Getting MAPI errors when trying to make a Word document an attachment to an e-mail

Carol Forti · 05-25-2008, 07:21 PM

I tried to make a word document an attachment to an e-mail. I clicked on "Send as a mail attachment" under "File" but a screen came on my computer monitor stating that the "Operation failed." I clicked on "Help" to obtain some information. According to Microsoft, this is a MAPI related error. I was advised to restart the MAPI e-mail program (Outlook) or save and close the document, then restart Word after restarting the MAPI e-mail application. The instructions said that Word will establish a new MAPI session, allowing the document to be sent. I interpreted restart to mean reboot, but the instructions did not work. I use Office 2003 Professional and Windows XP. I would also like to know how to send multiple Word documents as attachments to the same e-mail. I need help really quickly. Hope someone can help.

**OldGrayGary** · 05-26-2008, 09:29 PM

Hi Carol

If you haven't solved your attachment question yet:

Assuming that the version of Word that created the documents and the version of Outlook that you are using for the email are both part of Office 2003, you should be OK attaching the documents by using the "Insert" icon (looks like a paper-clip) from within Outlook, then browse to their location and click "Insert" (it is a poor choice of grammar on MS Outlook 2003's part, as the action does not really insert the document, but attaches it).

The documents must be saved first in order to be attached. MS Word does not need to be open for the attachment function to work. I prefer for Word to be closed, in fact, to avoid any possibility of the file being "in use", which might cause Outlook a bit of trouble getting to it. Theoretically, so long as the document is already saved, it should be attachable (whether Word is open or not).

Best of luck
. . . Gary

05-25-2008, 07:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
Carol Forti Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1 OS: XP Professional	Getting MAPI errors when trying to make a Word document an attachment to an e-mail I tried to make a word document an attachment to an e-mail. I clicked on "Send as a mail attachment" under "File" but a screen came on my computer monitor stating that the "Operation failed." I clicked on "Help" to obtain some information. According to Microsoft, this is a MAPI related error. I was advised to restart the MAPI e-mail program (Outlook) or save and close the document, then restart Word after restarting the MAPI e-mail application. The instructions said that Word will establish a new MAPI session, allowing the document to be sent. I interpreted restart to mean reboot, but the instructions did not work. I use Office 2003 Professional and Windows XP. I would also like to know how to send multiple Word documents as attachments to the same e-mail. I need help really quickly. Hope someone can help.

05-26-2008, 09:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
OldGrayGary Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 1,978 OS: Windows 98se/2000/XP/Vista	Re: Getting MAPI errors when trying to make a Word document an attachment to an e-mai Hi Carol If you haven't solved your attachment question yet: Assuming that the version of Word that created the documents and the version of Outlook that you are using for the email are both part of Office 2003, you should be OK attaching the documents by using the "Insert" icon (looks like a paper-clip) from within Outlook, then browse to their location and click "Insert" (it is a poor choice of grammar on MS Outlook 2003's part, as the action does not really *insert* the document, but attaches it). The documents must be saved first in order to be attached. MS Word does not need to be open for the attachment function to work. I prefer for Word to be closed, in fact, to avoid any possibility of the file being "in use", which might cause Outlook a bit of trouble getting to it. Theoretically, so long as the document is already saved, it should be attachable (whether Word is open or not). Best of luck . . . Gary __________________ Last edited by OldGrayGary : 05-26-2008 at 09:30 PM.