DDE Connection failing

[Jenn68]

I am having difficulty connecting my Excel database to my Word mail merge document via DDE.

I go through all the steps to establish a connection via the mail-merge wizard.

Document type: Directory
Select starting document > Start from existing document > chose open to open "DT-WPE.dot"
Select recipients > Use an existing list > Browse > "mailmerge.xls"
Confirm data source > MS Excel Worksheets via DDE
Named or cell range > "dderange" a named range in my workbook referring to CONTROL_1!$A:$EH

Word in unable to merge because it states I have all invalid fields.

This is not working for me. Could it be my range is not right? I'm trying to establish Columns A through EH as my range on worksheet CONTROL_1

Thoughts?

[Jenn68]

OK ... I think I have found the problem. Despite named range "dderange" referencing worksheet "CONTROL_1", DDE is appears to be ignoring the named range and opting for the 10 unidentified columns of the first worksheet. Where am I in err?

[Jenn68]

I guess it doesn't matter about having the worksheet in the name. It's choosing the first worksheet. If I move the CONTROL_1 worksheet to sheet1 position, it works.

Just the way things go I guess.

[macropod]

Hi Jenn,

FWIW, mailmerges ordinarily shouldn't be run from a template - just from a mailmerge main document. If you use a template, you're liable to get two SQL prompts - one when the template initializes and another when the new document is created from it.