WD2002: Filters for Blanks and Nonblanks Are Replicated in the Filter Criteria List (286880)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word 2002
This article was previously published under Q286880

SYMPTOMS

When you filter a column for blanks or non-blanks in the Mail Merge Recipients dialog box, the filter criteria is duplicated each time you re-open the dialog box. When more than half the filter criteria list is full of either "Is blank" or "Is not blank" criteria, and you open the Mail Merge Recipients dialog box one more time, the whole list is cleared, leaving no filters applied.

CAUSE

The SQL string for the expression "MyField Is blank" is:

(MyField IS NULL) OR (MyField IS '')

When this SQL string is parsed, two entries are passed to the Office DataSource Object (ODSO), which produces two "is blank" entries in the query criteria list. The same is true for the "MyField Is not blank" expression, except in the negative.

WORKAROUND

To clear the filter criteria, follow these steps:
  1. On the Mail Merge task bar, click Edit recipient list.
  2. Click the down arrow to the left of any column header, and then click Advanced.
  3. In the Filter and Sort dialog box, on the Filter Records tab, click Clear All, and then click OK. All filters are now removed.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about sorting and filtering data in a mail merge operation, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type Select recipients to include in a mail merge in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topic.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:4/3/2001
Keywords:kbbug KB286880
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.