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#1
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Strange merge problem...?
Hi Kenneth,
Do you always use the same header file, or is this problem happening with a different header file from when things work properly? I assume we're talking about delimited text files as the merge source. What are the field and record delimiters? Does this file contain more fields than you'd usually use? Are you certain the field names in the header file are valid (no spaces, no apostrophes, etc.)? If you open both the header file and the data file in Word, copy the headers to the top of the data file, and save as a Word document (still in delimited text format) then link to that as the data source: do you see anything different? I run Word 2000 with Win 2000 Pro. I have used Word's mail-merge functionality many times, and am quite familiar with it. Typically, I use a pre-defined header file. Now, for some reason I am having the following problem: I open a new DOC, click to start the Mail-Merge process. Define the active window as the formletter, define the data file and the header file. (Both are valid and display properly in the window that asks for the delimiters...) Then, Word tells me that I have no merge fields defined, but, when I click to insert a field, nothing happens: The "Insert Merge Field" button does not appear to depress, and no dropdown appears. This has happened several times though I have closed, then re-launched Word. Cindy Meister INTER-Solutions, Switzerland http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004) http://www.word.mvps.org This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail :-) |
#2
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Hi Cindy, Thanks for your detailed comments. Please see my responses inline below... On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 10:03:28 +0200, Cindy M -WordMVP- wrote: Hi Kenneth, Do you always use the same header file, or is this problem happening with a different header file from when things work properly? The problem started with a new header file. (more later) I assume we're talking about delimited text files as the merge source. What are the field and record delimiters? Field delimiter: tab, Record delimiter: Enter Does this file contain more fields than you'd usually use? Yes, typically, I use 7 or 8, this new one has 18. Are you certain the field names in the header file are valid (no spaces, no apostrophes, etc.)? Yup. If you open both the header file and the data file in Word, copy the headers to the top of the data file, and save as a Word document (still in delimited text format) then link to that as the data source: do you see anything different? No, same problem. I run Word 2000 with Win 2000 Pro. I have used Word's mail-merge functionality many times, and am quite familiar with it. Typically, I use a pre-defined header file. Now, for some reason I am having the following problem: I open a new DOC, click to start the Mail-Merge process. Define the active window as the formletter, define the data file and the header file. (Both are valid and display properly in the window that asks for the delimiters...) Then, Word tells me that I have no merge fields defined, but, when I click to insert a field, nothing happens: The "Insert Merge Field" button does not appear to depress, and no dropdown appears. This has happened several times though I have closed, then re-launched Word. Cindy Meister INTER-Solutions, Switzerland http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004) http://www.word.mvps.org This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail :-) Because of the above, I started from scratch: I created a new data file with just 5 fields and a few records. The results are exactly the same, that is, clicking on the button to insert merge fields does nothing. I have run the Detect & Repair routine to conclusion. I will add that the merge function still works, that is, my existing macros using merge print properly, but I cannot seem to create a new merge document. I will also mention that for this new attempt, both the data file, and the header file were TXT files. But, for my experimentation described above, I have created both TXT files for each, DOCS for each, and have also tried a single DOC using the first record as the "header." Again, all to no avail. Thanks again for any further thoughts, -- Kenneth If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS." |
#3
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On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 06:58:46 -0400, Kenneth
wrote: Hi Cindy, Thanks for your detailed comments. Please see my responses inline below... On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 10:03:28 +0200, Cindy M -WordMVP- wrote: Hi Kenneth, Do you always use the same header file, or is this problem happening with a different header file from when things work properly? BIG SNIP Hi again Cindy, It is fixed...! I decided to be-boot, and when I launched Word it asked me to agree with the EULA. I am assuming that the Detect & Repair does not take full effect until the re-boot. In any case, I think I am set... Sincere thanks, once again, -- Kenneth If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS." |
#4
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Hi Kenneth,
I decided to be-boot, and when I launched Word it asked me to agree with the EULA. I am assuming that the Detect & Repair does not take full effect until the re-boot. In any case, I think I am set... Ok :-) Good thing, because I was getting desparate for ideas... Cindy Meister |
#5
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On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 19:11:52 +0200, Cindy M -WordMVP-
wrote: I decided to be-boot, Hi Cindy, We can only wonder how effective it would have been if instead I had decided to re-Boot...! g All the best, -- Kenneth If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS." |
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