Mail merge in Microsoft Word does not work on a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2

Article ID: 980681 - View products that this article applies to.
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SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario. You have a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. On this computer, you use the Mail Merge feature in Microsoft Word 2010. Microsoft Office Word 2007, or Microsoft Office Word 2003. In this scenario, you notice that the Mail Merge feature does not work for plain text or for attached mails.

For example, assume that you try to use mail merge to create an e-mail message and then automatically generate an e-mail recipient from a database. However, you notice that the e-mail message that is created does not have a specified recipient.

Note This issue also occurs for a MAPI-based e-mail client other than Microsoft Outlook.
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RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support
(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)
Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You may have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The global version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 file information notes
Important Windows 7 hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 R2 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, hotfixes on the Hotfix Request page are listed under both operating systems. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.
  • The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 R2 and for Windows 7" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintaining the state of the updated component. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.
For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Fixmapi.exe6.1.7600.1638514,33614-Jul-200901:14x86
Mapi32.dll6.1.7600.2065276,80024-Feb-201007:30x86
Mapistub.dll6.1.7600.2065276,80024-Feb-201007:30x86
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and of Windows Server 2008 R2
Collapse this tableExpand this table
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Fixmapi.exe6.1.7600.1638517,40814-Jul-200901:39x64
Mapi32.dll6.1.7600.2065291,64824-Feb-201008:05x64
Mapistub.dll6.1.7600.2065291,64824-Feb-201008:05x64
For all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2
Collapse this tableExpand this table
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Fixmapi.exe6.1.7600.1638536,35214-Jul-200901:44IA-64
Mapi32.dll6.1.7600.20652186,36824-Feb-201006:36IA-64
Mapistub.dll6.1.7600.20652186,36824-Feb-201006:36IA-64
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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
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WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, you will have to use HTML as the e-mail format when you do an e-mail merge. To do this, follow these steps:

For Word 2010 and Word 2007:
  1. Open the mail merge document in Word.
  2. On the Mailings tab, click Start Mail Merge, and then click E-Mail Messages.
  3. Click Select Recipients, and then click the source of e-mail addresses for the mail merge recipients. Select which recipients that you want to send the mailing to.
  4. Click Finish & Merge, click Send E-Mail Messages.
  5. Type a subject in the Subject line field.
  6. Select HTML in the Mail format drop-down list.
  7. Select either All, Current record, or a range of recipients under Send records and then click OK.
For Word 2003:
  1. Open the mail merge document in Word.
  2. On the Tools menu, point to Letters and Mailings, and then click Mail Merge Wizard.
  3. Click Use the current document, click Select Recipients, and then click the source of e-mail addresses for the mail merge recipients. Select which recipients that you want to send the mailing to.
  4. Click Next: Write your e-mail message and then click Next: Preview your e-mail message.
  5. Edit the recipient list if you want to, and then click Next: Complete the merge.
  6. Click Electronic Mail.
  7. On the Merge to E-mail dialog box, in the Mail format box, select HTML, and then click OK.
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MORE INFORMATION

For more information about mail merge in Microsoft Word, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
An introduction to the basic steps in the mail merge process
(http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/ha010349201033.aspx)
For more information about MAPI, visit the following Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site:
General information about MAPI
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa142548(EXCHG.65).aspx)
For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
824684
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/ )
Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Additional file information

Additional file information for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7
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File nameX86_b6007d6b1149c8e69e8e32b5f560b98a_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20652_none_71cedcd768d0c092.manifest
File version
File size692
Date (UTC)24-Feb-2010
Time (UTC)11:01
PlatformNot applicable
File nameX86_microsoft-windows-mapi_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20652_none_abcaa6ef941b3ed6.manifest
File version
File size4,023
Date (UTC)24-Feb-2010
Time (UTC)11:04
PlatformNot applicable
Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7 and of Windows Server 2008 R2
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File nameAmd64_4e9d7705d166e5763abe5840373cbbde_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20652_none_c189e2d9b4252018.manifest
File version
File size696
Date (UTC)24-Feb-2010
Time (UTC)11:01
PlatformNot applicable
File nameAmd64_f429bede3c4221d6a39a3b9389a43299_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20652_none_2ea84e1fbe5833ae.manifest
File version
File size1,032
Date (UTC)24-Feb-2010
Time (UTC)11:01
PlatformNot applicable
File nameAmd64_microsoft-windows-mapi_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20652_none_07e942734c78b00c.manifest
File version
File size6,458
Date (UTC)24-Feb-2010
Time (UTC)11:10
PlatformNot applicable
Additional files for all supported IA-64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2
Collapse this tableExpand this table
File nameIa64_43c1874ce7875a0eeb22ff215580b0d9_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20652_none_d2cc9a280d8c823e.manifest
File version
File size1,030
Date (UTC)24-Feb-2010
Time (UTC)11:01
PlatformNot applicable
File nameIa64_microsoft-windows-mapi_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.20652_none_abcc4ae5941947d2.manifest
File version
File size6,456
Date (UTC)24-Feb-2010
Time (UTC)11:01
PlatformNot applicable
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Properties

Article ID: 980681 - Last Review: April 20, 2012 - Revision: 6.0
APPLIES TO
  • Windows 7 Enterprise
  • Windows 7 Home Basic
  • Windows 7 Home Premium
  • Windows 7 Professional
  • Windows 7 Starter
  • Windows 7 Ultimate
  • Windows HPC Server 2008 R2
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard
  • Windows Web Server 2008 R2
  • Microsoft Word 2010
  • Microsoft Office Word 2007
  • Microsoft Office Word 2003
Keywords: 
kbexpertiseinter kbsurveynew kbqfe kbautohotfix kbhotfixserver kbfix KB980681
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