View original (French)

Character limit for mail merge in Word 2010

Solved
Lunetafari -  
Rrradassse Posted messages 46 Status Membre -
Hello,

I have a problem with a limited number of characters when I perform a mail merge (which has a lot of text), even though I am working with Excel and Word 2010... Apparently, there shouldn't be a character limit issue with these versions?

The number of characters is limited to 255 per field... the format of the Excel file is XLSX and the format of the Word file is DOCX...

Thank you for your help...

Configuration: Windows 7 / Internet Explorer 8.0

2 réponses

Réponse 1 / 2
argixu Posted messages 5292 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   4 842
 
Hello

Try merging again with the DDE protocol.
To do this, check in the advanced options / General section / "confirm file conversion on opening"

Because the merge exceeds 255 characters
--
Argitxu
5
Iwan
 
Good evening,

this will bump the post... for your information, I had the same issue and the solution worked (Office 365 on W10).

Thank you!
0
gg
 
You're welcome!
0
Bayard
 
Thank you, you just saved me hours of work!
0
Rrradassse Posted messages 46 Status Membre 3
 

Hello,

with Microsoft 365 on W10, it's not working for me (I have checked the option "confirm file conversion upon opening" in the advanced options): I request the data source as "MS Excel spreadsheets via a DDE (*.xls)", it runs for 5-10 minutes with Word not responding, and then it displays "unable to restore a DDE link with Microsoft Excel to complete the current task."

Maybe I need to save the Excel file as xls (it's currently in xlsx)?? That would annoy me because I have queries on it ><

If you have an answer for me, I'd appreciate it!

Thanks in advance,

0
Réponse 2 / 2
marcoux57 Posted messages 3 Status Membre 4
 
I have the same problem. In Word 2010, when I merge with long text, it doesn’t appear. I tried to follow the indicated procedure, but it doesn't work.
I checked in the advanced/general options "confirm file conversion when opening." I saved, closed the document, and opened it again, but the problem persists. Is there another way? Is there something I forgot to do?
4
argixu Posted messages 5292 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   4 842
 
Hello

I confirm that it works with the DDE protocol

After enabling the file conversion option upon opening, it's not enough to save and close because the merging still defaults to the OLE protocol.
So you need to re-merge the two files for the DDE protocol to be taken into account.
=> Select recipients => use existing list => your file => and choose the DDE protocol at the prompt of the dialog box

Argitxu
1
ManuellaLo Posted messages 1 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention  
 
I have the same problem as the previous user; no matter how many times I close it or redo everything from A to Z, it doesn't work, it remains on OLE DB protocol. I'm also on 2010.
0
Echtys Posted messages 1 Status Membre 2
 
Hello, while looking for a solution to the problem, I came across argixu's response. I implemented it and it works.
The checkbox in File\Options\Advanced options, titled "Confirm file format conversion on open", is at the bottom of the list. Once checked, it remains so in all my Word 2010 documents.
During mail merge, after selecting the source file of recipients, a window appears "Confirm Data Source", you need to select "MS Excel Worksheets via DDE" and then continue with the rest of the mail merge.
If that can help...
Echtys
2
reutest Posted messages 1 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   1 > Echtys Posted messages 1 Status Membre
 
Hello,

I am encountering the same problem. I followed the instructions you provided, I selected "MS Excel worksheets via a DDE," but at that point, it doesn't offer me any of the tabs from my Excel file? It shows me tabs that have nothing to do with it, tabs that I don’t even have in my file, like "print area."
Can someone guide me?
1