exceeding 255 fields

[Nilogram]

Is there a way to expand the maximum number of merge fields or use multiple
work sheets within an Excel workbook in a sinlge Word merge?

Thank you

 

[Peter Jamieson]

Not really. Even with Excel 2007, which allows more than 255 columns, you
can't get more than 255 when you connect to the sheet as a mailmerge data
source.

Your best bets are /probably/ either
a. export the data to a tab-delimited format (either in a plain text file
or Word file), and try using that as the data source for a merge. However,
doing that from Excel is non-trivial and there are often problems with Word
not recognising the data int he data source properly. Or
b. instead of using Merge, use automation to get the data from your sheet
and place it in "fields" that you have marked with placeholders of some
kind - i.e. "roll your own merge"

 

[Nilogram]

Thank you. Using a text file did not work as Word would only use the first
255 elements.

Am not certain how to accomplish this using automation but will see what I
can find out. Any advice would be most appreciated.

 

[Peter Jamieson]

Thank you. Using a text file did not work as Word would only use the first

255 elements.

See what happens if you check Word Tools|Options|General"Confirm conversion
at open" and choose the ""Text Files" option rather than the OLE DB option
when prompted.