Mail Merge Formatting Problem In Word XP

[Melani]

Hi

When I upgraded from Word 97 to Word XP, my mail merge fields for numbers
don't look the same as in my original Excel spreadsheet where I have my
address information if its a number field. the decimals and Dollar sign are
lost.

Any Help with this problem?

Thanks in advance
Melani

 

[Peter Jamieson]

The default method for connecting to Excel data changed from DDE to OLEDB in
Word XP. Try either:
a. check Word Tools|Options|General|"Confrm conversion at open", then go
through the connection process again, and select the Excel via DDE option
when it is offered or
b. use numeric formatting switches to format your data, e.g. instead of

{ MERGEFIELD mynumber }

try

{ MERGEFIELD mynumber \# "$,0.00" }

Notice that the formar option will typically use the formatting you used in
Excel, whereas the latter option imposes new formatting which might or might
not be the same as what you have in Excel.