excel word mail merge error

[itsfisko]

Hi all I have a problem with my data base.
I have a large excel data base that gives the error
"Word is unable to open the data source". it will open most of the sheets but the one I really want to use has used all the columns and it will not open, Is this because I have used all the columns?

Some lead, some follow....I just Hope!

 

[tsuji]

Hello itsfisko,

[1] You may need to specify office version to get better help.
[2] Office/vba forum may be a better place to ask.
[3] I would suspect too big msquery string (>255) as mentioned in ms q224056:
<quote>
You are using MSQuery to generate a data source for a Word mail merge, and your query string exceeds 255 characters.
To resolve this problem, obtain Microsoft Office 2000 Service Release 1/1a (SR-1/SR-1a).

To obtain SR-1/SR-1a, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
245025 OFF2000: How to Obtain and Install Microsoft Office 2000 Service Release 1/1a (SR-1/SR-1a)

To temporarily work around this problem, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Shorten the search string. For example, shorten the path to the data source, shorten the file name, or select fewer columns of data when you define your query.

Method 2: Connect to the data source by using dynamic data exchange (DDE) instead of MSQuery.
</quote>
[4] In any case, use your exact &quot;word...&quot; error message to make a serach at ms support and you'll find plenty of articles addressing more or less same issue (mostly .txt data base rather than excel.)

regards - tsuji

 

[itsfisko]

insert merge field on word seems to have a limit of 230 items in the list and this is what is causing it to fail can it be changed or is there a better data base system other that Excel and word ? Thanks JF stressed school tech. ;-)

Some lead, some follow....I just Hope!