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#1
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to
see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a resolution? |
#2
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely
ignored. Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. It seems OK here, but a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types of field) ? c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a resolution? |
#3
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
No, the text is not merged at all.
"Peter Jamieson" wrote: However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. It seems OK here, but a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types of field) ? c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a resolution? |
#4
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
Ok, let me aswer all your questions.
It is not merging any of the hidden text. I am running a letter merge to new document and using Word 2003. "Cindy B" wrote: No, the text is not merged at all. "Peter Jamieson" wrote: However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. It seems OK here, but a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types of field) ? c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a resolution? |
#5
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
Can you answer my questions please?
Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... No, the text is not merged at all. "Peter Jamieson" wrote: However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. It seems OK here, but a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types of field) ? c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a resolution? |
#6
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
OK, but how exactly are you hiding your MERGEFIELDs? Also, are they in the
document body or in the header/footer? I'm not sure how many different ways there could be to hide a MERGEFIELD, but just selecting the MERGEFIELDs and hiding them here, then merging to a new document seems to be OK. Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... Ok, let me aswer all your questions. It is not merging any of the hidden text. I am running a letter merge to new document and using Word 2003. "Cindy B" wrote: No, the text is not merged at all. "Peter Jamieson" wrote: However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. It seems OK here, but a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types of field) ? c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a resolution? |
#7
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
I'm hiding them by selecting the text (including the merge fields) and
changing it to Hidden Text under font. They're not in a Header/footer - that's where they started but took them out of the header and footer to see if that would correct the problem but it didn't. This has been an issue since Word 2002. "Peter Jamieson" wrote: OK, but how exactly are you hiding your MERGEFIELDs? Also, are they in the document body or in the header/footer? I'm not sure how many different ways there could be to hide a MERGEFIELD, but just selecting the MERGEFIELDs and hiding them here, then merging to a new document seems to be OK. Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... Ok, let me aswer all your questions. It is not merging any of the hidden text. I am running a letter merge to new document and using Word 2003. "Cindy B" wrote: No, the text is not merged at all. "Peter Jamieson" wrote: However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. It seems OK here, but a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types of field) ? c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a resolution? |
#8
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
Ok, let me aswer all your questions.
It is not merging any of the hidden text. I am running a letter merge to new document and using Word 2003. "Cindy B" wrote: "Cindy B" wrote: Ok, let me aswer all your questions. It is not merging any of the hidden text. I am running a letter merge to new document and using Word 2003. "Cindy B" wrote: No, the text is not merged at all. "Peter Jamieson" wrote: However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. It seems OK here, but a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types of field) ? c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a resolution? |
#9
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
Ok, let me aswer all your questions.
It is not merging any of the hidden text. I am running a letter merge to new document and using Word 2003. "Peter Jamieson" wrote: Can you answer my questions please? Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... No, the text is not merged at all. "Peter Jamieson" wrote: However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. It seems OK here, but a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types of field) ? c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a resolution? |
#10
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
Thanks.
At the moment I am at a loss (in fact I'm at the point where I'm wondering if I've understood what you're saying :-) ) because when I try to replicate the problem, the field results are there, but hidden, as you might hope. Click the show/hide formatting button on the Standard Toolbar and the results appear/disappear as I expect. I'll see if I can have a look at Word 2002 and earlier. Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... Ok, let me aswer all your questions. It is not merging any of the hidden text. I am running a letter merge to new document and using Word 2003. "Cindy B" wrote: "Cindy B" wrote: Ok, let me aswer all your questions. It is not merging any of the hidden text. I am running a letter merge to new document and using Word 2003. "Cindy B" wrote: No, the text is not merged at all. "Peter Jamieson" wrote: However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. It seems OK here, but a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types of field) ? c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a resolution? |
#11
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
Same in Word 2002 (and earlier).
How are you trying to display the hidden text post-merge? Peter Jamieson "Peter Jamieson" wrote in message ... Thanks. At the moment I am at a loss (in fact I'm at the point where I'm wondering if I've understood what you're saying :-) ) because when I try to replicate the problem, the field results are there, but hidden, as you might hope. Click the show/hide formatting button on the Standard Toolbar and the results appear/disappear as I expect. I'll see if I can have a look at Word 2002 and earlier. Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... Ok, let me aswer all your questions. It is not merging any of the hidden text. I am running a letter merge to new document and using Word 2003. "Cindy B" wrote: "Cindy B" wrote: Ok, let me aswer all your questions. It is not merging any of the hidden text. I am running a letter merge to new document and using Word 2003. "Cindy B" wrote: No, the text is not merged at all. "Peter Jamieson" wrote: However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. It seems OK here, but a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types of field) ? c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a resolution? |
#12
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
On the screen, I have view hidden text checked in options.
"Peter Jamieson" wrote: Same in Word 2002 (and earlier). How are you trying to display the hidden text post-merge? Peter Jamieson "Peter Jamieson" wrote in message ... Thanks. At the moment I am at a loss (in fact I'm at the point where I'm wondering if I've understood what you're saying :-) ) because when I try to replicate the problem, the field results are there, but hidden, as you might hope. Click the show/hide formatting button on the Standard Toolbar and the results appear/disappear as I expect. I'll see if I can have a look at Word 2002 and earlier. Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... Ok, let me aswer all your questions. It is not merging any of the hidden text. I am running a letter merge to new document and using Word 2003. "Cindy B" wrote: "Cindy B" wrote: Ok, let me aswer all your questions. It is not merging any of the hidden text. I am running a letter merge to new document and using Word 2003. "Cindy B" wrote: No, the text is not merged at all. "Peter Jamieson" wrote: However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. It seems OK here, but a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types of field) ? c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a resolution? |
#13
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
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#14
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
Hi Cindy,
Try UNhiding the text, to confirm that it merges. If that works, select the mergefield you want to hide, but DON'T format it as hidden. Instead: .. press Shift-F9 to expose the field code, which will look something like {MERGEFIELD Data} .. formatted the font colour for 'M' in 'MERGEFIELD' as the same colour as the background (eg white) .. add '\* Charformat' to the field (i.e. {MERGEFIELD Data \* Charformat} .. delete '\* Mergeformat' if it's there .. press F9 to update the field. Now run your mailmerge and everything should be OK. The text will be in your merged output, but won't be visible or print because it's the same colour as the background. If you need to see it, simply change its colour. Cheers -- macropod [MVP - Microsoft Word] "Cindy B" wrote in message ... | No, the text is not merged at all. | | "Peter Jamieson" wrote: | | However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely | ignored. | | Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the | text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. | | It seems OK here, but | a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? | b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types | of field) ? | c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge | are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? | | Peter Jamieson | "Cindy B" wrote in message | ... | I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to | see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems | reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely | ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a | resolution? | | | |
#15
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
Hi Macropod. Thanks for your advice. Everyone is on the right page with the
problem. I did test it and it does merge if the text is not set as hidden text. As far as changing the color - I did think of that and in some cases, it works great but in this case, the merge letter needs to be printed on beige/linen colored letterhead and not having any luck matching the text color just right. I've done hundreds of merges like this and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I haven't discovered any rhyme or reason for the issue. I've searched for known bugs or issues with this but haven't found any. I've also searched for settings that could cause the problem and haven't found anything there either. Has anyone else had inconsistant results when merging using Word 2002 or newer? "macropod" wrote: Hi Cindy, Try UNhiding the text, to confirm that it merges. If that works, select the mergefield you want to hide, but DON'T format it as hidden. Instead: .. press Shift-F9 to expose the field code, which will look something like {MERGEFIELD Data} .. formatted the font colour for 'M' in 'MERGEFIELD' as the same colour as the background (eg white) .. add '\* Charformat' to the field (i.e. {MERGEFIELD Data \* Charformat} .. delete '\* Mergeformat' if it's there .. press F9 to update the field. Now run your mailmerge and everything should be OK. The text will be in your merged output, but won't be visible or print because it's the same colour as the background. If you need to see it, simply change its colour. Cheers -- macropod [MVP - Microsoft Word] "Cindy B" wrote in message ... | No, the text is not merged at all. | | "Peter Jamieson" wrote: | | However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely | ignored. | | Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the | text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. | | It seems OK here, but | a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? | b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types | of field) ? | c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge | are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? | | Peter Jamieson | "Cindy B" wrote in message | ... | I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to | see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems | reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely | ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a | resolution? | | | |
#16
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
For my part, the problem is that I don't use this feature, so I can't
possibly see the inconsistencies you are seeing, and as I've said, the only tests I've done suggest that the hidden fields are merged to hiiden text. However, there is at least one other such inconsistency (I can't remember the details, but the language for merged texts is either not set or not processed as some users hope). However, macropod's post made me wonder whether what you really wanted was blank spaces where the merged data would be (because although white characters are not typically visible, they do occupy space). I also wonder whether this is one of those cases where a particular approach might /always/ work, even if it isn't quite how you want it. For example a. create a character style called mystyle, ensuring that it is /not/ hidden b. apply it to the "M" or MERGEFIELD and use the \*Charformat style as suggested by macropod c. merge d. in the output document, modify the character style so that the text is hidden or not hidden, as required. It might make sense to set up a macro and toolbar button to do that. That all seems to work here OK. What I haven't tried is starting with "mystyle" set to hidden, and in any case, even if it works OK here, there's no guarantee that it will work OK at your end. But maybe using a style rather than direct formatting will make a difference to the overall behaviour. Just my 2C-worth. Away for a couple of days now... Peter Jamieson "Cindy B" wrote in message ... Hi Macropod. Thanks for your advice. Everyone is on the right page with the problem. I did test it and it does merge if the text is not set as hidden text. As far as changing the color - I did think of that and in some cases, it works great but in this case, the merge letter needs to be printed on beige/linen colored letterhead and not having any luck matching the text color just right. I've done hundreds of merges like this and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I haven't discovered any rhyme or reason for the issue. I've searched for known bugs or issues with this but haven't found any. I've also searched for settings that could cause the problem and haven't found anything there either. Has anyone else had inconsistant results when merging using Word 2002 or newer? "macropod" wrote: Hi Cindy, Try UNhiding the text, to confirm that it merges. If that works, select the mergefield you want to hide, but DON'T format it as hidden. Instead: .. press Shift-F9 to expose the field code, which will look something like {MERGEFIELD Data} .. formatted the font colour for 'M' in 'MERGEFIELD' as the same colour as the background (eg white) .. add '\* Charformat' to the field (i.e. {MERGEFIELD Data \* Charformat} .. delete '\* Mergeformat' if it's there .. press F9 to update the field. Now run your mailmerge and everything should be OK. The text will be in your merged output, but won't be visible or print because it's the same colour as the background. If you need to see it, simply change its colour. Cheers -- macropod [MVP - Microsoft Word] "Cindy B" wrote in message ... | No, the text is not merged at all. | | "Peter Jamieson" wrote: | | However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely | ignored. | | Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the | text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. | | It seems OK here, but | a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? | b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types | of field) ? | c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge | are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? | | Peter Jamieson | "Cindy B" wrote in message | ... | I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to | see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems | reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely | ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a | resolution? | | | |
#17
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
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Possible bug with Merge hidden text?
Hi Cindy,
If the text is formatted as white, and the document doesn't have a background, then you won't see it in the printed document - all there'll be is the space where the text belongs. If you don't want the space, Peter's suggestion might be the way to go. Cheers -- macropod [MVP - Microsoft Word] "Cindy B" wrote in message ... | Hi Macropod. Thanks for your advice. Everyone is on the right page with the | problem. | | I did test it and it does merge if the text is not set as hidden text. | | As far as changing the color - I did think of that and in some cases, it | works great but in this case, the merge letter needs to be printed on | beige/linen colored letterhead and not having any luck matching the text | color just right. | | I've done hundreds of merges like this and sometimes it works and sometimes | it doesn't. I haven't discovered any rhyme or reason for the issue. I've | searched for known bugs or issues with this but haven't found any. I've also | searched for settings that could cause the problem and haven't found anything | there either. Has anyone else had inconsistant results when merging using | Word 2002 or newer? | | "macropod" wrote: | | Hi Cindy, | | Try UNhiding the text, to confirm that it merges. | | If that works, select the mergefield you want to hide, but DON'T format it as hidden. Instead: | .. press Shift-F9 to expose the field code, which will look something like {MERGEFIELD Data} | .. formatted the font colour for 'M' in 'MERGEFIELD' as the same colour as the background (eg white) | .. add '\* Charformat' to the field (i.e. {MERGEFIELD Data \* Charformat} | .. delete '\* Mergeformat' if it's there | .. press F9 to update the field. | Now run your mailmerge and everything should be OK. The text will be in your merged output, but won't be visible or print because | it's the same colour as the background. If you need to see it, simply change its colour. | | Cheers | | -- | macropod | [MVP - Microsoft Word] | | | "Cindy B" wrote in message ... | | No, the text is not merged at all. | | | | "Peter Jamieson" wrote: | | | | However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely | | ignored. | | | | Can we assume that you mean that the hidden attribute is ignored and so the | | text is visible? Please spell it out if that's not right. | | | | It seems OK here, but | | a. which version of Word (I'm using 2003)? | | b. how are you hiding the MERGEFIELD fields (and are you hiding other types | | of field) ? | | c. presumably you are outputting to a new document, but what type of merge | | are you performing (Letters, Directory,...) ? | | | | Peter Jamieson | | "Cindy B" wrote in message | | ... | | I have several merge fields set as hidden text because I need to be able to | | see them on the screen but not print once I've completed my merge - seems | | reasonable right? However, once I merge, the hidden text is completely | | ignored. Has anyone encountered this and more importantly found a | | resolution? | | | | | | | | | |
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