Forum Discussion
Error in Working with Mailing Function
Following the recent update to Microsoft Word, the Mailing Function has become unresponsive. When attempting to address data from an existing Excel file, the function fails to execute.
Below are screenshots illustrating this malfunction.
1 Reply
See whether can be fixed by the following:
1. Check the Excel file format
o Save the source file explicitly as .xlsx (not .xls, .csv, or .txt).
o Remove unnecessary formatting, formulas, or pivot tables — keep it as a simple table with headers.
2. Re-link the data source
o In Word, go to Mailings > Select Recipients > Use an Existing List.
o Browse to the Excel file again and select the correct worksheet/table.
o If prompted, choose “OLE DB Database Files” instead of “MS Excel Converter.”
3. Disable background updates
o In Word, go to File > Options > Advanced.
o Scroll to General and uncheck “Update automatic links at open.”
o This prevents Word from hanging while refreshing linked objects.
4. Check Trust Center settings
o Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings.
o Under External Content, allow data connections and linked workbook updates (for testing purpose).
5. Repair Office installation
o In Control Panel > Programs > Microsoft Office > Change, run a Quick Repair.
o If that doesn’t help, try Online Repair.
6. Rollback or update
o If the issue started after a specific Office update, check if a newer patch is available.
o Alternatively, you can roll back to the previous build using Office Deployment Tool if this is enterprise-managed.
