PUB2000: Error: "There is Not Enough Memory to Complete This Operation" Opening Merged Publication (236916)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Publisher 2000

This article was previously published under Q236916

SYMPTOMS

If you try to open a publication that has been mail merged with a .dbf file, you receive the following error message:
There is not enough memory to complete this operation. To make more memory available, close other programs, and try again.
When you click OK, your publication closes. You are left with a new, blank publication.

CAUSE

This is caused by a problem with version 4.0 of the Jet database engine, which Publisher 2000 uses for mail merges.

WORKAROUND

If you know the name of the file with which the publication is merged, you can work around this problem by following these steps:
  1. Use Windows Explorer to move or rename the database file. If your publication is merged with a file called C:\My Programs\Merge.dbf, change the name of the file to something like C:\My Programs\Merge2.dbf.
  2. Open your publication. You will receive the following error message:
    Publisher can't connect to the data source file that contains the information you want to merge. The file may have been moved, deleted, or renamed.
  3. Click Try to reconnect to the data source, and then click Continue.
  4. Browse to the folder that contains the moved or renamed database file.
  5. Click the name of the file, and then click Open.
NOTE: This fixes the problem for this session only. If you close and reopen the publication, you will have to browse for the database file again. If you save the publication, you will have to move the source database file again before you can reopen the publication.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The .dbf file format is a generic database format. You can create .dbf database files in a variety of programs, including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft FoxPro, and Corel Paradox.

Most programs that can create a .dbf file can also create other types of files that Publisher can use as the data source for a mail merge. If you are creating a mail merged publication that you will need to keep reopening, save the data in another format (such as a delimited text (.txt) or Microsoft Database (.mdb) file).

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/20/2000
Keywords:kbbug kberrmsg kbmerge KB236916