PUB98: Publisher Fails to Recognize Delimiter After Merge (179213)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Publisher 98

This article was previously published under Q179213

SYMPTOMS

If you create a mail merge in Microsoft Publisher and then select a new data source, which uses a different field delimiter, Publisher does not recognize the delimiter for the new data source and uses the original delimiter. For example, if you originally create a mail merge with a comma-delimited text file, Publisher will always uses a comma as the delimiter for any new data source you attach to the mail merge. This is true even if you explicitly specify another kind of delimiter.

CAUSE

If the indexed sequential access method (ISAM) driver is already loaded in random access memory (RAM), the driver does not update the field delimiter definition when you connect to a new data source.

WORKAROUND

To workaround this problem, cancel the original mail merge before you select a different data source by following these steps:
  1. On the Mail Merge menu, click Cancel Merge.

    When you see the following message, click Yes:
    Are you sure you want to cancel this merge?

    Click Yes to clear all merge information permanently and convert all merge fields to plain text. Click No to retain all merge information.
  2. On the Mail Merge menu, click Open Data Source.
  3. Click "Merge information from a file I already have."
  4. Select the new data source and click Open.
The delimiter for the new data source will be used.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/10/1999
Keywords:kbmerge kbprb KB179213