I previously suggested you confirm the need to use DDE; that is a most unusual requirement and I doubt it really is needed. Since you haven't posted any of the code you say you're already using, I can't comment further on that.

As for retrieving whatever the DDE connection uses, all you need do is run the macro I provided after doing that setup manually. If you do it before and after, you should be able to retrieve both the non-DDE SQL query string and the post-DDE connection string.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Sorry, I included this code in my first post but didn't tag it as such.

The database queries in the access document utilize access-basic for some calculations (such as turning numbers into words for contracting or calculating the number of months between two date fields). The only way I've been able to get them to appear as an option for a standard mail merge is by selecting DDE.

I tried the sample code you provided but when I copy the statement(s) it provides and then execute the merge the access basic functions, date, and number fields lose their formatting (as if the 'confirm file format' option box was not checked).

Is there a way to manually set a DDE connection or have it pop up the box to select the connection type as it does when you manually step through the merge with the tool-bar buttons?