Recently, I was testing Word's capability to print a full sheet of multiple-recipient mailing address labels, so I followed the Help file's instructions for how to connect a recipient list's data source to a Word document in order to print out the labels. I was already familiar with how to create a recipient list and connect it to a merge mail letter, but I had never tried to use this process for creating mass mailing labels.
I was very impressed with myself after completing the process successfully, until I realized that during my testing process I had inadvertently connected the data source to a document I didn't intend to. I didn't discover the problem I had created until I reopened my document later. When it prompted me to choose whether to open the connected data source or not, I immediately realized (from past experience with other data source connections I'd used in Word) that I was going to have to decide whether to open this data source connection in conjunction with this document everafter.
While I have connected data sources numerous times before, I have never tried to disconnect a data source from a document, so I began to search all through Word's commands, mail merge procedures, and Help files for a solution. Finally, after several searches on different keyword phrases, I finally stumbled upon the answer, and was it ever-so-simple and easy to do! Here are the steps:
As proud as I am to reveal this carefully guarded "secret" to you, I feel compelled to give credit where credit is due. Thanks to the Windows Users Group Network for the answer to this puzzle. As Gomer Pyle would say, "THANKYA! THANKYA! THANKYA!"