Microsoft KB Archive/212354

= WD2000: Character Formatting in Data Source Not Retained After Merge =

Article ID: 212354

Article Last Modified on 9/7/2001

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q212354





SYMPTOMS
Formatted characters in a mail merge data source, such as superscripted or subscripted characters, do not retain their formatting after the data is merged with the main document.



CAUSE
Word allows you to format the merge fields in the mail merge main document only. Formatting that is applied to the data source is overridden by formatting applied to the fields in the main document.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use one of the following methods:

Method 1: Change the Main Document Mergefield
Remove the word "MERGEFIELD" from the merge fields in the main document. To do this, display field codes by pressing ALT+F9. Delete the word "MERGEFIELD" from within the field code.

Ignore the following error message and perform the mail merge:

Error! Bookmark not defined.

Method 2: Use Equation Editor
To maintain superscript or subscript formatting, use the Equation Editor to create the superscript or subscript characters in the data source.

Method 3: Use a REF Field
For the data field that contains special character formatting, insert a REF field in your main document instead of a MERGEFIELD field. For example, in place of the following MERGEFIELD field

{MERGEFIELD Fieldname}

insert the following REF field:

{REF Fieldname}

Ignore the following error message and perform the mail merge:

Error! Reference source not found.

Word retains the data document formatting for the results of the REF field, which preserves the special character formatting. The drawback to this workaround is that the Mail Merge Helper does not detect errors or suppress blank lines for this field. If you use this workaround, you must suppress blank lines and resolve any mail merge errors manually for the REF field.

Additional query words: math formula chemical expression sub super subscript superscript file bold underline italic italics mergeformat charformat lost removed font size color points

Keywords: kbprint kbmerge kbprb kbfaq KB212354

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