How to use a word mail merge with a password protected Access file

Question

I am trying to use Word mail merge to send emails and retrieve all the data like name and title from an Access database however, the database is password protected and I keep on getting errors saying the password is wrong even though it is the correct password.

I have searched all over the internet and nothing seems to be working. In addition, I have tried allowing exclusive access when making the connection and have tried different connection types and nothing is working.

Answer 1

The answer is in this forum: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/mail-merge-on-a-password-protected-access-database/c2bfe4ec-ea6c-4287-9249-37a060e9d731

a. in Word, go to File->Options->Advanced->General (near the bottom of the Advanced options)

b. check "Confirm file format conversion on Open"

c. re-open your Word Mail Merge Main Document

d. go through the process of connecting to the Access database again (e.g. Mailings tab->Select Recipients->Use Existing List

e. Once you have selected the .mdb or .accdb, you should see an additional dialog box titled "Confirm Data Source". For an ACCDB, only one option will be displayed ("OLE DB Database Files"). In that case, check "Show All". A number of other options should appear.

f. locate and select the option titled "MS Access Databases via DDE (.mdb;.mde)", then click OK.

g. If the database is already open in Access, you should now see a dialogue box with a list of tables/queries. Otherwise, Word tries to start Access if it is not already running, then asks Access to open the database. At this point, Access should prompt you for the database password. However, it is possible that the dialogue box will appear behind Word, so if you do not see it quickly, alt-tab to the Access application and respond to the dialogue box. Then you should see the list of tables/queries and you can proceed.