WD2000: Cannot Merge Numbers Created with Bullets and Numbering in a Mail Merge (279126)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q279126

SYMPTOMS

When you use a Word table as a mail-merge data source, and the table contains a column with numbers that were generated by using the Bullets and Numbering feature (a numbered list), the numbers are not merged into the mail-merge document.

CAUSE

The numbers are not displayed in the merged document, because numbers generated as a numbered list are not actually text, but rather paragraph formatting. When the document is merged with the data source, the numbers field in all of the records appears empty.

WORKAROUND

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

Method 1: Paste as Unformatted Text

  1. Select the column that contains the numbering by clicking in one of the column's cells. On the Table menu, point to Select and then click Column.
  2. On the Edit menu, click Copy.
  3. Open a new Word document. To do this, click New on the File menu, click to select Blank Document, and then click OK.
  4. In the new document, click Paste Special on the Edit menu.
  5. In the Paste Special dialog box, click to select Unformatted Text, and then click OK.
  6. On the Edit menu, click Copy to copy the unformatted text.
  7. In your data source, select the numbered column again, and then click Paste on the Edit menu.

Method 2: Use Microsoft Excel

  1. Select the table in Word. To do this, point to Select on the Table menu, and then click Table.
  2. On the Edit menu, click Copy.
  3. In a new Microsoft Excel worksheet, click Paste Special on the Edit menu, click to select Text, and then click OK.
  4. After the table is pasted into Excel, it will be selected (highlighted). On the Edit menu, click Copy.
  5. In a new Word document, click Paste Special on the Edit menu, click to select Formatted Text, and then click OK.
NOTE: Save this new document as your data source for your Word mail merge. When you merge this data source, the numbers will be merged as you expect.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/6/2000
Keywords:kbprb KB279126
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