HOW TO: Use an Excel Data Source for Mail Merge in Word 2000

This article explains three ways to attach a Microsoft Excel data source to a Microsoft Word mail-merge main document.

After you perform step 1 in the Mail Merge Helper, use one of the following methods in step 2 in the Mail Merge Helper to attach an Excel worksheet.

Method 1: Use a Converter to Attach an Excel Worksheet

1. In the Get Data list, click Open Data Source.
2. Locate and select the Excel file. In the Open Data Source dialog box, make sure that the Select Method check box is selected.
3. Click Open.
4. In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, click Microsoft Excel Worksheet via Converter, and then click OK.
5. In the Open Worksheet dialog box, follow these steps:
   1. Under Open Document in Workbook, select either Entire Workbook or a particular Sheet of the Workbook.
   2. Under Name or Cell Range, you are able to select only Entire Worksheet.
   3. Click OK.
6. Click Edit Main Document, and then continue with the merge process.

Method 2: Use DDE to Attach Excel Worksheets

NOTE: Excel must already be installed on your computer.

Word can recognize only Worksheet 1 when you use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). If you want a sheet other than Worksheet 1 as your data source while you use the DDE option, start Excel first, open the workbook, and then move the sheet that you want to the first position. To do this, drag the sheet that you want to the first position on the sheet tab bar at the bottom of the current workbook. Save and minimize the Excel workbook.

1. In the Get Data list, click Open Data Source.
2. Locate and select the Excel file. Make sure that the Select Method box in the Open Data Source dialog box is selected.
3. Click Open.
4. In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, click MS Excel Worksheets via DDE, and then click OK.
5. In the Microsoft Excel dialog box, select either Entire Spreadsheet or Named or Cell Range in the list. Click OK.
6. Click Edit Main Document, and then continue with the merge process.

Method 3: Use ODBC to Attach Excel Files

NOTE: The Excel open database connectivity (ODBC) driver must already be installed.

If you use Word 2000, you can see all the tables in the workbook, not just the ones from the first sheet, in the Select Table dialog box.

1. In the Get Data list, click Open Data Source.
2. Locate and select the Excel file. Make sure that the Select Method box in the Open Data Source dialog box is selected.
3. Click Open.
4. In the Confirm Data Source dialog box, click Microsoft Excel Files via ODBC, and then click OK.
5. In the Select Table dialog box, specify the table in the list (which will show only the first worksheet in the workbook) or click Options, select System Tables, and then specify the worksheet you want to use. Click OK.
6. Click Edit Main Document, and then continue with the merge process.

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: