Works 6/2000: Mail Merge with Database Statistical Fields Has Unexpected Result (239207)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Works 2000
  • Microsoft Works 6
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2000
  • Microsoft Works Suite 2001
This article was previously published under Q239207

SYMPTOMS

When you use Works Word Processor or Microsoft Word to create a mail merge document and then attempt to insert a Works Database field that contains the STD function or the VAR function, the results in the mail merge document do not match the corresponding data in the database.

For example, if you create a database that contains the fields, values, and formulas in the following table, the result in the STD field is 0.5, and the result in the VAR field is 0.25.

ABSTDVAR
23=STD(a,b)=VAR(a,b)

However, when you merge the database into a Works Word Processor document or a Word 2000 document, the result in the STD field is 0.707106781186548, and the result in the VAR field is 0.5.

RESOLUTION

To work around this issue:
  1. Create a new database that contains the same field names as the original database, but do not type any formulas in the fields.
  2. Open the original database, and then select all of the cells that you want to use in the merged document.
  3. On the Edit menu, click Copy.
  4. Switch to the new database.
  5. Move the insertion point to the first cell into which you want to paste your data.
  6. On the Edit menu, click Paste.

    NOTE: If want to move a large amount of data, you may need to repeat 2 through 6 to copy and paste all of the data from the original database to the new database.
  7. On the File menu, click Save.
  8. Type a name for the new database, and then click Save.
  9. Open the Works Word Processor document or Word document that contains the mail merge fields from the original database.
  10. On the Tools menu, point to Mail Merge, and then click Open Data Source.
  11. Click Yes.
  12. Click Merge information from another type of file.
  13. Click the new database that you created in steps 1 through 7, and then click Open.
  14. Click View Results.

    NOTE: Do not insert any new fields into the document.
The data in the merged document should now be correct.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The STD function calculates the standard deviation of a range of numbers.

The VAR function calculates the variance of a range of numbers.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/13/2004
Keywords:kbbug kbpending KB239207
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.