Create current date in results of merge file

M

Merge Date

I would like to have a mergefiled in a master document for the current date
tomerge letters for multiple addresses. When I save the merged letters, I
want to open them the next day and their date still display as the original
date they were merged.
 
K

KARL DEWEY

This is a MS Word question but insert field Createdate - it will be the date
the document was created and not change.
 
M

Merge Date

Merge date wrote:

Thanks, but I've tried this. When I use Createdate in the master document
and merge - then yes it inserts the create date in the new merge documents
and this holds.

However, if next week, I merge again using that same master document, then
the new merge files contain the original create date of the master document.

So the question was answered pertaining to a 1 merge siguation. However, it
doesn't work for subsequent merges using the same master document.

I do know that Word Perfect handles this by adding a switch to have the date
which merges into the merge letters to be converted to text rather than
remaining a field. I've looked and looked and I can't find a solution to
this in Word and just can't believe there isn't one. Just hate to use
prompts for the date in mater merge documents which are used on a repetitive
basis.
 
K

KARL DEWEY

Ok, Use a query for your merge source and add another field to the query.

In design view of the query in the Field row of the grid and in a blank
column put
CurrentDate: Date()
This will insert the current date in the output. You can checge the format.
CurrentDate: Format("d mmmm yyyy", Date())
This will give you 1 January 2005 as the output.
 
M

Merge Date

Hate to be stupid, but I don't know how to do this in the Master File. The
merge data is coming from another program which interfaces with Word.
Therefore I'm automatically connected to that program for the datasource. I
don't have an obdc source for this database - do I need to set one up? To
use a query, don't I have to connect to a database? Just for grins, I tried
entering your sample data in my master merge file and it just appeared as
text in the merged document. Also made an attempt at vb, but didn't know how
to do it there either. I've got just enough knowledge about this to
understand what you are saying, but don't know how to do it.
 
M

Merge Date

Hey Karl

I just replied to this asking exactly how to do what you've suggested here
and would still love to know. However, I think I've found an easier way -
appears to be working anyhow.

I inserted a merge field for current date from the merge toolbar and
formatted as desired. I did a merge using my 3rd party data and the current
date merged in. I changed my system date to 8/19/05, looked at the prevously
merged document and it still showed the 8/12/05 date - did another merge and
with the resulting letter having an 8/19/05 date - looked back at the 8/12/05
saved file and it's still correct.

I've been working on this for several years - if this is the answer, just
can't believe it!.

Thanks for your help.
 
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