WD2000: Mail Merge Does Not Merge Hidden Character Formatting (212188)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q212188

SYMPTOMS

If a Microsoft Word mail merge data document contains hidden text formatting, the text appears without the hidden format after Word performs the merge.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the mail merge main document controls the formatting of text during a merge operation.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, use any of the following methods.

Method 1: Format the Merge Field in the Mail Merge Main Document as Hidden

Format the merge field in the mail merge main document as hidden. When the merge is performed, the result of this field is hidden text.

Method 2: Remove the Word "mergefield" from the Merge Field

Remove the word "mergefield" from the merge field in the main document. To do this, begin by displaying field codes (press ALT+F9). Delete the word "mergefield" from within the field code. Ignore the
Error! Bookmark not defined
message and perform the merge. The result after the merge is hidden text.

Method 3: Replace the MERGEFIELD Field with a REF Field

Turn on field codes (by pressing ALT+F9), and replace the word "mergefield" with the word ref in the field code. The merge will generate hidden text for this field.

Method 2 and Method 3 do not permit you to suppress blank lines when a field in the data file is empty. Method 1 automatically suppresses the blank lines.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/6/2000
Keywords:kbmerge kbprb KB212188
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