WD: Hyphens Don't Display Correctly with Numeric Picture Switch (121938)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
Microsoft Word for Windows 95
Microsoft Word for Windows 95 7.0a
Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

This article was previously published under Q121938

SYMPTOMS

A merge field that contains the numeric format switch does not return correct results when the pictorial representation contains hyphens. For example:

{mergeformat number \# ###-##-####}

produces the following result:

123 45 6789.

NOTE: You obtain correct results when you use other characters (such as the "at" symbol [@], the forward slash [/], the plus sign [+], or the asterisk [*]).

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use one of the following methods.

Method 1

Enclose the hyphens in apostrophes so that your field appears as follows:

{MERGEFIELD number \# ###'-'##'-'####}

Method 2: Word for Windows and Word for Windows NT

Use the ANSI code when inserting the hyphen. To do this, press ALT+0173 on the numeric keypad with NUMLOCK on.

Method 3

Use a nonbreaking hyphen by typing CTRL+SHIFT+- in Word for Windows or OPTION+- in Word for the Macintosh.

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	8/16/2005
Keywords:	kbfield kbprb KB121938