Knowledge Base

Word for Windows 95: Problems Merging to Fax

Article ID: 139465

Article Last Modified on 8/17/2005

Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q139465

SYMPTOMS

When you perform a mail merge to fax, one of the following problems occur:

The computer appears to hang and there is no output

-or-
The following error messages appears:
Microsoft Word Error=1177
The document name or path is not valid:
(C:\WINDOWS\SPOOL\FAX\...\FILENAME)

CAUSE

One of the choices during the fax process is to send the fax "As Attachment." This option is designed to allow the document being merged to retain its formatting (font, size, graphics, and so forth). When using this option, the fax-rendering system will "time-out" after the second record. When the time-out occurs, the fax system deletes the document that Word expects to find and use during the merge process. The result is that the merge process is unsuccessful.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Word for Windows 95, version 7.0. This was fixed in Word for Windows 95, version 7.0a (See Q145523 for List of Fixed Bugs in Word 7.0a for Windows 95)

WORKAROUND

Method 1

Do not use the Send As Attachment option. By not selecting this option, the records will merge with plain text formatting, but all records will fax successfully.

Method 2

Use the As Attachment option, but merge the records two at a time. For example, merge records 1 and 2, then 3 and 4, and so on.

MORE INFORMATION

Depending on the configuration of the modem being used, the complexity of the main document, and possible other factors, additional symptoms may be seen in the merge process. Symptoms that have been reported include:

Clicking OK at the error screen and the fax finishing successfully.
Faxes collecting in the Exchange Outbox for a long period of time (30 minutes) and then being reported as undeliverable by Exchange.
Faxes immediately being reported as undeliverable.
The Exchange dialog box for "Preparing Fax Format" being displayed for a long time.
The Confirm Conversions dialog box being displayed as the spool file is opened.

Additional query words: word95 word7 7.0 err msg errmsg mmh fax facscimile facsimile winword

Keywords: kbprint kbmerge KB139465