"Unable to obtain list of tables from the data source"

[P Fruin]

Trying to do a mail merge using Business Contact Manager contacts. Opened my
document, "started mail merge", "selected recipients", chose "select from
Outlook Contacts" and got this error message: "Unable to obtain list of
tables from the data source". Outlook Help says "In the Select Contacts
dialog box, select the Business Contact Manager folder you want to use."
There is not BCM Folder!

FYI, I've deleted my Outlook "Contacts" in order to use only Business
Contact Manager contacts and not create confusion with two contact databases.
Suggestions?

 

[Sat]

See if this article helps:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA011186361033.aspx

-Sat

 

[P Fruin]

Thanks Sat but that did not help. It relates to Outlook Contacts and not BCM
Business Contacts and there is a difference! Anyone else?

 

[Sat]

Hi P Fruin,

If you have run startup wizard for Business Contact Manager and it
successfully created a database, You should see Business Contact Manager
option in the "Select from Outlook Contacts" dialog. Can you please tell me
in more detail what are your repro steps?

-Sat

 

[P Fruin]

Hi Sat,

I've been corresponding with Lon Orenstein re: this but I might possibly
have a problem with the SQL Server. Although it is installed on my computer,
it appears it may not be "activtated". It does not show up in my Task Manager
Processes as running. Lon told me to Run services.msc to brings up the list
of services installed on my PC and mae surethat SQL Server (MSSMLBIZ) is set
to Automatic Startup Type .

It was set to that but the button to activate watever Startup Type you
choose is grayed out! So, I'm trying to figure out how to get this active as
that may be the reason I'm getting the "Unable to obtain list of tables from
the data source" message.

Not sure I know what you mean by what are my "repro steps"? Does this help
any?

 

[P Fruin]

I still DESPERATELY need help with this post! All my SQL Server files are set
as automatic and indicate they are STARTED - with the exception of SQL Server
Active Directory Helper which lists nothing in the Status column. Could this
be the problem since that file indicates it "enbles integration with active
directories"? If that could be the problem, how do I get IT started like the
others indicate?

And if this is not the problem, could I have a defective copy of Outlook
with BCM and if so, what do I do about that? In another post, I told of my
problems with simply entering a name in BCM contacts. My BCM enters first and
last names in oppositie fields than was typed! And I was essentially told
that is not the way the respondents enters! So, I'm thinking I've got a
bigger problem here and need to know what to do! Help and thanks anyone!

 

[Luther]

I still DESPERATELY need help with this post! All my SQL Server files are set
as automatic and indicate they are STARTED - with the exception of SQL Server
Active Directory Helper which lists nothing in the Status column. Could this
be the problem since that file indicates it "enbles integration with active
directories"? If that could be the problem, how do I get IT started like the
others indicate?

And if this is not the problem, could I have a defective copy of Outlook
with BCM and if so, what do I do about that? In another post, I told of my
problems with simply entering a name in BCM contacts. My BCM enters first and
last names in oppositie fields than was typed! And I was essentially told
that is not the way the respondents enters! So, I'm thinking I've got a
bigger problem here and need to know what to do! Help and thanks anyone!









- Show quoted text -

Active Directory is generally only used if you are in a domain network
(e.g. a company with IT staff).

So, you do have a service named MSSMLBIZ running?

Is everything in BCM running OK, and the only problem is mail merge
from Word doesn't show a BCM folder?

Can you create a new BCM database? And does it then show up in Word?

 

[P Fruin]

Luther,

I do have that file running. And no, that is not my only problem - but it's
THE thing I most need to do! My latest problem is that I'm indiscriminately
(as far as I can tell - I don't know what I could have done to cause this!)
now losing contacts from my BCM database. I'm having to import VCards from my
old ACT! database to restore them! And even with that, they import into
Outlook Contacts and then I have to move them into my BCM database!

I have not created a new BCM database yet. Would I import the old one from
ACT! or somehow create a new one and import the exicting BCM data into it? I
actually DO have another database named what I wanted this existing database
to be named but there nare no contacts in it. It's like BCM named the
imported ACT! Database wehat it waqnted to and I'm not sure how this other
one got created! So, would I just import all the records from the existing
database into this other one and then see if I can do the mail merge from
that? I'll try it.

And I'm still having the problem, expressed in another post, that I think
you answered where my names enter in reverse order from what yours do - First
name recorded as last and vice versa.

 

[Luther]

Luther,

I do have that file running. And no, that is not my only problem - but it's
THE thing I most need to do! My latest problem is that I'm indiscriminately
(as far as I can tell - I don't know what I could have done to cause this!)
now losing contacts from my BCM database. I'm having to import VCards frommy
old ACT! database to restore them! And even with that, they import into
Outlook Contacts and then I have to move them into my BCM database!

I have not created a new BCM database yet. Would I import the old one from
ACT! or somehow create a new one and import the exicting BCM data into it?I
actually DO have another database named what I wanted this existing database
to be named but there nare no contacts in it. It's like BCM named the
imported ACT! Database wehat it waqnted to and I'm not sure how this other
one got created! So, would I just import all the records from the existing
database into this other one and then see if I can do the mail merge from
that? I'll try it.

And I'm still having the problem, expressed in another post, that I think
you answered where my names enter in reverse order from what yours do - First
name recorded as last and vice versa.









- Show quoted text -

I think there's some confusion about what BCM database you have.

If you are the only BCM user on ths machine, then your databases will
be in one of these folders.
Xp: C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data
\Microsoft\Business Contact Manager
Vista: C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Business Contact
Manager

The names of MDF files should match the names of BCM databases.

You can switch between them from inside BCM, via the select or create
database menu item.

If you need to move data between databases, the easiest way is to
export those records to a BCM file from one, and then import into the
other.

I've never tried importing VCards from ACT!. That's an Outlook and not
a BCM feature, so they would get imported into the Outlook Contacts.
BCM will import an entire ACT! database into BCM using their utility.