Merging forms from data file to main file

[macdrew33]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Processor: Intel There seems to be a bug when mail merging forms from a data file into the main file. Text entered into a text form field on a locked data file does not merge into the main file. The only text that will merge from the text form field is the default text that may be entered when configuring the text form field.

If anyone knows how to resolve this, I would be forever thankful. Otherwise... How can I report the bug? I sent feedback, but is there a specific way to report a bug? I have the latest updates installed.

Thank you,
Malcolm

 

[John McGhie]

In Word>Preferences>Save, check "Save data only for forms" and save the
document.

That saves the form as a single comma-delimited record you can use as a
merge data source.

And the way you reported this issue is the best way to report a bug: it goes
direct to a human being in the Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit.

Cheers

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Processor: Intel There
seems to be a bug when mail merging forms from a data file into the main file.
Text entered into a text form field on a locked data file does not merge into
the main file. The only text that will merge from the text form field is the
default text that may be entered when configuring the text form field.

If anyone knows how to resolve this, I would be forever thankful. Otherwise...
How can I report the bug? I sent feedback, but is there a specific way to
report a bug? I have the latest updates installed.

Thank you,
Malcolm

--

The email below is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless I ask you to; or unless you intend to pay!

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Word, Mac Word), Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. | Ph: +61 (0)4 1209 1410
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[macdrew33]

Thanks, this is great information that I'll remember for future forms. For the one I'm making, I need to merge from a document that contains a table which has regular text entries as well as some cells with form entries by users. Saving only form data omits the other information, and also I can't see a way to choose delimiters that would work better for the mail merge.

Thanks again,
Malcolm

 

[Peter Jamieson]

Assuming I have understood correctly that your data source has
formfields in it, I think you will have to "unlink" the fields before
you merge, i.e.
a. open the data source
b. unprotect the document
c. select all the form fields (or the whole document) and Unlink
fields (here, I do cmd-shift-F9)

This seems to do the trick with a small test file here.

Peter Jamieson

http://tips.pjmsn.me.uk