I am trying to merge a Microsoft Word document with an Excel data source. But when I try to insert mail fields into my blank document, the mail fields are named AutoMergeField, AutoMergeField1, AutoMergeField2 et cetera instead of FirstName, Last Name et cetera as in the titles/labels in the Excel data source. Can anyone help me here? Any help much appreciated. Paul Carr

Question: when you set up the main document, did you remember to set the field names in the layout to match those of the source Excel sheet? Another question I'd ask also, unless the source is huge, why use Excel for it (and thus the extra resources that needs), when the same source can be achieved in a table in a new Word document? The Word table is the usual way a mail merge source is created.

I am a teacher and I was trying to show my students that they could use an external file (i.e. an excel file) as a data source. Using this data source, I can then insert merge fields (based on the data source) into a blank word document for example. I am sure you are right about Word being more convenient, but I have no say what they put into the coursebook ;-). As for setting the field names in the layout to match those in the data source, I've just tried this and to no avail. I presume you mean change AutoMergeField to FirstName, AutoMergeField1 to Last Name et cetera as in the excel table. The Following is a copy of an e-mail I sent to the course book (and file) providers explaining the problem as best I can and how I got around the problem. Thank you for your reply. Paul Carr ********************************************* To Whom It May Concern. I would like to report a problem with two of the files downloadable from www.iactonline.com/mous. These are files module18_ex1a.xls and module18_ex1b.xls. These files are found in the Microsoft Word file section Module 18. These excel files are used in relation to exercises using the Word feature of Mail Merge. In Mail Merge, I used module18_ex1a.xls as the source file. for one exercise. I open the Mail Merge helper in Microsoft Word. I use the blank Microsoft Word document as my mail document. Then as data source, I select "Open Data Source" and select module18_ex1a.xls from my desktop (which I downloaded from your website). I select the entire spreadsheet. So far no problems. Now, it's time for me to set up the Main Document. Now the problems begin. When I select Insert Merge Field from the Mail Merge Tool bar to edit the blank document (i.e. insert the merge fields). From the drop-down menu, I get the following headings. AutoMergeField, AutoMergeField1, AutoMergeField2, AutoMergeField3, AutoMergeField4. It gets worse. If I insert these fields into my document and then perform a mail merge, I just get 15 blank pages. However, I am able to remedy this. If I copy the data in the file module18_ex1a.xls and paste into another blank excel workbook, save this new excel workbook and then use this excel document as my mail merge source document, then everything is honky dory. When I edit the main document, (i.e. insert the merge fields into the blank word document, I get the correct titles as shown in the excel file (which are FirstName, LastName, Address1, Address2 and city) and, furthermore, if I insert these merge fields and then perform a Mail Merge, a Mail Merge takes place. In addition, file module18_ex2.xls, which is identical to file module18_ex1a.xls, which is used for the Label merge exercise also has a similar fault with the same non-results. I am sure I am not the only one who has reported the faulty nature of files module18_exla.xls and module18_ex2.xls to you. Incidentally, I am a teacher and I have been teaching my students using your book Mous Master Guide. Aside from the faults outlined above, I have found the book (the Microsoft Word section which I have taught so far) to be very good. Best Regards, Paul Carr