In Word 2003, when I try to mail merge into a letter from Contacts I get this
message when I click on Contacts as data source: "This operation cannot be
completed because of dialog or database engine failures. Please try again
later." Later doesn't work either. -- And in the box offering data source I
also see contacts/deleted, and that will pull up the info when I click it,
but I don't want what I deleted. I want to use my Outlook Contacts.

mailmerge is easier when you start from Outlook.

Try this way:

select the contacts you want to merge to (in Outlook)
with them highlighted, click Tools | Mailmerge
set what you want to do eg Merge to Email or New Document
OK
Word starts up
Use the button Insert Merge Fields to find Contact Data Fields. Make sure
to use that button not the Insert Word Fields button OK!
On the toolbar s a merge button.

Regards

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Trainer and Consultant

There are various articles about using Outlook he
www.judygleeson.com/articles.aspx
Canberra, Australia

"What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each
other?"
George Eliot
"cyrus" wrote in message
...
In Word 2003, when I try to mail merge into a letter from Contacts I get
this
message when I click on Contacts as data source: "This operation cannot be
completed because of dialog or database engine failures. Please try again
later." Later doesn't work either. -- And in the box offering data source
I
also see contacts/deleted, and that will pull up the info when I click it,
but I don't want what I deleted. I want to use my Outlook Contacts.

The error message indicates you have not configured your Outlook Address
Book Service correctly and/or have not designated Outlook as your default
email service and Contacts manager. Do those things first.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"cyrus" wrote in message
...
In Word 2003, when I try to mail merge into a letter from Contacts I get
this
message when I click on Contacts as data source: "This operation cannot be
completed because of dialog or database engine failures. Please try again
later." Later doesn't work either. -- And in the box offering data source
I
also see contacts/deleted, and that will pull up the info when I click it,
but I don't want what I deleted. I want to use my Outlook Contacts.

Russ
Thanks. Please tell me how to configure properly.

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

The error message indicates you have not configured your Outlook Address
Book Service correctly and/or have not designated Outlook as your default
email service and Contacts manager. Do those things first.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"cyrus" wrote in message
...
In Word 2003, when I try to mail merge into a letter from Contacts I get
this
message when I click on Contacts as data source: "This operation cannot be
completed because of dialog or database engine failures. Please try again
later." Later doesn't work either. -- And in the box offering data source
I
also see contacts/deleted, and that will pull up the info when I click it,
but I don't want what I deleted. I want to use my Outlook Contacts.

Part of the answer depends on your OS, which you did not mention. In Win XP,
you set the defaults in Control Panel Internet Options Programs
To configure the Outlook Address Book, make sure you have a valid mail
transport in your profile. Make sure the Contact folder is enabled as an
email address book. Right click the Contacts folder, choose Properties then
Outlook Address Book. Is the box to enable as email address book checked?
If this is grayed out...Go to Tools | Email Accounts, choose View or change
existing directories or address book. Is the Outlook Address Book present?
If it isn't listed, add it and close and restart Outlook. If it is listed,
then remove it and close then restart Outlook and repeat these steps to add
it. More details available he
http://support.microsoft.com/default...Product=ol2002

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Cyrus" wrote in message
news
Russ
Thanks. Please tell me how to configure properly.

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

The error message indicates you have not configured your Outlook Address
Book Service correctly and/or have not designated Outlook as your default
email service and Contacts manager. Do those things first.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"cyrus" wrote in message
...
In Word 2003, when I try to mail merge into a letter from Contacts I
get
this
message when I click on Contacts as data source: "This operation cannot
be
completed because of dialog or database engine failures. Please try
again
later." Later doesn't work either. -- And in the box offering data
source
I
also see contacts/deleted, and that will pull up the info when I click
it,
but I don't want what I deleted. I want to use my Outlook Contacts.

Russ
Thanks. And thanks too for presuming my OS is Win XP. I should have
mentioned it.

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

Part of the answer depends on your OS, which you did not mention. In Win XP,
you set the defaults in Control Panel Internet Options Programs
To configure the Outlook Address Book, make sure you have a valid mail
transport in your profile. Make sure the Contact folder is enabled as an
email address book. Right click the Contacts folder, choose Properties then
Outlook Address Book. Is the box to enable as email address book checked?
If this is grayed out...Go to Tools | Email Accounts, choose View or change
existing directories or address book. Is the Outlook Address Book present?
If it isn't listed, add it and close and restart Outlook. If it is listed,
then remove it and close then restart Outlook and repeat these steps to add
it. More details available he
http://support.microsoft.com/default...Product=ol2002

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"Cyrus" wrote in message
news
Russ
Thanks. Please tell me how to configure properly.

"Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]" wrote:

The error message indicates you have not configured your Outlook Address
Book Service correctly and/or have not designated Outlook as your default
email service and Contacts manager. Do those things first.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
"cyrus" wrote in message
...
In Word 2003, when I try to mail merge into a letter from Contacts I
get
this
message when I click on Contacts as data source: "This operation cannot
be
completed because of dialog or database engine failures. Please try
again
later." Later doesn't work either. -- And in the box offering data
source
I
also see contacts/deleted, and that will pull up the info when I click
it,
but I don't want what I deleted. I want to use my Outlook Contacts.