I'm using Word 2007. I've used Word for years for basic word processing. This
is the first time I've attempted to use the Mail Merge feature. I'm linked to
an Excel document as the data source. I'm trying to generate a directory of
names/addresses/phone/email sorted by last name. It works but I have a couple
questions about general formatting:

1. Is there a way to enter just one mergefield group then direct Word to
"repeat" it as many times as needed based on the merged data? Or do I
actually have to copy and paste that mergefield group over X number of pages?
Since the number of records in my datafile will vary, it doesn't seem logical
that I would have to know how many pages/records I need to accommodate ahead
of time. I set up several pages with the repeated mergefield group, but I end
up with a blank pages at the end because I set up more pages/mergefield
groups than I actually need. I'm sure this must be something basic that I'm
just overlooking.

2. My directory page format is 3 columns with a header and footer.
Everything looks great except that when the data is merged, the Paragraph
settings to Keep With Next that I applied to the mergefield groups are not
applied to the resulting merged data. This is because not all records contain
the same data (some don't have an email address, others have longer address
information), so not all records occupy the same number of lines. Therefore,
I end up with "records" being broken between columns or pages. What can I do
to get Word to keep the data for each record (mergefield group) together in
the same column and on the same page?

I'm scouring the online Help and articles, but Mail Merge seems to be an
extensive topic and finding specific answers has not been easy. I appreciate
any help.

Thanks!