DATABASE field table format - changes not saved over Citrix

[Michael Matuszak]

I am working with a Word 2002 mail merge document over
Citrix Metaframe. I have a DATABASE field in the document
whose recordset is displayed in a table. If I work with
this on a local machine, I can successfully save changes
to the table auto-formats. However, if I work on it over a
Citrix client, the changes I make to the standard table
auto-formats are not saved. The changes work as long as
the document is open, but disappear when I reopen it. Any
ideas?

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Michael,

What kinds of things are you trying to change, and over which
interface are you working when you make the changes?

Have you tried editing the DATABASE field code directly, then
saving the document?

I am working with a Word 2002 mail merge document over
Citrix Metaframe. I have a DATABASE field in the document
whose recordset is displayed in a table. If I work with
this on a local machine, I can successfully save changes
to the table auto-formats. However, if I work on it over a
Citrix client, the changes I make to the standard table
auto-formats are not saved. The changes work as long as
the document is open, but disappear when I reopen it. Any
ideas?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun
8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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[Michael Matuszak]

All I'm trying to change is the font and font size. I am
able to do that on a merge letter on my local machine only
by editing the table auto-format. However, when I am
logged into a server with Citrx metaframe, I am unable to
save changes to the table format either by editing the
table format directly or by editing the selected table
auto-format (and using the /l xx /b xx switches).

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Michael,

Note that I know nothing about Citrix (except that it
exists and I've seen it), but I have to ask: are you able to
save other changes to the document text when working over
Citrix?

I find it very odd, to put it mildly, that you'd be able to
save all other changes to a document, but not changes you've
made directly in a field code. (Note that the switches
require BACKslashes, not forward slashes, as in your text,
below. Not that I expect that's the problem...)

But I suggest you contact someone responsible for Citrix
support, because this is certainly not a problem with Word,
itself.

All I'm trying to change is the font and font size. I am
able to do that on a merge letter on my local machine only
by editing the table auto-format. However, when I am
logged into a server with Citrx metaframe, I am unable to
save changes to the table format either by editing the
table format directly or by editing the selected table
auto-format (and using the /l xx /b xx switches).

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun
8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow
question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail

 

[Guest]

Cindy,

Yes, the forward slashes were typos. I am using
backslashes. The switches do work, but certain changes to
the table auto-format styles, although saved, are not
applied to the DATABASE field in question.

All other fomatting changes get saved. It must be a Citrix
imponderable.

Thanks for the help,

Michael

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Yes, the forward slashes were typos. I am using

backslashes. The switches do work, but certain changes to
the table auto-format styles, although saved, are not
applied to the DATABASE field in question.

Hmmm, "not applied" and "not saved" (as stated in your
original question) are two very different things.

When you're logged in through Citrix, as opposed to working
locally, are your documents based on a different Normal.dot?
We *might* be looking at a style issue overriding the Table
Style the AutoFormat is applying.

What happens if you: select the DATABASE field; apply the
"Normal style"; then press Ctrl+Q and Ctrl+Spacebar?

And just BTW, what font and font size to your Normal style
have?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun
8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any
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[Michael Matuszak]

Cindy,

You may have noticed that I started a new thread on this.
I'll continue to post on this thread unless you request
otherwise. Essentially, I have found that these problems
have less to do with Citrix (though there still may be
issues related to it) than they do with the fact that this
DATABASE field is in a merge document. I can change the
formatting easily a number of ways if the field is in a
normal Word document. I have toyed with a merge document
on my machine where a DATABASE field table is just as
unmanageable.

When I am logged into Citrix, the Normal style appears to
be New Times Roman 12 (the Modify button is disabled for
that style). The DATABASE field table won't budge from
being New Times Roman 10. Font changes I make to styles
are saved, though changes to the border are not. Either
way, New Times Roman 10 is applied to the DATABASE field
table when I open the document. Only when I use the \l and
\b switches does the field use the style -- border only --
the font stubbornly stays at New Times Roman 10.

Nothing happened when I tried your suggestion.

Tough one, eh?

Michael

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Michael,

Essentially, I have found that these problems
have less to do with Citrix (though there still may be
issues related to it) than they do with the fact that this
DATABASE field is in a merge document. I can change the
formatting easily a number of ways if the field is in a
normal Word document. I have toyed with a merge document
on my machine where a DATABASE field table is just as
unmanageable.

OK... What kind of data source, and what kind of connection
method (in case what I suggest in the following doesn't go
anywhere, so that I can try to reproduce) Maybe copy/paste
the field code into your reply?

When I am logged into Citrix, the Normal style appears to
be New Times Roman 12 (the Modify button is disabled for
that style). The DATABASE field table won't budge from
being New Times Roman 10. Font changes I make to styles
are saved, though changes to the border are not. Either
way, New Times Roman 10 is applied to the DATABASE field
table when I open the document. Only when I use the \l and
\b switches does the field use the style -- border only --
the font stubbornly stays at New Times Roman 10.

Hmmm, I wonder what they've done to "lock" the Normal
style...

I suspect that this could be the key. It sounds like you're
getting a Normal.dot from the Citrix server when you log in,
and that this is being controlled, somehow. Without knowing
all the ins-and-outs, I can't be sure, of course, it this
workaround is valid for you, but...

I'd create a template on your machine, from your Normal.dot.
Make sure documents you create form it function correctly
with Database fields in mail merge documents.

Save this to the TEMPLATES location on Citrix. (If you aren't
allowed to do this, then ask the Admin if they couldn't put
it there for you).

Background on the problem: Starting in Word 2002, Table
Styles were introduced. These are basically the answer to the
request "Let us make our own Table AutoFormats".
Unfortunately, one can't hook these into Database fields, but
the AutoFormats that do work in the fields follow the same
rules as the Table Styles. And one rule plays absolute havoc
with font formatting. If the table is not formatted as
"Normal style", and if the "Normal style" doesn't use the
default paragraph font that is internal to Word, the font set
for the table style simply doesn't "shine through".

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun
8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow
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