Err Msg: Word is Waiting for the Server to Release Object

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Graph, version 3.0, 3.0a, 3.0b

SUMMARY

Microsoft Word for Windows 2.x, returns the error message "Word is waiting for the Server to release object" when updating a Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) link if you do not press ENTER after modifying the cell in Microsoft Excel for Windows.

Word version 6.0 does not return the error message. The following workaround works for both versions.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Word for Windows versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0c. This problem was corrected in Word version 7.0 for Windows 95.

WORKAROUND

This error message persists until you press the ENTER key in Microsoft Excel. To work around this problem and escape the continuous loop, follow the steps below:

1. Press CTRL+ESC to activate the Windows Task List.

2. Select Excel from the list of applications, and choose the Switch To button.

3. In Excel, press the ENTER key to enter the contents of the cell.

4. Switch back to Word for Windows.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

1. In Excel, type "1" (without the quotation marks) in cell A1. Press ENTER.

2. From the Excel Edit menu, choose Copy.

3. Switch to Word for Windows version 2.0.

4. From the Word Edit menu, choose Paste Special.

5. Select the Formatted Text (RTF) option, and choose the Paste Link button.

6. Switch back to Excel.

7. Change the value in cell A1, and do NOT press ENTER.

8. Switch back to Word for Windows.

9. Select the DDE field code, and press F9 to update the field.

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 682-690