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Mail Merge question 1

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moram

Technical User
Jan 25, 2000
203
US
I have a data file (Excel spreadsheet) that I have used for a couple of months. Now, when I try to "edit" within the Mail Merge Wizard, "Edit" is grayed out.
If I browse to the Excel spreadsheet, I can open, modify, and save the file. I thought it was a permission problem at first, but now (since I can edit the Excel spreadsheet) not so sure. What would be stopping the "Edit" option from being available in the wizard?
 
I dug a little deeper and found that ALL Excel files are behaving this way. Besides being not able to edit the source data, I also cannot browse to the Excel spreadsheet and delete it. I am getting an Error Deleting File or Folder message that reads "Cannot delete NAME OF FILE: The file is in use by the following program: Microsoft Excel You must close the file before proceeding.
I have rebooted the PC, and the server where the file is saved.
By the way, if I cut and paste the info in to a Word doc, and use the .doc file as the source data, I am able to edit the information.
 
Thanks Dreamboat. Starting to look like a server problem. I had a client that had files that were being reported as "locked" at one time. After putting in a new server, that issue went away.
The server I am having trouble with is an older version of Small Business Server.
The only thing I have not tried was trying to work with an Excel spreadsheet saved on my local PC.
 
OK, I am trying to duplicate this problem at home, on my personal PC.
Step 1 - I created an Excel spreadsheet with First Name and Last Name, and saved the file.
Step 2 - Opened Word, and went in to the Mail Merge Wizard, started a new Mail Merge document,(using one of Words templates) selected the recipients by browsing to the newly created spreadsheet, used "sheet1" and clicked "OK" Edit is not available.
Not so sure it is a server problem anymore. I am working local with both the doc and the source file.
Any new ideas?
 
I can edit the source data if I save the Excel spreadsheet as an html file (from within Excel)and try to edit from within the Mail Merge Wizard. Weird.
 
Dreamboat, I am running version 2002 10.4219.4219 SP2.
I am having the same problem at home as I am having in the office, so it is on both a networked PC, where my files are on a server, and on my standalone PC.
I will try the troubleshooting link you sent.
Thanks for the help.
 
Sorry to be such a pain, but I am getting the same result on an Office 2003 PC. When I attempt to "Edit the recipient list" the option to edit is grayed out. All other formats of a data source (.htm, .doc) give you the option to Edit.
 
That's bizarre.
When Office was installed, was the "run all from my pc" option selected?
Perhaps you don't have the ISAM converter installed (or whatever the heck the converter is that provides for connection with Excel).

Try this:
Start-Settings-Control panel.
Administration Tools.
Data Sources.

I have Excel in there. Do you?

Anne Troy
 
Excel is listed in Data Sources.
 
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