In the area I cut out (for clairity).  When I step-through the file name is
passing fine.  The WHOLE sub is:

Private Sub cmdMergeLetter_Click()
'   this is an attempt to open a Word document and start a mail merge
Dim strFilePath As String
Dim objWord As Word.Document
Dim strPatientID As String '   use to link to patient
Dim strSELECT As String
Dim strFROM As String
Dim strWHERE As String
Dim strSQLMerge As String

strPatientID = Forms!frmpatientdata.txtPatientID
strSELECT = "SELECT tblPatient.[PatientID], tblPatient.[PtFirstName],
tblPatient.[PtLastName], tblPatient.[PtBD], tblCity.[City],
tblPatient.[PtAddress], tblPatient.[PtZip], tblReferral.[ReferBy]"
strFROM = " FROM (tblCity INNER JOIN tblPatient ON tblCity.[CityID] =
tblPatient.[PtCityFK]) INNER JOIN tblReferral ON tblPatient.[PatientID] =
tblReferral.[PtFK]"
strWHERE = " WHERE ((([PatientID])= " & strPatientID & "))"
strSQLMerge = strSELECT & strFROM & strWHERE

CurrentDb.QueryDefs("qrymailmerge").SQL = strSQLMerge

Me.cmdlg.DialogTitle = "Choose File Name and Location"
Me.cmdlg.ShowOpen
strFilePath = Me.cmdlg.FileName

Set objWord = GetObject(strFilePath, "Word.document")

'   make word visible
objWord.Application.Visible = True

'   execute the mail merge
objWord.MailMerge.Execute
objWord.Close