Mail Merge should allow you to use numbers and text within the sa.

[ozziebare]

On mail merge using an excel data source, the field may contain numbers or
text. the merged document is happy with the numbers but all text are
converted to O only. Changing the data source to text only doesn't alter the
out come. Is there a way of telling the mergefield to just reproduce what is
in the data source

 

[Peter Jamieson]

The only simple, reliable way is to use DDE as the connection method (check
Word Tools|Options|General|Confirm conversion at ope,then reconnect). Excel
has to be present and is started.

When you use OLEDB or ODBC a heuristic approach is used to determine the
data type in the column. Although some parameters are available to tell the
OLEDB provider/ODBC driver or the underlying Jet IISAM for Excel files how
many rows to examine, I don't know whether it is possible to specify those
parameters when you are mailmerging. If it is, you probably need to specify
that the driver/provider/IISAM examines more rows.

Peter Jamieson