WD97: Cannot Change Default Field Names in Mail Merge Helper

ID: Q181062

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

You cannot change the list of default mail merge field names in the Create Data Source dialog box.

CAUSE

You cannot change these defaults because the names are hard-coded in the Word program.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic for Applications procedures for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. The Visual Basic procedures in this article are provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that they can be used in all situations. While Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular macro, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality, nor will they help you construct macros to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to consult one of the Microsoft Solution Providers. Solution Providers offer a wide range of fee-based services, including creating custom macros. For more information about Microsoft Solution Providers, call Microsoft Customer Information Service at (800) 426-9400.

Although you cannot change the defaults, you can use the following sample macro to automatically change the field names when you create a mail merge data file. NOTE: Run the following macro to create a new data source instead of using Create Data Source (in the Mail Merge Helper, click Get Data). After the data source is created using the sample macro, then in the Mail Merge Helper, click Get Data and then click Open Data Source to attach the data source you created using your custom macro.

This sample macro fills the mail merge Create Data Source dialog list box with fields you specify within the macro.

   Sub SetDefaultheaderFields()
      Set mydialog = Dialogs(wdDialogMailMergeCreateDataSource)
      With mydialog
         .HeaderRecord = "one, two, three, etc."
         .Show
      End With
   End Sub

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about working with dialog boxes in Word, click the Office Assistant while in the Visual Basic for Applications Editor, type "built-in dialogs," click Search, and then click to view "Displaying built- in Word dialog boxes."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    ARTICLE-ID: Q176476
    TITLE     : OFF97: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic
                Questions

    ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
    TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
                Applications

Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode kbmacroexample kbwordvba word97 kbmerge 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: April 9, 1999