Merge Field Keeps Changing

[Tarynnl]

As I go through the merge wizard after selecting the recipient list
(which is an excel database), it is changes the merge field <Individual
first name> to <familyID> instead.

Is there a reason why it keeps doing this? How can I stop it?

Thanks

Tarynn

 

[Peter Jamieson]

Where exactly are you seeing this change happen? If it is just in the Edit
Recipients dialog box, it may be that Word is just changing the sequence of
the columns.

Are there columns in your Excel sheet for both "Individual first name" and
"familyID"? If not, can you se where "familyID" appears in your Excel sheet?

 

[Tarynnl]

I can see the change happening in the Word document as soon as i select
the source data.

In the Excel Source data there are columns for both fields - Family ID
is in the first column (i have noticed that when i call in the source
data the family ID column seems to disappear)

 

[Peter Jamieson]

I am just wondering if
a. what you are seeing is the replacment of the actual data in Merge
Preview, not the replacement of the name. If you use Alt-F9 to view the
underlying field codes, you should see things such as { MERGEFIELD "Family
ID" } etc. Do these change?
b. whether your Excel sheet has a header row containing field names for
every column.

 

[Tarynnl]

Your right when I press ALT + F9 to display the codes I see {MergeFiel
FamilyID} where as it says «INDIVIDUAL FIRSTNAME» when the codes ar
not displayed.

What would be causing it to do this?
How do i stop it

 

[Peter Jamieson]

What is in the first two rows of the Excel worksheet you are using as a data
source?

 

[Tarynnl]

First 2 rows contains the data e.g, the FAMILYID, MEMBER_TITL
MEMBER_FIRSTNAME, MEMBER_LASTNAME etc

I have attached the excel source and word document into which im tryin
to merge

Thank

File Attached: http://www.WordForums.com.com/forums/attachment.php?postid=44024 (merge.zip

 

[Peter Jamieson]

Hi Tarynnl,

As you can probably see, the attachment shows up as URL to a web address in
a web you use to access these "forums". I can't actually access the
attachment you posted.

Frustrating I know, but at this point the simplest thing may be to despam my
email address and e-mail me the attachment.to
(e-mail address removed)
and I'll have a look.

--
Peter Jamieson
MS Word MVP

First 2 rows contains the data e.g, the FAMILYID, MEMBER_TITLE
MEMBER_FIRSTNAME, MEMBER_LASTNAME etc

I have attached the excel source and word document into which im trying
to merge

Thanks

File Attached:

http://www.WordForums.com.com/forums/attachment.php?postid=44024 (merge.zip)

 

[Tarynnl]

Iv tried to mail the files but keep getting a bounce back o
undeliverabl

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

You will have to de-spam Peter's email address by deleting KillmapS from it.

Please post any further questions or followup to the newsgroups for the
benefit of others who may be interested. Unsolicited questions forwarded
directly to me will only be answered on a paid consulting basis.

Hope this helps
Doug Robbins - Word MVP

 

[Peter Jamieson]

OK, I have the files. I should have cottoned on sooner. I think you (or
someone) was trying to edit the name of the merge field in the "chevron
view" where you see <<FAMILYID>> etc. But that just doesn't work - you may
see <<A DIFFERENT FIELD>> in this view, but when you use Alt-F9 you will
still see { MERGEFIELD FAMILYID }. You have either to change the name while
looking at the MERGEFIELD view (and use double quotes around the field name
if it has any spaces in it) or delete and re-insert the MERGEFIELD field.