Here’s the key. Our sample data source (in Excel) looks like this:<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.officearticles.com\/word\/images\/merge_1.gif\")
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Create your mail merge normally and preview one of the records. If the field doesn’t come out right, then turn on viewing of your fields codes. This is most easily done by hitting Alt+F9 (it’s a toggle, so hit Alt+F9 to turn off again later). Then, a zip code merge field will look like this.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.officearticles.com\/word\/images\/merge_2.gif\")
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Note that the zip code has lost its leading zeroes, and the currency has lost it’s dollar sign. The date seems okay, but maybe we want it to appear as June 15, 2005 instead. So let’s see how it’s done.<\/p>\n
Hit Alt+F9 or go to Tools\u00e0<\/span>Options\u00e0<\/span>View tab and turn on viewing of Field Codes. The same document now displays as follows. I’ve widened the table cells so the fields are easier for us to read here.<\/p>\n Now edit those field codes to read as shown in the next graphic. I’ve changed the font so it’s more easy to read the text in the merge fields.<\/p>\n The result is quite a bit different.<\/p>\n Great information about merge field codes can be found at:<\/p>\n http:\/\/support.softartisans.com\/WordWriterV1\/doc\/features\/format.asp<\/a><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.gmayor.com\/formatting_word_fields.htm<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.officearticles.com\/word\/images\/merge_3.gif\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.officearticles.com\/word\/images\/merge_4.gif\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.officearticles.com\/word\/images\/merge_5.gif\")
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