DOCUMENT:Q114393 07-SEP-2001 [word97] TITLE :WD97:Word Prompts to Select Header Delimiter Opening Header File PRODUCT :Word 97 for Windows PROD/VER:WINDOWS:97 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbprint kbualink97 word97 kbmerge kbPrinting ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Word 97 for Windows ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you open a header file using the Mail Merge command, Word for Windows prompts you to select the header record delimiter. CAUSE ===== By design, when Word reads a mail merge header or data document that contains only one line, Word prompts you to select the record delimiter. In a mail merge data or header document that contains at least two lines, Word compares the two lines and, if both lines contain the same number of a single delimiter, Word does not prompt you to select the delimiter. WORKAROUND ========== To work around this problem, use one of the following methods: Method 1: Create the header document as a table ----------------------------------------------- To avoid being prompted, create the header document using a table format or convert the one row of data to a table format. To create a table: 1. Click Insert Table on the Table menu. 2. Specify one row and a number of columns equal to the number of fields in your header record. 3. Type in the field names in each cell. Method 2: Convert an existing header row to a table --------------------------------------------------- To Convert an existing header row to a table: 1. Select the entire header row. 2. On the Table menu, click Convert Text to Table. Method 3: create a header document that contains two records ------------------------------------------------------------ To avoid being prompted, create a header document that contains two records that use the same delimiter. For example: Name,Address,City,State,Zip Name,Address,City,State,Zip -or- Name,Address,City,State,Zip ,,,, When the file contains two or more lines, Word compares the number of delimiters in the first and second lines. If both lines contain the same number of delimiters, Word does not prompt you to select the delimiter. NOTE: Word uses only the first record as the header record. The field delimiter used in the two identical records can be any character listed in the Field Delimiter list in the Header Record Delimiter dialog box. This method for automating the determination of the field delimiter does not extend to record delimiters. Even though the dialog box will allow you to specify alternative record delimiters, you cannot use any character other than a paragraph mark to delimit the two identical records in the header file if you want to avoid being prompted for delimiter selection. MORE INFORMATION ================ If the data document contains any identical records or only a single record, the Header Record Delimiter dialog box appears after you have selected the data document. This dialog box does not appear if your data document contains only dissimilar records. Additional query words: winword word97 ====================================================================== Keywords : kbprint kbualink97 word97 kbmerge kbPrinting Technology : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2 Version : WINDOWS:97 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.