PUB2002: Data Source Merge Fields Are Unexpectedly Converted to Text (285382)
The information in this article applies to:
This article was previously published under Q285382 SYMPTOMS
When you create a mail merge publication in Microsoft Publisher, some of the mail merge field names change to text. The mail merge fields no longer act as data fields.
CAUSE
This behavior can occur when you attempt to merge data into a publication from more than one data source. When you change to a second data source, you receive the following error message:
Do you want to connect to a different data source?
This publication is already set up to merge from 'data source'.
If you've already inserted mail merge fields into this publication, some of them may not be able to merge information from the new data source. Click Yes to continue and choose a new data source. Click No to use the data source you have already chosen.
Once you have switched to the new data source, all the old merge fields become plain text. The merge fields lose their connection to the original data source, even though they may have the same name as the original data source fields.
WORKAROUND
To perform a mail merge, delete the old fields and reinsert them from the new data source.
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 11/5/2003 |
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| Keywords: | kbpending kbprb KB285382 |
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