Filemaker Data Merge

[Philip Sullivan]

Hi

I¹m using Word:2001 and Filemaker 6 to import information using Data Merge
Manager/Form Letter. Only trouble is, if the text in a Filemaker field is
over 256 characters long Word either quits or doesn¹t import the data
correctly. Is this normal for the software I¹m using or is it because I¹m
using an ancient 1998 G3 Powerbook? Would a later version of software or a
better machine allow me to import more text?

Thanks Phil

 

[CyberTaz]

Hello Philip-

I'm not certain of this, but I think you've answered your own question.
Based on other experiences, I would not be surprised if Word fields
cannot exceed the 256 character limit you mentioned. That would
certainly explain the situation.

Even if you export the data as a text file, the volume in that larger
field will still be problem for merging. I'm not sure that later
versions of Word work any differently, but would guess not.

Is there any way to split the data into multiple fields? |:>)

 

[John McGhie [MVP - Word and Word Macintosh]]

Hi Philip:

Yes, it appears that you have hit the limit for a mergefield. Here's an
answer to the same question from Doug Robbins, one of our MVPs over in the
Mail Merge group:

It's a carryover from the days when 255 characters was the maximum that you
could insert in an Excel cell. Try one of the other methods of connecting
to the datasource that will become available to you if you select Options
from the Tools menu and go to the General tab and check the "Confirm
conversions at open box"

The other work around would be to copy and paste the information into
individual Word documents and in the mailmerge data source, include the path
and filename of each with \\ as the path separator and then use an
{INCLUDETEXT {MAILMERGE Docname}} field in the mailmerge main document.


Re: Why is my merge data being truncated? 14 Dec 2004 09:41
sinplicity

Try one of the other methods of connecting
to the datasource that will become available to you if you select Options
from the Tools menu and go to the General tab and check the "Confirm
conversions at open box"

This worked a treat. Turns out that, without the "Confirm conversions"
option enabled, Word defaults to the OLE DB Database option, which truncates
cells at 255 characters. It wasn't happy with the DDE option at all, and the
ODBC option mimicked the OLE option, but the Converter works just fine, as
long as you don't mind having to confirm the Conversion every time you open
the document for merging (unlike the ODBC and OLE merges). It's worth the
small hassle for the ability to marge larger cells, though.

Hi

I¹m using Word:2001 and Filemaker 6 to import information using Data Merge
Manager/Form Letter. Only trouble is, if the text in a Filemaker field is
over 256 characters long Word either quits or doesn¹t import the data
correctly. Is this normal for the software I¹m using or is it because I¹m
using an ancient 1998 G3 Powerbook? Would a later version of software or a
better machine allow me to import more text?

Thanks Phil

--

Please reply to the newsgroup to maintain the thread. Please do not email
me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie <[email protected]>
Microsoft MVP, Word and Word for Macintosh. Consultant Technical Writer
Sydney, Australia +61 4 1209 1410

 

[Paul Berkowitz]

Yes, it appears that you have hit the limit for a mergefield. Here's an
answer to the same question from Doug Robbins, one of our MVPs over in the
Mail Merge group:

It's a carryover from the days when 255 characters was the maximum that you
could insert in an Excel cell. Try one of the other methods of connecting
to the datasource that will become available to you if you select Options
from the Tools menu and go to the General tab and check the "Confirm
conversions at open box"'

Translated into Word Mac, that means 'Select Preferences in the Word menu,
click on the General tab, and check the "Confirm conversions at open" box.'

--
Paul Berkowitz
MVP MacOffice
Entourage FAQ Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/faq/index.html>
AppleScripts for Entourage: <http://macscripter.net/scriptbuilders/>

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