Merge fields

[Seven]

I've done a merged document using an Excel spreadsheet as the data file and
merging to a Word doc. There is a date format in the spreadsheet in UK
format, but when the data is merged to Word, the date format changes to US.
I've checked all my setting and they are UK, I've got no idea how to put it
back to UK on the merge.

I'm using Office 2007 and this problem only seems to have appeared for this
version. I have merge documents for Word 2003 and the date format is OK in
them.

TIA

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

This is caused by a bug in the default OLEDB method of connection to the
data source, which was present in Word XP and 2003 as well, but maybe there
you were using a different method of connection.

There are two ways around it:

1. Format the dates as text in Excel

2. In Word 2007, click on the Office button and then on Word Options in
the bottom border and then click on Advanced, then scroll down to the
General section and check the box against the "Confirm file format
conversion on open" item. Then, when you attach the data source to the mail
merge main document, in the dialog that opens asking you for the method by
which the connection should be made, select either the DDE or ODBC method.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

 

[hernandez]

The problem I have had with Word 2007 and mail merging using DDE method of
connection is that I have to tick the 'show all' option in the Confirm Data
Source diaglogue box and then untick it before clicking on DDE. If I don't do
this then it comes up with an error saying it couldn't re-establish a link
using DDE. It would be interesting to know if anyone else has had this
problem too.

 

[Seven]

Hi

I did try formatting the dates in Excel as text, but it didn't work either.
I did find a reference to adding dd/mm/yyyy in the merge find on the word
document. This worked, but only while I had the document open, Looking at
it now, it's reverted back to US format.

I admit I hadn't tried 'confirm file' option, but I'll try that later and
see if it works.

Thanks

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

A formatting switch will not work in this situation.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP