Problem with Zip+4 formatting

[Steve]

I've got an Access database of addresses that include a zip code. Access
displays an autoformat for these that looks OK. When I include the field
in a merge for address labels in Word XP instead of coming out as
12345-6789 it shows up as 123456789. I've had to go back an manually
put in the hyphen.

Another part of the problem is that this happens with some, but not all of
the records from Access. My best guess is that that those record were
imported earlier and actually have the hyphen in the field data. The newer
entries that were made from within Access show this problem. Apparently
Access is simply delivering 9 digits to Word for those entries.

My question is what can I do about this? Is there a way to convince Word
to put in the hypen? Do I need to remove any digits past 5 in all my address
lists? Is there another merge procedure I should be using? (Right now I use
the merge wizards in Word XP and select the address label type.)

Also the postal bar code doesn't seem to work. It says the Zip code field
is illegal!?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP - DELETE UPPERCASE CHARACT]

Hi Steve,

See the following page of fellow MVP Graham Mayor's website:

http://www.gmayor.com/formatting_word_fields.htm

I can't help you with the barcode issue.

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

 

[Steve]

Thanks. I looked at that. It seems that to use that suggestion I
need to abandon the built-in address block. Before I merge the
data into the final labels I have something that looks like
<<Next Record>><< <<AddressBlock>> >>
The <<AddressBlock>> conceals all the individual entries and
I haven't found any way to modify it.

I guess I will have to figure out how to put in the individual entries.
It's a dog's breakfast indeed.

Steve


"Doug Robbins - Word MVP - DELETE UPPERCASE CHARACTERS FROM EMAIL ADDRESS"

 

[Graham Mayor]

Look at the previous page in conjunction with
http://www.gmayor.com/mail_merge_labels_with_word_xp.htm. In particular see
the Excel data section. If you are deriving your Bar code from the zip code,
which is currently being translated incorrectly for reasons explained in the
web page, then you would need to derive the bar code from the *switched* zip
code. However I suspect the alternate connection method described will do
the trick.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>

 

[Steve]

Thanks! That's a great site you have.

Steve

Look at the previous page in conjunction with
http://www.gmayor.com/mail_merge_labels_with_word_xp.htm. In particular see
the Excel data section. If you are deriving your Bar code from the zip code,
which is currently being translated incorrectly for reasons explained in the
web page, then you would need to derive the bar code from the *switched* zip
code. However I suspect the alternate connection method described will do
the trick.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>

 

[Graham Mayor]

Flattery will get you everywhere

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP
E-mail (e-mail address removed)
Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>