New Doc from Template w/Data Source Doesn't Inherit Data Source

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Barbara T - 08 Mar 2004 22:44 GMT

Is this correct: if I create a Word Template (mostly so
that users don't trash the Mail Merge Main Document) and
link it to a data source (in this case, a table in a
Microsoft Access database), when I select the template as
my Mail Merge Main Document, I have to go find my data
source again.

Is there a way to work around this?

Thanks in advance!

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Charles Kenyon - 09 Mar 2004 00:42 GMT

When I use a mailmerge template to create a new document based on that
template, the file source linked in the template becomes linked to the new
document. That has been the case for me with Word 97-2003.

To create a new document based on a template, use File => New and find your
template. Select it or double-click on it. New, linked, document.

If you are using the MailMerge Task helper in Word 2002-2003, you could tell
it that you want your main document to be from an existing template and that
will take you to the same dialog. (Or at least close to the same dialog)

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Charles Kenyon

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> Is this correct: if I create a Word Template (mostly so
> that users don't trash the Mail Merge Main Document) and
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>
> Thanks in advance!

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- 10 Mar 2004 04:31 GMT

Thank you so very much for replying to my post. Forgive
my "dumbness", but I'm having trouble getting this to work
for me in Word 2K <Word XP lets me choose to use an
existing template, so this is great!>.

When I select "File/New" and then browse to my templates
and select a template that has specifically been created
as a Mail Merge document, including pre-defined data
source links, Word 2K creates a new document, however, the
Mail Merge toolbar is not automatically displayed. In
fact, when I go to the View menu, and select "Toolbars",
it doesn't even give me the option of displaying the "Mail
Merge" toolbar. If I select "Mail Merge" from the "Tools"
menu, the Mail Merge Wizard is presented, and it starts
from "Ground Zero", assuming nothing about my current
document; this forces me to start over with connecting my
data source.

Am I missing a step or a configurable item?

Many thanks in advance for any guidance.

>-----Original Message-----
>When I use a mailmerge template to create a new document based on that
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>
>.

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Charles Kenyon - 10 Mar 2004 15:59 GMT

I use merge enough that I have the merge toolbar permanently docked on the
right side of my Word screen. I can't think of a reason why that would
change the results I'm getting (that a data source in my template is linked
as the data source for the new document created from the template).

If you use File => Open to open your template (rather than creating a new
document) is the data source linked to it? I know it was created with the
link intact but changing your network setup or file locations can break that
link.

Again, I'm using Word 2003 but I've used merges on Word 97, 2000, and 2002
as well. I don't think this link behavior has changed. If the link is
present in your open template but not in the derivative new document, and no
one else has a solution, write back and I'll work with you on creating a
macro to automatically form the link on document creation.

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> Thank you so very much for replying to my post. Forgive
> my "dumbness", but I'm having trouble getting this to work
[quoted text clipped - 57 lines]
> >
> >.

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