To manage mailmerge number & currency formatting in Word, add a numeric picture switch to the mergefield. To do this:
.. select the field;
.. press Shift-F9 to reveal the field coding. It should look something like {MERGEFIELD MyData};
.. edit the field so that you get {MERGEFIELD MyData \# $,0.00} (or whatever other numeric format you prefer - see below);
.. position the cursor anywhere in this field and press F9 to update it.
Note: The '\# 0' in the field is referred to as a numeric picture switch. Other possibilities include:
.. \# 0 for rounded whole numbers
.. \# ,0 for rounded whole numbers with a thousands separator
.. \# ,0.00 for numbers accurate to two decimal places, with a thousands separator
.. \# $,0 for rounded whole dollars with a thousands separator
.. \# $,0.00;($,0.00);'-' for currency, with brackets around negative numbers and a hyphen for 0 values
The precision of the displayed value is controilled by the '0.00'. You can use anything from '0' to '0.000000000000000'.
If you use a final ';' in the formatting switch with nothing following, (eg \# $,0.00;($,0.00)
zero values will be suppressed.
Note that this suppresses 0s resulting from empty fields and from fields containing 0s.
As for the first_name mergefield's formatting, you need to add a 'Charformat' picture switch to the mergefield. To do this:
.. select the mergefield;
.. press Shift-F9 to expose the field coding. It should look something like {MERGEFIELD first_name};
.. delete everything between 'first_name' and the closing field brace;
.. add ' \* Charformat' after 'first_name', so that you end up with {MERGEFIELD first_name \* Charformat};
.. format at least the 'M' in 'MERGEFIELD' with the font attributes you want;
.. position the cursor anywhere in the field and press F9 to update it.
When you're done making the changes, run your mailmerge.
