Office/Excel/Word 2003 needs updating help please.

legionbird

Please can somebody help I can turn a computer on and do simple stuff but am not at all techie minded.

I am now operating a new windows 7 system on my computer, when the computer man took the machine away he said all the programs I currently have on the computer would be ok on the new system but it seems that since the change I have developed gremlins in my database especially.

I have Microsoft office word/excel/access 2003 and at the moment and would like to update to a new version to make everything compatible and work smoothly. Is it going to be as easy as just buying an updated package??

To be honest the real problem lies in the database it won’t work properly with the mail merge so that’s what I really need to sort out.

Questions please - after loading new package:

Will I just be able to work straight away?

Will I have to transfer my old documents into new?


Thank you I would really appreciateyour help.

tyllwyd

If you upgrade to an up to date version of Word from Word 2003 there will be quite a difference in the way that the program looks and feels, so there will be a learning curve. All the same features are there, but you have to search them out.

You should be able to open any of your Word (.doc) documents. New documents will be saved as (.docx) unless you chose otherwise.

But upgrading windows shouldn't have affected your copy of Office. What is the problem exactly?

legionbird

tyllwyd wrote: »

But upgrading windows shouldn't have affected your copy of Office. What is the problem exactly?

My database consists of name address & money spent so to use mail merge with database I have to make a running copy of the database minus the money column and then it will print the documents I want if I don't do this it won’t print them.

I think also I have a problem with my old printer not liking windows 7 either (HP lazerjet 1200).

tyllwyd

So you are doing a mail merge in Word, and importing names and addresses from a database? But it doesn't work unless you create a new version of the database and delete one of the fields in that database? Is the database in access or excel?

I'm not sure what the problem is, but I'd be surprised if it is a problem you need to upgrade to fix.

Can you give a bit more detail on exactly what you are trying to do, how you are doing it and at what point it stops working and any error messages.

legionbird

So you are doing a mail merge in Word, and importing names and addresses from a database?
Yes

But it doesn't work unless you create a new version of the database and delete one of the fields in that database?
Yes

Is the database in access or excel? Database is in Microsoft works 4.0 database


The error messagethat comes up says Office cannot use works files that contain formulas for mailmerge, remove the formula from this file to use it as a data source.

legionbird

Hi I am really sorrybut have been called away (I’m at work) I will try and check in this afternoonif not it will be in the morning.

Many thanks foryour help.

tyllwyd

I'm afraid this isn't something I've ever come across - but I would have thought that the problem is that you are trying to use a Works database, and updating Word isn't going to help.

If it was me, I think I'd create a copy of the files (don't mess around with the master versions just in case!) and see if I can convert them into a more up to date format. I found some instructions for changing them to Access - again I've never done this so I can't vouch for it!
http://www.ehow.com/how_6239247_convert-works-files-access-database.html

Bollotom

Have a read of this but bear in mind the earlier advice, don't alter the original file, make a copy.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/93429