Can a mail merge data source be open

In Microsoft Word, a mail merge data source can be open in several ways, depending on the type of data source and the version of Word you're using. Here are some common scenarios:

  1. Database files: If your data source is a database file (e.g., Access, Excel, or SQL Server), you can open the file in its native application and then link it to your Word document as a data source. For example, you can open an Access database file (.mdb or.accdb) and then link it to your Word document using the "Link to External Data" option in the Mail Merge task pane.
  2. Excel files: If your data source is an Excel file (.xlsx,.xls, etc.), you can open the file in Excel and then link it to your Word document as a data source. You can also use the "Get Data" option in the Mail Merge task pane to link to an Excel file without opening it.
  3. Text files: If your data source is a text file (.txt,.csv, etc.), you can open the file in Notepad or another text editor and then link it to your Word document as a data source. You can also use the "Get Data" option in the Mail Merge task pane to link to a text file without opening it.
  4. XML files: If your data source is an XML file (.xml), you can open the file in an XML editor or a web browser and then link it to your Word document as a data source. You can also use the "Get Data" option in the Mail Merge task pane to link to an XML file without opening it.
  5. Online data sources: If your data source is an online database or service (e.g., SharePoint, Dynamics, or a web service), you may need to use a different approach to link to it. For example, you can use the "Get Data" option in the Mail Merge task pane to link to a SharePoint list or a Dynamics database.

In general, you can open a mail merge data source in its native application or use the "Get Data" option in the Mail Merge task pane to link to it without opening it.