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Word Mail Merge from Access Disabled/Broken in Version 2305 (Fixed)

Writer's picture: George HepworthGeorge Hepworth

Updated: Jul 17, 2023



Description

When you try to use the Word Mail Merge Wizard in Access/Office Version 2305 (in Current Channel, build 16501.20196 and 16501.20210) you receive an error message that Microsoft Word is required and the merge fails. It has been reported, but not yet confirmed, that the Word Merge icon in the ribbon might be disabled .


Cause

This happens because Word crashes when Access tries to start it for the merge.


Status


The fix is also in version 2305 build 16501.20228, as of June 24, 2003.


This is fixed in version 2306. If people want to validate, there should be a new build released to Current Channel (Preview), Build 16529.20126 very soon (this week), and is scheduled for release to Current Channel (probably with a slightly newer build) On June 26.


This is not an issue specific to Access, any attempt to start and show Word through automation causes Word to crash.


Until you install the fixing build you can use one of these workarounds:


Workaround 1: Roll back to an earlier version which does not have the bug, e.g. version 2304 build 16.0.16327.20308.


Workaround 2: Initiate the merge from Word and choose your database as the data source, rather than starting from Access.


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6 comentarios


George Hepworth
George Hepworth
29 jun 2023

It does appear that this is still somewhat fluid. Pending full resolution of the problem, it might be appropriate to implement one of the workarounds for now.

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steven
29 jun 2023

I was just on a Teams call with a co-worker where we went through sending a Mail Merge starting with Word and then starting it in Access. She has Version 2305. Neither way worked when selecting recipients from the Access Database. Works fine when selecting recipients from Outlook Contacts.

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Karl Donaubauer
Karl Donaubauer
30 jun 2023
Contestando a

It's important which update channel she's in and which build she has within version 2305, i.e. what is on the Account page after the version number. The bug is e.g. present in the Current Channel up to version 2305 build 16501.20210. On June 24 I was able to download version 2305 build 16501.20228 in which the bug was fixed. It's strange that this build is not mentioned in the update history of Microsoft, but only version 2306 build 16529.20154 with release date June 26. In the release notes of this build the according bug fix for Word is explicitely mentioned.

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Anthony Faulkner
Anthony Faulkner
19 jun 2023

Also getting the 'Microsoft Word is required to run the Mail Mege Wizard' error in Access on Version 2305 Build 16.0.16501.20074

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finmtl
14 jun 2023

This is related so not just Mail Merge:


After 2305 was installed, users started reporting this error:


1004 - Paste method of Worksheet class failed


We have a module that outputs our reports to Excel via Word.


The APP first copies to Word for a clean formatted report (dumping directly creates a messy report).

Then the Word document is copied and pasted into Excel.

This line of code is the issue: (unchanged since 04/02/2003):

'Paste word data

objXl.Worksheets("Fox_Export").Paste

If I stop the code and then press continue, it works.

I tried using Resume with a counter in the error logic, but it did not work.

However, Resume without a counter did work, but it took up to 30 seconds before…


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George Hepworth
George Hepworth
14 jun 2023
Contestando a

Thank you for the detailed information.

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