WD: Word Error Message: "...Word Cannot Find Its Data Source..."

When you try to merge a document that was created on another computer, Word displays the following error message where <main document name> is the name of the mail merge file, and <data source name> is the name of the data document. Word gives you the option to find the data source or choose other options.

Word relies on a path statement in the main document that points to the data document. When the mail merge is created on one computer, the path statements apply to that computer. If you move the files to another computer, the path statements may no longer be accurate, and the mail merge cannot be completed successfully.

To resolve this problem, click the Find Data Source button and Locate the Data Document, or use any of the following methods.

Method 1: Remove and Reattach the Data Source

Remove the data source and then reattach the data source. This option does not remove the merge fields nor modify the document text. To do this, follow these steps.

1. Click Options.
2. Click Remove Data/Header Source.
3. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.
4. Click Get Data, locate the data document, and then click Open.
5. Click Close.

Word can now merge the two documents successfully.

Method 2: Remove All Merge Information

This method restores the main document to a normal Word document. It does not remove the merge fields nor does it modify the document text. To remove all merge information, follow these steps:

1. Click Options.
2. Click Remove All Merge Info.
3. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.
4. Click Create, and then select the main document type.
5. Click Active Window.
6. Click Get Data, locate the data document, and then click Open.
7. Click Close.

Word can now merge the two documents successfully.

Method 3: Correct the Path to the Data Document

With the document open, follow these steps to enter the correct path to the data document:

1. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.
2. Click Create.
3. Select "Restore to Normal Word Document."
4. Click Yes.
5. Click Close.
6. On the File menu, click Save.
7. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.
8. Click Create.
9. Select the type of main merge document.
10. Click Get Data.
11. Locate the data document, and then click Open.
12. Click Close.

Word can now merge the two documents successfully.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.