mail merge using outlook contacts

[Guest]

when I try to make mailing labels using Word, it says that it is unable to
obtain list of tables from the data source when the data source I am choosing
is Outlook contacts. What's the problem?

 

[Judy Gleeson \(MVP Outlook\)]

I have always thought that mailmerging is easier if you start in Outlook.

Start by selelcting the Contacts you want to make labels for, then Tools |
Mailmerge | Merge to labels | now Word will take over and use the Selected
Contacts.

Regards

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Trainer and Consultant

There are various articles about using Outlook here: www.judygleeson.com
Canberra, Australia

 

[Guest]

I have tried that too and it won't highlight "Merge" it only says get data
or edit and then query. what should I try next? thanks for your help!

 

[Judy Gleeson \(MVP Outlook\)]

Your answer doesn't make sense to me. Try following my exact steps. I have
taught them for years and seen them work on thousands of computers.

Regards

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Trainer and Consultant

There are various articles about using Outlook here: www.judygleeson.com
Canberra, Australia

 

[Techosaavy]

Your answer doesn't make sense to me. Try following my exact steps. I have
taught them for years and seen them work on thousands of computers.

Regards

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Trainer and Consultant

There are various articles about using Outlook here:www.judygleeson.com
Canberra, Australia







- Show quoted text -

Hello Erich,

This is a common issue that you have come across. Dont worry.
Answer my questions plz.....

are you able to view the contacts in your outlook
how many groups are present ( If any).
are u working on exchange account
is your outlook is complete version or trial.

respond to this to my e-mail address so that we can look into and
resolve it
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Tomlaw]

I am having the same problem with both Office 2003 (at work) and Office 2007
(at home) on different computers. Go to Word, start the Mail Merge pane, pick
any document type to start. Use the current document at step 2 (or pick
another if you like). Step 3 is to select recipients, and Outlook Contacts is
one of the choices. Select the appropriate radio button, then click “choose
contacts folderâ€. I get an error message box popping up saying, “Unable to
obtain list of tables from the data sourceâ€. If I export the contacts to an
Excel spreadsheet, and choose “use an existing list†instead of Outlook
Contacts, I can pick and choose records easily. While this is a workaround,
it would require regularly exporting contacts into this spreadsheet to keep
it current, and the program seems to contemplate using Contacts directly, so
it should work. As I mentioned, I just installed Office 2007 at home, and get
the exact same behavior. I am able to see the Outlook Contacts in Outlook. I
have an exchange account at the office and none at home. Both versions are
full, activated. I have tried the solution here
(http://kbalertz.com/922684/Error-me...sher-using-Outlook-contact-obtain-tables.aspx
) but the suggested setting was already there. Any advice would be
appreciated.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

That error means you have not configured your Outlook Address Book correctly
or that Outlook is not your default mail program.

 

[Tomlaw]

Could you be a little more helpful, please? Outlook is indeed my default
mail program. How do I "configure my OAB correctly"? As far as I know, it is
configured OK, but what do I look for?

That error means you have not configured your Outlook Address Book correctly
or that Outlook is not your default mail program.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I am having the same problem with both Office 2003 (at work) and Office
2007
(at home) on different computers. Go to Word, start the Mail Merge pane,
pick
any document type to start. Use the current document at step 2 (or pick
another if you like). Step 3 is to select recipients, and Outlook Contacts
is
one of the choices. Select the appropriate radio button, then click
“choose
contacts folderâ€. I get an error message box popping up saying, “Unable to
obtain list of tables from the data sourceâ€. If I export the contacts to
an
Excel spreadsheet, and choose “use an existing list†instead of Outlook
Contacts, I can pick and choose records easily. While this is a
workaround,
it would require regularly exporting contacts into this spreadsheet to
keep
it current, and the program seems to contemplate using Contacts directly,
so
it should work. As I mentioned, I just installed Office 2007 at home, and
get
the exact same behavior. I am able to see the Outlook Contacts in Outlook.
I
have an exchange account at the office and none at home. Both versions are
full, activated. I have tried the solution here
(http://kbalertz.com/922684/Error-me...sher-using-Outlook-contact-obtain-tables.aspx
) but the suggested setting was already there. Any advice would be
appreciated.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

I'll be happy to be "more helpful." But since I and others have posted this
information countless times here, I assumed you were not helpless. Start
here, and then post back with what you actually did and what evidence you
have that it hasn't worked for you:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Could you be a little more helpful, please? Outlook is indeed my default
mail program. How do I "configure my OAB correctly"? As far as I know, it
is
configured OK, but what do I look for?

That error means you have not configured your Outlook Address Book
correctly
or that Outlook is not your default mail program.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

I am having the same problem with both Office 2003 (at work) and Office
2007
(at home) on different computers. Go to Word, start the Mail Merge
pane,
pick
any document type to start. Use the current document at step 2 (or pick
another if you like). Step 3 is to select recipients, and Outlook
Contacts
is
one of the choices. Select the appropriate radio button, then click
“choose
contacts folderâ€. I get an error message box popping up saying, “Unable
to
obtain list of tables from the data sourceâ€. If I export the contacts
to
an
Excel spreadsheet, and choose “use an existing list†instead of Outlook
Contacts, I can pick and choose records easily. While this is a
workaround,
it would require regularly exporting contacts into this spreadsheet to
keep
it current, and the program seems to contemplate using Contacts
directly,
so
it should work. As I mentioned, I just installed Office 2007 at home,
and
get
the exact same behavior. I am able to see the Outlook Contacts in
Outlook.
I
have an exchange account at the office and none at home. Both versions
are
full, activated. I have tried the solution here
(http://kbalertz.com/922684/Error-me...sher-using-Outlook-contact-obtain-tables.aspx
) but the suggested setting was already there. Any advice would be
appreciated.

:

On Nov 5, 1:10 pm, "Judy Gleeson \(MVP Outlook\)"
Your answer doesn't make sense to me. Try following my exact steps.
I
have
taught them for years and seen them work on thousands of computers.

Regards

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Trainer and Consultant

There are various articles about using Outlook
here:www.judygleeson.com
Canberra, Australia





I have tried that too and it won't highlight "Merge" it only says
get
data
or edit and then query. what should I try next? thanks for your
help!

:

I have always thought that mailmerging is easier if you start in
Outlook.

Start by selelcting the Contacts you want to make labels for,
then
Tools
|
Mailmerge | Merge to labels | now Word will take over and use the
Selected
Contacts.

Regards

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Trainer and Consultant

There are various articles about using Outlook
here:www.judygleeson.com
Canberra, Australia

when I try to make mailing labels using Word, it says that it
is
unable
to
obtain list of tables from the data source when the data source
I
am
choosing
is Outlook contacts. What's the problem?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hello Erich,

This is a common issue that you have come across. Dont worry.
Answer my questions plz.....

are you able to view the contacts in your outlook
how many groups are present ( If any).
are u working on exchange account
is your outlook is complete version or trial.

respond to this to my e-mail address so that we can look into and
resolve it
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Tomlaw]

For someone who claims to be an "MVP", you're ridiculously condescending. If
you actually helpful, it would still be obnoxious. However, you apparently
did not read my post, or understand it. My contacts folder is indeed visible,
I have e-mail and US Mail entries in most of them, and the folder is marked
as an e-mail Outlook address book. I can access the address book just fine
thank you. In fact, it works brilliantly with WordPerfect when merging into a
template. I can't get it to work in Microsoft's own product, which I'd like
to do. Once again, the error message is “Unable to obtain list of tables from
the data sourceâ€. Useful information would be welcome. Sarcasm is optional.

I'll be happy to be "more helpful." But since I and others have posted this
information countless times here, I assumed you were not helpless. Start
here, and then post back with what you actually did and what evidence you
have that it hasn't worked for you:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Could you be a little more helpful, please? Outlook is indeed my default
mail program. How do I "configure my OAB correctly"? As far as I know, it
is
configured OK, but what do I look for?

That error means you have not configured your Outlook Address Book
correctly
or that Outlook is not your default mail program.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I am having the same problem with both Office 2003 (at work) and Office
2007
(at home) on different computers. Go to Word, start the Mail Merge
pane,
pick
any document type to start. Use the current document at step 2 (or pick
another if you like). Step 3 is to select recipients, and Outlook
Contacts
is
one of the choices. Select the appropriate radio button, then click
“choose
contacts folderâ€. I get an error message box popping up saying, “Unable
to
obtain list of tables from the data sourceâ€. If I export the contacts
to
an
Excel spreadsheet, and choose “use an existing list†instead of Outlook
Contacts, I can pick and choose records easily. While this is a
workaround,
it would require regularly exporting contacts into this spreadsheet to
keep
it current, and the program seems to contemplate using Contacts
directly,
so
it should work. As I mentioned, I just installed Office 2007 at home,
and
get
the exact same behavior. I am able to see the Outlook Contacts in
Outlook.
I
have an exchange account at the office and none at home. Both versions
are
full, activated. I have tried the solution here
(http://kbalertz.com/922684/Error-me...sher-using-Outlook-contact-obtain-tables.aspx
) but the suggested setting was already there. Any advice would be
appreciated.

:

On Nov 5, 1:10 pm, "Judy Gleeson \(MVP Outlook\)"
Your answer doesn't make sense to me. Try following my exact steps.
I
have
taught them for years and seen them work on thousands of computers.

Regards

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Trainer and Consultant

There are various articles about using Outlook
here:www.judygleeson.com
Canberra, Australia





I have tried that too and it won't highlight "Merge" it only says
get
data
or edit and then query. what should I try next? thanks for your
help!

:

I have always thought that mailmerging is easier if you start in
Outlook.

Start by selelcting the Contacts you want to make labels for,
then
Tools
|
Mailmerge | Merge to labels | now Word will take over and use the
Selected
Contacts.

Regards

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Trainer and Consultant

There are various articles about using Outlook
here:www.judygleeson.com
Canberra, Australia

when I try to make mailing labels using Word, it says that it
is
unable
to
obtain list of tables from the data source when the data source
I
am
choosing
is Outlook contacts. What's the problem?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hello Erich,

This is a common issue that you have come across. Dont worry.
Answer my questions plz.....

are you able to view the contacts in your outlook
how many groups are present ( If any).
are u working on exchange account
is your outlook is complete version or trial.

respond to this to my e-mail address so that we can look into and
resolve it
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

You really haven't provided any information that would permit more specific
help, but clues are slowly starting to trickle in. Are you running
WordPerfect and Word on the same partition? What is your default Contacts
manager? What do you see when you open the address book in Word?
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

For someone who claims to be an "MVP", you're ridiculously condescending.
If
you actually helpful, it would still be obnoxious. However, you apparently
did not read my post, or understand it. My contacts folder is indeed
visible,
I have e-mail and US Mail entries in most of them, and the folder is
marked
as an e-mail Outlook address book. I can access the address book just fine
thank you. In fact, it works brilliantly with WordPerfect when merging
into a
template. I can't get it to work in Microsoft's own product, which I'd
like
to do. Once again, the error message is “Unable to obtain list of tables
from
the data sourceâ€. Useful information would be welcome. Sarcasm is
optional.

I'll be happy to be "more helpful." But since I and others have posted
this
information countless times here, I assumed you were not helpless. Start
here, and then post back with what you actually did and what evidence you
have that it hasn't worked for you:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;287563&Product=ol2002

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

Could you be a little more helpful, please? Outlook is indeed my
default
mail program. How do I "configure my OAB correctly"? As far as I know,
it
is
configured OK, but what do I look for?

:

That error means you have not configured your Outlook Address Book
correctly
or that Outlook is not your default mail program.

--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
I am having the same problem with both Office 2003 (at work) and
Office
2007
(at home) on different computers. Go to Word, start the Mail Merge
pane,
pick
any document type to start. Use the current document at step 2 (or
pick
another if you like). Step 3 is to select recipients, and Outlook
Contacts
is
one of the choices. Select the appropriate radio button, then click
“choose
contacts folderâ€. I get an error message box popping up saying,
“Unable
to
obtain list of tables from the data sourceâ€. If I export the
contacts
to
an
Excel spreadsheet, and choose “use an existing list†instead of
Outlook
Contacts, I can pick and choose records easily. While this is a
workaround,
it would require regularly exporting contacts into this spreadsheet
to
keep
it current, and the program seems to contemplate using Contacts
directly,
so
it should work. As I mentioned, I just installed Office 2007 at
home,
and
get
the exact same behavior. I am able to see the Outlook Contacts in
Outlook.
I
have an exchange account at the office and none at home. Both
versions
are
full, activated. I have tried the solution here
(http://kbalertz.com/922684/Error-me...sher-using-Outlook-contact-obtain-tables.aspx
) but the suggested setting was already there. Any advice would be
appreciated.

:

On Nov 5, 1:10 pm, "Judy Gleeson \(MVP Outlook\)"
Your answer doesn't make sense to me. Try following my exact
steps.
I
have
taught them for years and seen them work on thousands of
computers.

Regards

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Trainer and Consultant

There are various articles about using Outlook
here:www.judygleeson.com
Canberra, Australia





I have tried that too and it won't highlight "Merge" it only
says
get
data
or edit and then query. what should I try next? thanks for
your
help!

:

I have always thought that mailmerging is easier if you start
in
Outlook.

Start by selelcting the Contacts you want to make labels for,
then
Tools
|
Mailmerge | Merge to labels | now Word will take over and use
the
Selected
Contacts.

Regards

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Trainer and Consultant

There are various articles about using Outlook
here:www.judygleeson.com
Canberra, Australia

when I try to make mailing labels using Word, it says that
it
is
unable
to
obtain list of tables from the data source when the data
source
I
am
choosing
is Outlook contacts. What's the problem?- Hide quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

Hello Erich,

This is a common issue that you have come across. Dont worry.
Answer my questions plz.....

are you able to view the contacts in your outlook
how many groups are present ( If any).
are u working on exchange account
is your outlook is complete version or trial.

respond to this to my e-mail address so that we can look into and
resolve it
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Tomlaw]

Wordperfect and Word both run from my C: drive. Outlook is my default
contacts manager.

If I go to Word (2003, but much the same in my home computer on 2007, also
with WP and Word on the same partition), and click Tools|Letters and
Mailings|Envelopes and Labels, and then click the "insert address" icon, my
OAB comes up, and I can click on any of the entries, and insert the name and
address. (It leaves out the organization and job title, which is annoying,
but that's another issue.)

On the other hand, if I click Tools|Letters and Mailings|Mail Merge, the
Mail Merge task pane opens. I choose envelopes (or any other choice), go to
step 2 and leave the layout the same (or change it), and then move to the
next step, which is to choose the data source. If I choose an existing list,
such as an Excel spreadsheet, it works OK. However, if I click the radio
button to "Select from Outlook Contacts", if I try to choose the contacts
folder or just move to the next step, I get an error message box which states
in its entirety, "Unable to obtain list of tables from the data source." The
same thing happens if I choose a preloaded template. I am running XP Pro with
SP2 applied on the Office 2003 machine, and XP Home with SP2 on the Office
2007 machine at home. My data at the office is found in .ost files and stored
locally in .pst files. I have no .pab files. What other information can I
give you to assist you?

My goal is to be able to use a preloaded template, or create one of my own,
that will be mergeable with OAB entries. Thank you for your assistance.

 

[Tomlaw]

I have found the answer. Apparently Wordperfect had installed a CorelCentral
Address Book (MAPI), which appeared in the list of address books. For some
reason this confused Word/Outlook (I was never asked to choose between them,
it just gave the error message.) When I deleted the CorelCentral Address
Book, merges began to work properly. Thanks.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

But if you install WordPerfect, you no longer have designated Outlook as
your default addressing service. Corel replaces it with its own. You should
be able to disable Corel and reset Outlook as your default. If not, just
starting the merge from Outlook will circumvent this problem.

 

[Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook]]

Right. You got it. Corel does not play by the rules. It replaces the default
addressing service with its own without notifying you or letting you choose.