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MS Office Forum / Word / Mailmerge and Fax / November 2004Customizing A Number Format
I am merging a case number into Word 2000 that is initially in the following format: ##-#####. I have been trying to figure out how I can format it in the merge process to the following: ##-bk-#####. Basically, I need to insert "bk-" after the first dash between the two number groups. I tried to adapt the serial number example on Graham Mayor's website, but I just don't have enough known-how to figure this out, if it can be done. If we are looking at a seven digit number, then \# "00-bk-00000" or \# "##-bk-#####" will work However, I suspect this isn't a number, but text, and you can't format text with number switches. You would have to derive the numbers in the data file first. This would be simple enough in an Excel file.  Signature<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<> Graham Mayor - Word MVP My web site www.gmayor.com Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<> > I am merging a case number into Word 2000 that is initially in the > following format: ##-#####. I have been trying to figure out how I [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Graham Mayor's website, but I just don't have enough known-how to > figure this out, if it can be done. Graham - Is it possible to "extract" the first two numbers and to thereafter do the same with the five-number string at the end? If I can do that, then I could easily put the "-bk-" into the merge form. Thanks. > If we are looking at a seven digit number, then > \# "00-bk-00000" [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Graham Mayor's website, but I just don't have enough known-how to > > figure this out, if it can be done. You will have to do the manipulation in the data source. Alternatively, after executing the mailmerge to a new document, do a Wildcard replace in which you search for ([0-9]{2})-([0-9]{5}) and in the replace control you insert \1-bk-\2 For an explanation of the above, see the article "Finding and replacing characters using wildcards" at: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/General/UsingWildcards.htm SignaturePlease respond to the Newsgroup for the benefit of others who may be interested. Questions sent directly to me will only be answered on a paid consulting basis. Hope this helps, Doug Robbins - Word MVP > Graham - Is it possible to "extract" the first two numbers and to > thereafter [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >> > Graham Mayor's website, but I just don't have enough known-how to >> > figure this out, if it can be done. Does this mean that you cannot format a field that contains both text and numbers? For instance, I am trying to format a field for a FED EX number, e.g., EV ### ### ### US. I have tried your website, but nothing really addresses this that I can find. > If we are looking at a seven digit number, then > \# "00-bk-00000" [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Graham Mayor's website, but I just don't have enough known-how to > > figure this out, if it can be done. Yes. You would need to split the data into the numeric part and the alpha part. SignaturePlease respond to the Newsgroup for the benefit of others who may be interested. Questions sent directly to me will only be answered on a paid consulting basis. Hope this helps, Doug Robbins - Word MVP > Does this mean that you cannot format a field that contains both text and > numbers? For instance, I am trying to format a field for a FED EX number, [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >> > Graham Mayor's website, but I just don't have enough known-how to >> > figure this out, if it can be done. So, you are saying you can't have 1 field with numbers and alpha characters? Or are you saying you have to split the switch using numeric and alpha characters? I have tried various ways to do the switch with both alpha and numeric, but am unsuccessful. That doesn't mean much though because I don't know what I am doing anyway!! > Yes. You would need to split the data into the numeric part and the alpha > part. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > >> > Graham Mayor's website, but I just don't have enough known-how to > >> > figure this out, if it can be done. What we are saying is that you cannot use a number formatting switch on a data field that contains both text and numbers. Such a field is text and does not normally require a switch. However, in those circumstances where it does, you need to split the data into its text and number portions to produce separate fields text and number fields which can be combined. In the case of your FED-EX 'numbers', if the always begin with EV and always end in US, you don't need that part of the 'number' in your data. In the case of a data field containing nine numerals (123456789), you can format to produce the finished the 'number' as EV{Mergefield FEDEX \# "### ### ###"}US or {Mergefield FEDEX \# "EV### ### ###US"} both of which will produce EV123 456 789US Signature<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<> Graham Mayor - Word MVP My web site www.gmayor.com Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<> > So, you are saying you can't have 1 field with numbers and alpha > characters? Or are you saying you have to split the switch using [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] >>>>> Graham Mayor's website, but I just don't have enough known-how to >>>>> figure this out, if it can be done. I tried to only put the middle numbers into the Access database from where I am getting this data, and then in the Word form had EV \# "###' '###' '###" US, but then low and behold, instead of EV, it was EL. I was trying to look toward the future letters/numbers in formatting it with switches in the Word form. If it can't be done or is too difficult, I may just go back to leaving them all in one long number and leave it at that. Thanks. > What we are saying is that you cannot use a number formatting switch on a > data field that contains both text and numbers. Such a field is text and [quoted text clipped - 61 lines] > >>>>> Graham Mayor's website, but I just don't have enough known-how to > >>>>> figure this out, if it can be done. Could you not simply add another field to the Access database to carry the prefix? Signature<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<> Graham Mayor - Word MVP My web site www.gmayor.com Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<> > I tried to only put the middle numbers into the Access database from > where I am getting this data, and then in the Word form had EV \# [quoted text clipped - 81 lines] >>>>>>> on Graham Mayor's website, but I just don't have enough >>>>>>> known-how to figure this out, if it can be done. That's what I will do!!! Thanks. > Could you not simply add another field to the Access database to carry the > prefix? [quoted text clipped - 84 lines] > >>>>>>> on Graham Mayor's website, but I just don't have enough > >>>>>>> known-how to figure this out, if it can be done. Are you saying that you can't have field with alpha and numeric characters? Or, are you saying you need to have the switch split into alpha and numeric characters? I have tried various ways to have the switch do the first two characters as alpha; the middle characters as numeric and the last two characters as alpha, but am having no luck at all. > Yes. You would need to split the data into the numeric part and the alpha > part. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > >> > Graham Mayor's website, but I just don't have enough known-how to > >> > figure this out, if it can be done. |
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