Can I mail merge each record into multiple rows with 3 records per page?

[dredmond17]

I'm trying to mail merge data from Excel into a Word document that i
laid out as a table with 3 columns and 12 rows (i.e., 36 cells total i
the Word document). The spacing needs to be precise because the page i
then die cut with a metal plate of a fixed shape. The challenge is tha
each record in Excel has 12 fields, which I want to populate verticall
in each column - one field's data per row going down the page. Then
want the next record to start at the top of the next column with the 1
fields of data arranged vertically down the second column. Then agai
for the 3rd column in the Word document. This would be easy if I jus
had 3 columns and 1 row, but I need each field of each record in its ow
table cell so that data of varying lengths doesn't mess up the vertica
spacing for fields lower down the page.

The problem is that Word reads the <<Next Record>> tag at the top of th
2nd and 3rd columns before returning the remaining 11 fields of data fo
the first record. It's reading my table cells left to right instead o
top to bottom in each column. Is there a way to do this? Perhaps wit
text boxes instead of table rows? Any help or pointers to mor
information would be much appreciated as I can't seem to find anyon
else with this same issue

 

[macropod]

Hi dredmond17,

You could do this with a Directory merge, using a single table cell in a document with a 3-column text layout. Simply define your column widths and table cell dimensions appropriately. No NextRecord, fields or other table cells are needed.

Alternatively, assuming you have a portrait format, you could use a landscape format with a table of your own construction so that it's layout is the same as the portrait one rotated. Then change the text direction in the table cells to suit and use the same kind of label mailmerge you've already been using.