Why did Microsoft have to make the mailmerge so complicated. It
automatically generates an Access database, which while useful in one sense
means that you have to understand queries in Access to manipulate the output.
Also the address block is useless outside of the USA. In addition to insert
fields individually you have to keep closing the dialogue box. You also
appear to be unable to use Excel as a data file. There was nothing wrong
with the older version as it could be manipulated and used in many ways.
Because the newer version has become too clever it is not user friendly.

----------------
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http://www.microsoft.com/office/comm...merge.fi elds

It is not particularly complicated, merely different from the way it was
done in Office 2000, and you can still work as you would have done in Office
2000 if you want, using the MailMerge Helper and ignoring the AddressBlock
field. In fact it is simpler to insert the individual address fields
wherever you happen to live.

You don't have to understand anything about Access to use Word created data
files, and you can use Excel and a variety of other data files.

http://www.gmayor.com/mail_merge_lab...th_word_xp.htm will put you back
on track - and there are other pages on my web site concerned with more
advanced mailmerge functions.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


MaryP wrote:
Why did Microsoft have to make the mailmerge so complicated. It
automatically generates an Access database, which while useful in one
sense means that you have to understand queries in Access to
manipulate the output. Also the address block is useless outside of
the USA. In addition to insert fields individually you have to keep
closing the dialogue box. You also appear to be unable to use Excel
as a data file. There was nothing wrong with the older version as it
could be manipulated and used in many ways. Because the newer version
has become too clever it is not user friendly.

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click
the "I Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the
button, follow this link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft
Web-based Newsreader and then click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/comm...merge.fi elds