Word 2002 mail merge IF statement invalid date results

[G79]

Hi there,

i am new to mail merges but i am trying to create some template style
merged documents for some users i support. i have created an IF
statement using the Insert Merge Field option from the mail merge
toolbar.

its a simple statement which compares date1 and date2. if date1 is
earlier thatn date2, print textA. if date2 is earliest, pring textB.

There are a couple of people in my text file, for whom dates 1 & 2
fall in this sort of pattern: date1= 2 Jan 03 date2 = 1 Jan 04.

The IF statement does not work for the above. Its as if it only looks
at the day and month parts of the whole date and it discounts the
year. So whereas, in the above example date1 is actually earlier than
date2, it will behave as if date2 is earliest.

i have tried this using dd/mm/yy, mm/dd/yy, dd/mm/yyyy & mm/dd/yyyy.
this problem ocurrs for dates entered manually within my IF statement,
as well as if i source them from my text file so i am fairly confident
that this is not a source-file-related issue.

if anyone can help me or give my any advice, i'd be v grateful.

thanks & regards
Georgina

 

[Graham Mayor]

You need \@ "yyyyMMdd" - see
http://www.gmayor.com/formatting_word_fields.htm

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Barb R.]

Graham,

Can you assist with a document merge issue. I posted a question on this
site in recent days and have gotten no answer.

Thanks,
Barb R.

 

[Graham Mayor]

I saw your question about merging documents, but that is not really a mail
merge issue, but a document merge issue, a subject I did not feel competent
to comment upon. You may do better with the docmanagement group, where you
will find some of my fellow MVPs who don't venture into the mailmerge group.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[Barb R.]

Graham,

This seems to fall into a "black hole". Which group should I post it to?
I don't see the docmanagment group listed here. I've posted my question to
several groups and it was suggested I post it here.

Thanks for your assistance,
Barb R.

 

[Graham Mayor]

Like most of the regular contributors here, I access the these groups
directly via the Microsoft usenet server, where there is easy access to a
wide variety of word (and other) groups. http://www.gmayor.com/MSNews.htm

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[G79]

Graham,

i just wanted to thank you for your posting, in answer to my question.
The solution works perfectly and has put an end to hours of
frustrated attempts at my own work-arounds! thank you so much

Georgina

 

[Graham Mayor]

You are welcome

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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