KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q185188: PRB: Cannot Use Visual FoxPro Table in Word 97 Mail Merge

Article: Q185188
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): WINDOWS:2.5,3.0b,5.0,5.0a,6.0,97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbODBC kbvfp300 kbvfp500 kbvfp600 kbWord97 kbMDAC250
Last Modified: 14-NOV-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0b, 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0 
- Microsoft Word 97 for Windows 
- Microsoft Data Access Components version 2.5 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you perform a mail merge in Microsoft Word 97 for Windows using a Visual
FoxPro table contained in a database container, the following error message
appears:

  Word was unable to open the data source.

CAUSE
=====

Word is unable to open Visual FoxPro for Windows tables contained in a database
container.

RESOLUTION
==========

Use one of the following three to perform a mail merge in Microsoft Word 97 for
Windows using a Visual FoxPro table contained in a database container.

Method 1: Copy Native Visual FoxPro Table to a 2.x Format
---------------------------------------------------------

1. In Visual FoxPro for Windows, open the table.

2. Issue the following command in the Command Window or program:

  COPY TO <newtablename> TYPE FOX2X

Method 2: Use MSQuery from Word
-------------------------------

1. When using the Mail Merge Helper in Word, click MS Query in the Open Data
  Source dialog box.

2. When MSQuery opens, select the Visual FoxPro ODBC dataset from the list in
  the Choose Data Source dialog box.

3. Select the table, create the query, and then return to Word.

Method 3: Remove Table from Database Container
----------------------------------------------

1. If the table is part of the database container DBC, open the DBC.

2. Locate the table to be used in the merge, right-click the table and click
  Delete.

3. A dialog box appears and prompts you to either remove the table from the DBC
  or delete the table from the disk. Click Remove to free the table from the
  DBC.

You can also issue the FREE TABLE command in the Command window. For example,
open the DBC and free the table as follows:

  MODIFY DATABASE testdata
  FREE TABLE mymergetable
  CLOSE DATABASES ALL

STATUS
======

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Word 97 for Windows can to open FoxPro 2.x tables with the ISAM driver for use
in mail merges if the driver has been installed. The steps below assume that the
ISAM driver has been installed.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior
---------------------------

1. In Word 97, go to the Tools menu and click Mail Merge. The Mail Merge Helper
  appears.

2. In Section 1 - Main document, click Create. Click Form Letters, and click
  Active Window in the message box.

3. In section 2 - Data source, click Get Data and click Open Data Source.

4. In the Open Data Source window, change the Files of type to Microsoft FoxPro
  Files (*.dbf).

5. Locate a Visual FoxPro for Windows 3.0b or 5.0x table, and click Open.

6. In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, click FoxPro Files through ODBC
  (*.dbf) and click OK.

  NOTE: If MS FoxPro Files (*.dbf) is not available, you must install the data
  access (ODBC) utilities using the Office 97 Setup program.

REFERENCES
==========

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q180120 WD97: Word Setup Does Not Install ODBC Drivers


(c) Microsoft Corporation 1998, All Rights Reserved.
Contributions by Robert Dean Christopher, Microsoft Corporation


Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbODBC kbvfp300 kbvfp500 kbvfp600 kbWord97 kbMDAC250 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2 kbMDACSearch kbMDAC250 kbVFP300b kbVFP500 kbVFP600 kbVFP500a
Version           : WINDOWS:2.5,3.0b,5.0,5.0a,6.0,97
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.