Excel 2K3 - Word 2K3 Merge fomat

[Jim]

Hi all,

Even after visiting Graham's site, I'm still vexed by two issues...

First, I have an Excel column with a custom format XX-XX-XXXX - all numbers.
When I merge into Word 2003, the leading zero is dropped. Not good. I's
like it to print the same way in Word XX-XX-XXXX.

Secondly, another column is formatted as percentage (Excel saves it as a
decimal value, e.g., .73 displayed in Excel as 73%.) I would like it to be
displayed as a percentage value in Word (thanks Graham), but Word returns a
syntax error if the cell in Excel contains a zero. How can I print the zero
content in the Excel cell and suppress the syntax error?

FInally, can someone send the URL of the complete switch list?

Thanks!

-Jim McDermott

 

[Beth Melton]

If formatting switches work with some data but not others depending on the
value then you have a couple choices. One is to use the DDE connection
method which will bring your data from Excel in its formatted state (IOW,
you won't need formatting switches), the other is to use another Word field
(IF field) which can be used to test the values and format them accordingly.
For your XX-XX-XXX format I'm surprised you see the hyphens. Usually those
are a nuisance unless you include apostrophes around the hyphens.

Personally, based on what you are describing, I'd opt to use DDE if I could
and not hassle with the formatting switches and conditional merge fields. If
interest in this method, in Word go to Tools/Options/General and select
"Confirm Conversions at Open". Then select your Excel data source again and
when prompted, select the DDE method.

Also, I don't think there is a full list of all of the possible formatting
switches.

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email cannot be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Coauthor of Word 2007 Inside Out:
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9801.aspx#AboutTheBook

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/

 

[Jim]

Thanks Beth.

I recreated the DDE link back to Excel. What's more, I formatted the two
"uncooperative" columns/fields to text. Now every merged letter prints
without errors or unmangeable numbers. Ugh! Gotta remember to keep it
simple. Thanks!

 

[Beth Melton]

Glad to hear you now have it working.

Note that DDE does use more resources, you'll see Excel start and open the
data file, and it's not the newest method available. BUT with as much
formatting as have, if this isn't something ongoing or that others will need
to use then yeah, stick with the more seamless method. ;-)

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email cannot be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Coauthor of Word 2007 Inside Out:
http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/9801.aspx#AboutTheBook

Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/