PUB2000: "Numeric Field Overflow" Error Message When You Try to Perform a Mail Merge (827321)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Publisher 2000

SYMPTOMS

When you try to perform a mail merge in Microsoft Publisher 2000, and you use a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet as your data source, you may receive the following error message:
numeric field overflow

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the Excel workbook that you are using as your data source contains cell formatting that defines the cells of the first record in the merge data list as numeric data. Because of this, Publisher's Mail Merge Wizard expects that every cell for that merge field contains numeric data. If any subsequent record has text or other formatting defined for the same merge field, Publisher will then generate the error message that is listed in the "Symptoms" section of this article.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, save the Excel address list as a .csv file or a comma delimited file. To do this in Excel, follow these steps:
  1. Start Excel and open your address list document.
  2. On the File menu, click Save As.
  3. In the Save as type box, click CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv).
  4. Click Save.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/6/2006
Keywords:kberrmsg KB827321 kbAudEndUser kbAudITPRO
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