WD: Change Case Does Not Apply Formatting to Merge Results

ID: Q118481

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

Changing the case of MERGEFIELD fields using SHIFT+F3 or Change Case from the Format menu does not format the results of your merge fields with the selected case change.

CAUSE

Changing the case changes the ASCII value of the characters; it does not apply direct formatting to the characters.

WORKAROUND

To apply case changes to merge field results, use one of the following methods:

Method 1: Use the All Caps Option or Shortcut Keys

Select the MERGEFIELD field (including the chevrons or field braces) and press CTRL+SHIFT+A for All Caps formatting. Or, on the Format menu, click Font, and then under Effects, click to select the All Caps check box, and then click OK.

Method 2: Use the CharFormat Switch

Display Field Codes by pressing ALT+F9. Select the first character of the merge field, and format this character as noted in method 1 above. Add the \* CHARFORMAT switch to the end of the MERGEFIELD field. This switch applies the formatting of the field type's first character to the entire result. Your field code should look like the following:

   {Mergefield name \* charformat}

Method 3: Use a Case Switch

Display Field Codes by pressing ALT+F9. Add one of the following format switches to the end of the MERGEFIELD field.

   Switch        Description
   ------        -----------

   \* upper      To format the entire field as all caps
   \* lower      To format the entire field in lowercase
   \* firstcap   To capitalize the first word in the result
   \* caps       To capitalize each word in the result

To format the MERGEFIELD result in all caps, your field code should look Like this:

   {mergefield name \* upper}

NOTE: Firstcap only works if text is all lower case. If text is all upper case, include the lower switch before the firstcap switch. For example:

   {MERGEFIELD name \*lower \*firstcap}

Result: RICHARD becomes Richard.

Additional query words: format switches switch capital letters all caps mailing mergefield mail merge field short-cut format results keystrokes change case

Keywords          : wordnt word8 kbfield macword98 winword ntword macword word6 word7 word95 
Version           : MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a,98; WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: December 6, 1998