There are two ways to force Word to use the number formatting you have
applied in Excel. One is to use a formatting switch as described by Graham.
The other is to connect to Excel using DDE (the old method) instead of OLEDB
(the method introduced in Word 2002, which preserves Unicode characters but
not number formatting). To do the latter, you'll need to check the box for
"Confirm conversion at Open" on the General tab of Tools | Options. After
doing that, reattach the data source to your mail merge main document. When
you do, you'll get a dialog asking you to choose the connection method, and
you can choose DDE.
Also, I notice that Graham's reply suggests "{ Mergefield Zip \# "00000" }."
If I have correctly read Word's Help topic "Numeric Picture (\#) field
switch," the quotes around the numeric picture are unnecessary and perhaps
incorrect (and may be part of the problem).
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site:
http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.
"Cate" wrote in message
...
Dear Suzanne & Graham,
Yes, I did actually use the heading specific to my Excel datasheet, but
for
simplicity didn't include it in my last message to this stream. My system
seems to be refusing to recognize the switch. Any ideas how to trick it
into
recognizing it? What is a DDE?
--
Cate
"Suzanne S. Barnhill" wrote:
The "\# 00000" is a formatting switch. In the example, you must
substitute
for "Zip" whatever is the name of the field in your database that
contains
the ZIP code. The alternative is to link to the Excel file using DDE.
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
newsgroup so
all may benefit.
"Cate" wrote in message
...
I have read the entire steam, carefully read your linked page, and
also
checked & double checked my typing. I continue to get an error
message
that
the mergefield zip \# (the backslash doesn't show, though) is not
found in
the header row of my database. Everything stops at that point.
--
Cate
"Graham Mayor" wrote:
The use of zip codes formatting switches is explained in detail in
my
web
page http://www.gmayor.com/formatting_word_fields.htm
Essentially Word is expected to provide the formatting and will
strip
leading zeros from numbers. You can use a number switch or mask to
restore
that zero. At the place you want the zip code press CTRL+F9. This
will
give
you a pair of field brackets {}
Between the brackets type the required field data, presumably
{Mergefield
Zip} then add the switch i.e.
{Mergefield Zip \# "00000"}. With the cursor in the field. Press F9
to
update. This should toggle the field display, but if it doesn't
ALT+F9
will.
If you need one of the more complicated formatting options, see the
web
page for the content.
--
Graham Mayor - Word MVP
My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org
Merging Zip Code Errors wrote:
I am having the same problem as Suzanne. I FOLLOWED THE POSTED
DIRECTIONS! How about a detailed example?
"Graham Mayor" wrote:
Did you update the field after adding the switch?
--
Graham Mayor - Word MVP
My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org
Judy F. wrote:
yes I have viewed both website suggestions and followed both
advice,
but it is not showing the "0"
"Suzanne S. Barnhill" wrote:
Did you look at the recommended Web page?
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the
newsgroup so all may benefit.
"Judy F." wrote in message
...
I am also having the same problem.
I have changed the format to specialzip code when I merge, I
do
not get the initial "0" in my zip code.
I change the format to text, and when I merge I only get the
"0"
without the remaining digits in the zip code.
I entered the questioning zip codes with a ' prior to the 0
and
when I merge only the "0" without the remaining digits in the
zip
code show up.
Help?
"Suzanne S. Barnhill" wrote:
If you're using Word 2002 or 2003, see
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindy...002/MM2002.htm
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to
the
newsgroup so all may benefit.
"MarianneME" wrote in
message
...
I am merging addresses from Excel to Work and I lose zip
code
formatting during the merge so that for all zip codes that
begin
with a zreo, the zero is dropped. I have never had this
problem
before, how can I fix this? Thanks!