Hard to get format right

[tim]

Can anyone help?

I am creating a mail merge document through VB6 where a template is used as
the target for a data source which is a table in another Word document. The
field that will appear with the merged data contains multiple rows of data so
I want it to appear as such:

data1
data2
data3

If I use the TAB key in the template to place the merge field in the desired
position, I get the data appearing correctly aligned (as above). However if I
use the space bar, the alignment appears as:

data1
data2
data3

I have tried setting the TAB spacing to a very small value in the Format
setting of the template, but can the space bar be set so the it 'behaves'
like the TAB key so that the alignment will always work? I assume that the
person using the program will sometimes use the space bar to position the
merge field.

Thanking any help in advance.

Tim

 

[Doug Robbins]

Why don't you locate the merge fields in the template so that the user does
not have to do it?

Either the tab key, or a paragraph indent is what should be being used.

Users need to be taught these things.

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Hope this helps,
Doug Robbins - Word MVP

 

[tim]

Doug, the user will insert the merge fields into the document depending on
how they want to format the page. My program will create these fileds but
from then on the user will do the rest.
I can make the TAB spacing as small as possible to simulate the space bar
BUT this means that the user will need to use the TAB bar(I cannot guarantee
this).

Is there any way to achieve my aim?

Tim

 

[Doug Robbins]

No, I don't think so. Users need to learn when to use the space bar and
when they should use the tab key. If the formatting is up to them, I don't
see why you are concerned about it.

--
Please respond to the Newsgroup for the benefit of others who may be
interested. Questions sent directly to me will only be answered on a paid
consulting basis.

Hope this helps,
Doug Robbins - Word MVP

 

[tim]

Point taken Doug.
I suppose there comes a point where the user must show some
initiative/responsibility.

Thanks for your help.

Tim