc2336861&seekm=%23lU039%23kDHA.2012%40TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl#link1

Try this instead, it worked for me:

Dim objWord As Word.Document
Set objWord = GetObject("<filename>", "Word.Document")
objWord.Application.Visible = True
objWord.Application.Activate

You must have a reference to word 11 objects in the vba.

Jerry

I think I have your answer.  I was also having a problem very similar to yours.  I was opening a mailmerge doc from within access and it would not merge.  What seems to happen is that an information dialog appears reminding you about the sql statement that will open your merge.  I have found a registry key you need to add that will disable that information box, which in turn will keep your document a mail merge instead of a normal document   (kbinfo KB825765)  It worked for me I think it will work for you as well
   
    ----- Kevin McBride wrote: ----
   
    I'd previously posted this, but it has since rolled off the newsgroup, an
    of course, I've forgotten what the solution was.  Any help is greatl
    appreciated..
   
    I've run into a curious problem when automating
    document from Office 2003.  I've tried this with VB6 an
    VB.NET with the same result
   
    I have a mail merge document, with the data source saved
    and I open the document using something like
   
    Dim wrdApp as New Word.Applicatio
    wrdApp.Open(FileName:="MailMerge.Doc"
    wrdApp.Visible = Tru
   
    When the document is opened, it's opened as a Normal Wor
    Document, it's no longer a Mail Merge Letter.  We use th
    wrdDocument.MailMerge.State to return the document type
    and do special processing on Mail Merge docs
   
    Oddly, if I close Word, and open the document directly
    without automation, it opens as a MailMerge doc.  Thi
    only seems to happen with Office 2003, not with Offic
    2002 or 2000.  Any idea's would be greatly appreciated