DOCUMENT:Q196940 14-NOV-2000 [word97] TITLE :WD97: Mail Merge Does Not Merge Hidden Character Formatting PRODUCT :Word 97 for Windows PROD/VER:WINDOWS:97 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:word97 kbmerge ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Word 97 for Windows ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== If a Microsoft Word mail merge data document contains hidden text formatting, the text appears without the hidden format after Word performs the merge. CAUSE ===== This behavior is by design of Microsoft Word. The mail merge main document controls the formatting of text during a merge. WORKAROUND ========== To work around this problem, use any of the following methods. Method 1: Format the Merge Field in the Mail Merge Main Document as Hidden -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Format the merge field in the mail merge main document as hidden. When the merge is performed, the result of this field is hidden text. Method 2: Remove the Word "mergefield" from the Merge Field ----------------------------------------------------------- Remove the word "mergefield" from the merge field in the main document. To do this, begin by displaying field codes (press ALT+F9). Delete the word "mergefield" from within the field code. Ignore the "Error! Bookmark not defined" message and perform the merge. The result after the merge is hidden text. Method 3: Replace the MERGEFIELD Field with a REF Field ------------------------------------------------------- Turn on field codes (by pressing ALT+F9), and replace the word "mergefield" with the word "ref" (without the quotation marks) in the field code. The merge will generate hidden text for this field. Method 2 and method 3 do not permit you to suppress blank lines when a field in the data file is empty. Method 1 automatically suppresses the blank lines. Additional query words: mail merge hidden format character font ====================================================================== Keywords : word97 kbmerge Technology : kbWordSearch kbWord97 kbWord97Search kbZNotKeyword2 Version : WINDOWS:97 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= 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 2000.