Q198372: WD97: Merge Buttons in Mail Merge Helper, Toolbar Unavailable

Article: Q198372
Product(s): Word 97 for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:97
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): word97 kbmerge
Last Modified: 14-NOV-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Word 97 for Windows 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you try to do a mail merge, the Merge button in the Mail Merge Helper and
the Merge buttons on the Mail Merge toolbar are unavailable.

CAUSE
=====

Your mail merge main document may not contain any merge fields.

This functionality is different than it is in earlier versions of Microsoft Word.
Word does not allow you to perform a mail merge unless your main document
contains merge fields.

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

To create form letters, envelopes, or mailing labels, you merge a main document
with a data source.

The main document contains the text and other items that remain the same in each
version of the form letter, envelopes, or mailing labels. You can use a new or
existing document as a main document.

The data source contains the information that varies in each version of a merged
document, such as the names and addresses of the recipients of a form letter.
You can open an existing data source, use your personal address book or contact
list in Microsoft Outlook or Schedule+, or create a new data source in Word,
Microsoft Access, or Microsoft Excel.

When you create a form letter, mailing labels, or envelopes, the main document
contains the text, punctuation, spaces, graphics, and other information you want
to be the same in each form letter, mailing label, or envelope. You then insert
into the main document special instructions, called merge fields, that tell Word
where to print the variable information from the data source. When you merge the
main document with the data source, Word replaces the merge fields with the
appropriate information from the data source.

To create a mail merge for form letters, mailing labels, or envelopes, click Mail
Merge on the Tools menu.

For more information about mail merge, click the Office Assistant, type "mail
merge", click Search, and then click to view "Form letters, envelopes, and
labels".

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the
Standard toolbar. If Microsoft Help is not installed on your computer, please
see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q120802 Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office Program or Component

Additional query words: mailmerge printmerge grey gray dim dimmed

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Keywords          : word97 kbmerge 
Technology        : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Issue type        : kbprb

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