Text Before and Text After field options

[Jim Clark]

I have a simple access database that holds name, addy,
phones, emails, etc.

When I try to complete a mail merge in Word 2002 and use
one of the Text Before or Text After field options, any
attempt to preview or merge the document results in an
unresponsive program error. If I select TEST from the
merge toolbar, it tells me that it's testing record 2, but
hangs at that point.

Any suggestions?

I just want to create a "membership directory" that prints
(H) for home, (O) for office, (M) for Mobile... etc. ONLY
if there is a phone number in existance for that type of
number in the current record.

Jim

 

[Cindy Meister -WordMVP-]

Hi Jim,

Could you show us how you've set this up?

I'm not familiar with any button named "Test" on the mail
merge toolbar. Is this something that's been added into your
installation?

I have a simple access database that holds name, addy,
phones, emails, etc.

When I try to complete a mail merge in Word 2002 and use
one of the Text Before or Text After field options, any
attempt to preview or merge the document results in an
unresponsive program error. If I select TEST from the
merge toolbar, it tells me that it's testing record 2, but
hangs at that point.

Any suggestions?

I just want to create a "membership directory" that prints
(H) for home, (O) for office, (M) for Mobile... etc. ONLY
if there is a phone number in existance for that type of
number in the current record.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jan
24 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow
question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail

 

[Cindy Meister -WordMVP-]

Hi Jim,

OK, I can't reproduce the problem. If I set up a merge to an
Access database, add "Text before" as you describe to a
field with a phone number, then perform the merge (or use
"Check for errors") there's no problem. So we have to dig a
bit deeper...

Could you press Alt+F9 to toggle on the field codes and
copy/paste what stands between the { field brackets }?

Then test the following:
1. Rename Normal.dot, start up Word, then try setting up a
mail merge to the same database with a couple of fields and
a phone number, same was as you're doing where it's giving
you problems. Do you still have problems?

2. If you hold down CTRL when starting Word, and do (1)?

3. If you start WINDOWS in Safe Mode, then do (1)?

Sorry, I misspoke. The button actually shows "Check for
Errors" when you hover over it, and is part of the
standard Mail Merge toolbar.

To set up the Text Before or Text After, I'm just
highlighting the field, right clicking and selecting Edit
Field... and then using the Field Options on the right
side of the Field popup window. (Word 2002)

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jan
24 2003)
http://www.mvps.org/word

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any
follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail