Mail Merge freezes when I click on Open Data Source

[Maur...@officeformac.com]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Processor: Intel EVERY TIME!!! In 2 years I have not been able to do a mail merge. I get columns (like Finder) that are blank, and endless, and the spinning wheel. I have to quit Word. I just upgraded to 2008 and thought I might have success here but it didn't work either. Fortunately I don't do a lot of these. Might the problem be in settings somewhere? My computer works fine in all other apps and other functions in Word. This is soooo frustrating.

[Peter Jamieson]

I don't know "the answer", but
a. at which stage in the merge process are you seeing the problem?
from this...

> I get
> columns (like Finder) that are blank, and endless, and the spinning
> wheel.

I would guess that it's when you select the data source, but is that
correct? Or can you select the data source but then not perform the merge?
b. are you always trying to use the same type of data source? e.g.
always an Excel file? If so, it is probably worth trying another type -
e.g. a comma-delimited text file, or a table in a Word document.

I would generally have a look at the system console
(Applications/Utilities/Console) to see if any messages were being
issued at the point the process goes wrong. Not that I know much about
interpreting the logs on a Mac, but sometimes you can get some
indication of what might be happening).

Peter Jamieson

http://tips.pjmsn.me.uk

[CyberTaz]

I can't tell from your wording whether this problem existed for you in
whatever version you "just upgraded" from as well, but I get the impression
that it did. Everything you describe is symptomatic of missing updates &
need for at least some minor system maintenance. It may take a little time
but I think you can recover from it starting with the basics...

First, confirm that Office 2009 is fully updated. Select 'Check for Updates'
from the Help menu of any Office program if your current level isn't 12.2.3
(go to the application menu & select 'About Word' for example).

Also, go to the Apple Downloads site & retrieve the OS X 10.5.8 COMBO Update
(even if you're already at the 10.5.8 level). Once you've applied that use
Apple's Disk Utility app to Repair Disk Permissions on your HD & restart
your Mac before launching any of the Office apps.

These steps alone may not correct the problem if it existed in a prior
version of Office, but they're necessary before going any further. If the
issue continues reply for additional suggestions. There may be a file
corruption that was brought forward depending on how the "upgrade" to Office
2008 was executed. Follow Peter's suggestion about using a different record
source file & include those results in your reply.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

On 2/19/10 4:09 PM, in article 59bb3...@webcrossing.JaKIaxP2ac0,

[Maur...@officeformac.com]

Yes, this problem did exist in Mac Office 2004 (previous version) on my machine. I rechecked updates and I'm current. I also downloaded and installed the combo update you suggested. My data file is a word file (actually set up as a data record following the steps in the tutorial for merge).
>
Problem remains. I choose my form letter, then select "open data source" and that's as far as I ever get. This is where the 'columns' appear - entire screen and beyond - and I have to force quit. It does say "choose a data file" at the top but that's it. I clicked on "Enable" drop down at the bottom and again got the rainbow wheel. Have to force quit now.

I didn't do the repair yet but I will try it now. I have done it before though so am not optimistic.

[Maur...@officeformac.com]

Me again. I did the repair and problem still persists.

[dppns]

I was wondering if Maureen1 ever found a solution to the mail merge, endless spinning wheel when trying to open a data source. I, too, have the same problem. I am using Microsoft Word 2004 for Mac, Version 11.5.6 and OS X Version 10.5.8.

I'd appreciate any help.
Thank You

Maureen1 wrote:

Mail Merge freezes when I click on Open Data Source
19-Feb-10

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

EVERY TIME!!! In 2 years I have not been able to do a mail merge. I get columns (like Finder) that are blank, and endless, and the spinning wheel. I have to quit Word. I just upgraded to 2008 and thought I might have success here but it did not work either. Fortunately I do not do a lot of these. Might the problem be in settings somewhere? My computer works fine in all other apps and other functions in Word. This is soooo frustrating.

Previous Posts In This Thread:

On Friday, February 19, 2010 4:09 PM
Maureen1 wrote:

Mail Merge freezes when I click on Open Data Source

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

EVERY TIME!!! In 2 years I have not been able to do a mail merge. I get columns (like Finder) that are blank, and endless, and the spinning wheel. I have to quit Word. I just upgraded to 2008 and thought I might have success here but it did not work either. Fortunately I do not do a lot of these. Might the problem be in settings somewhere? My computer works fine in all other apps and other functions in Word. This is soooo frustrating.

On Friday, February 19, 2010 7:34 PM
Peter Jamieson wrote:

I do not know "the answer", buta.
I do not know "the answer", but

a. at which stage in the merge process are you seeing the problem?
from this...

I would guess that it is when you select the data source, but is that

correct? Or can you select the data source but then not perform the merge?
b. are you always trying to use the same type of data source? e.g.
always an Excel file? If so, it is probably worth trying another type -
e.g. a comma-delimited text file, or a table in a Word document.

I would generally have a look at the system console
(Applications/Utilities/Console) to see if any messages were being
issued at the point the process goes wrong. Not that I know much about
interpreting the logs on a Mac, but sometimes you can get some
indication of what might be happening).

Peter Jamieson

http://tips.pjmsn.me.uk

On Saturday, February 20, 2010 9:31 AM
CyberTaz wrote:

I cannot tell from your wording whether this problem existed for you
I cannot tell from your wording whether this problem existed for you in

whatever version you "just upgraded" from as well, but I get the impression
that it did. Everything you describe is symptomatic of missing updates &
need for at least some minor system maintenance. It may take a little time
but I think you can recover from it starting with the basics...

First, confirm that Office 2009 is fully updated. Select 'Check for Updates'

from the Help menu of any Office program if your current level is not 12.2.3

(go to the application menu & select 'About Word' for example).

Also, go to the Apple Downloads site & retrieve the OS X 10.5.8 COMBO Update

(even if you are already at the 10.5.8 level). Once you have applied that use

Apple's Disk Utility app to Repair Disk Permissions on your HD & restart
your Mac before launching any of the Office apps.

These steps alone may not correct the problem if it existed in a prior

version of Office, but they are necessary before going any further. If the

issue continues reply for additional suggestions. There may be a file
corruption that was brought forward depending on how the "upgrade" to Office
2008 was executed. Follow Peter's suggestion about using a different record
source file & include those results in your reply.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

On 2/19/10 4:09 PM, in article 59bb3...@webcrossing.JaKIaxP2ac0,

On Tuesday, February 23, 2010 11:46 AM
Maureen1 wrote:

Yes, this problem did exist in Mac Office 2004 (previous version) on my

Yes, this problem did exist in Mac Office 2004 (previous version) on my machine. I rechecked updates and I am current. I also downloaded and installed the combo update you suggested. My data file is a word file (actually set up as a data record following the steps in the tutorial for merge). <br>
Problem remains. I choose my form letter, then select &quot;open data source&quot; and that is as far as I ever get. This is where the 'columns' appear - entire screen and beyond - and I have to force quit. It does say &quot;choose a data file&quot; at the top but that is it. I clicked on &quot;Enable&quot; drop down at the bottom and again got the rainbow wheel. Have to force quit now. <br><br>I did not do the repair yet but I will try it now. I have done it before though so am not optimistic.

On Tuesday, February 23, 2010 12:06 PM
Maureen1 wrote:

Me again. I did the repair and problem still persists.
Me again. I did the repair and problem still persists.

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[John McGhie]

What kind of data source?

This issue is usually something wrong with the data source or something
wrong with Excel.

On 13/04/10 11:10 PM, in article 2010413...@ns.sympatico.ca, "<dpp ns>"
<> wrote:

> I was wondering if Maureen1 ever found a solution to the mail merge, endless
> spinning wheel when trying to open a data source. I, too, have the same
> problem. I am using Microsoft Word 2004 for Mac, Version 11.5.6 and OS X
> Version 10.5.8.
>
> I'd appreciate any help.
> Thank You

--

The email below is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless I ask you to; or unless you intend to pay!

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Word, Mac Word), Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. | Ph: +61 (0)4 1209 1410 | mailto:jo...@mcghie.name