Merged documents keep database link

When I create a new document from a mail merge template and then save the new doc. and re-open it, it tries to re-establish a link with the database it came from. That is, each time I open it, it opens the Excel database file too, even though it's a new document (not a merge template).

I thought when I do a mail merge & create a new document, the new doc. shouldn't have any links to Excel or the database it came from.

Am I overlooking something?

No, when you create a new document from a template, that's all you are
doing - the new document is in some respects a copy of the template (that's
the point of using templates) - it does not retain the templates macros
(although it can use them) or autotexts (although it can use them) but it
does retain any text/images etc. you had in the template, and any
connections to a data source.

It is only when you perform a merge to a new document that the output
document loses the connection to the data source. Even after the merge, the
mail merge main document still retains the connection.

There are pros and cons of using templates to create mail merge documents.
One problem can be that both the template and a document created from it try
to make a connection , and in some cases that may cause problems.


--
Peter Jamieson

"Mark" wrote in message
...
When I create a new document from a mail merge template and then save the
new doc. and re-open it, it tries to re-establish a link with the database
it came from. That is, each time I open it, it opens the Excel database
file too, even though it's a new document (not a merge template).

I thought when I do a mail merge & create a new document, the new doc.
shouldn't have any links to Excel or the database it came from.

Am I overlooking something?

Thanks, Peter. However, even when I merge to a new document the Excel link is still carried-over into the new doc. Any ideas?

OK, I just checked here that this does not happen in the normal course of
events, so
a. are you definitely merging, not previewing?
b. do you have any DATABASE fields in your template/document?
c. do you have any macros that might set up the connection again?

--
Peter Jamieson

"Mark" wrote in message
...
Thanks, Peter. However, even when I merge to a new document the Excel
link is still carried-over into the new doc. Any ideas?

Hello Peter,

Yes, I'm merging, not previewing. I don't have any database fields in my template or document but I do have some "IF" Word fields that will analyze the database info. And I see 4 macros in this file: AutoClose, & 3 others that are related to a Palm Application, but none that seem like they would set-up the connection again. I ran all 4; AutoClose simply closed the file, and the other 3 each returned some kind of a Word Run Error. But that's it.

Sorry to keep coming back to you on this, but any other ideas?

Thanks.

No further ideas - any chance that you could despam my e-mail address and
send a copy of the template, the doc, a suitable version of the data source
and perhaps a sample doc created from the merge?

--
Peter Jamieson

"Mark" wrote in message
...
Hello Peter,

Yes, I'm merging, not previewing. I don't have any database fields in my
template or document but I do have some "IF" Word fields that will analyze
the database info. And I see 4 macros in this file: AutoClose, & 3 others
that are related to a Palm Application, but none that seem like they would
set-up the connection again. I ran all 4; AutoClose simply closed the file,
and the other 3 each returned some kind of a Word Run Error. But that's it.

Sorry to keep coming back to you on this, but any other ideas?

Thanks.