Hyperlink issue

[mdmackillop]

If I use a shell command to open a mailmerge document, things are OK.
[VBA]Call Shell("c:\program files\microsoft office\office\winword.exe C:\Database\val\Letter2.doc", 1)
[/VBA]
If I use a hyperlink to the same document,
[VBA]Application.FollowHyperlink "C:\Database\val\Letter2.doc"
[/VBA]
the following message appears when I return to Access (the mailmerge etc. all function properly). Any ideas?
MD

Run-time Error 261
An unexpected error has occurred.

[spaz9876]

Is this a button on a switchboard? If so, you can do something like this in your switchboard:
[VBA] Case 1
Dim oApp2 As Object
Set oApp2 = CreateObject("Word.Application")
oApp2.Documents.Open "C:\Database\val\Letter2.doc"
oApp2.Visible = True
[/VBA]