Headers not merging still

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JaniceMarie - 14 Jan 2004 18:56 GMT

I wrote "I have a client using Word 2002 in which we pass an ASCI file to Word for
merging a document. Sometimes the header in the template does not merge
the given data (although the same fields are used throughout the document
and they show up). The header will print with the actual merge fields on
it. This is not consistent; however, and if she exits and tries again, it
works. Any ideas?"

Mr. Robbins replied for me to use the Alt+F9 to toggle off the merge field codes. However, what he missed is that these are printed documents. Even if they preview the document first, they do not have the capability of toggling the merge fields because it is now a letter, and not the template

Any other ideas? Is this a known problem with Word 2002?

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Cindy M -WordMVP- - 15 Jan 2004 09:08 GMT

Hi =?Utf-8?B?SmFuaWNlTWFyaWU=?=,

Is this a letter or a catalog (directory) type of mail merge?

It sounds as if the user is merging directly to the printer? If she merges
first to a new document does the problem still occur?

And she's seeing the field codes ( { Mergefield FirstName } for example)?
Or is she seeing the data from just one record? Or something else?

My best guess is that it's a timing issue: the fields in the header/footer
aren't always getting a chance to update before the document actually
sppols to the printer. That's why I'd be interested to know whether
merging first to a new document gives better results.

You might check in Tools/Options/Print what the settings are for
Background Printing and Update Fields are.

> I wrote "I have a client using Word 2002 in which we pass an ASCI file to Word for
> merging a document. Sometimes the header in the template does not merge
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Mr. Robbins replied for me to use the Alt+F9 to toggle off the merge field codes. However, what he missed is that these are printed documents.

Even if they preview the document first, they do not have the capability
of toggling the merge fields because it is now a letter, and not the
template

>
> Any other ideas? Is this a known problem with Word 2002?

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep 30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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