WD: Err Msg: "MergeField Was Not Found..." When Mail Merging
Article ID: 177003
Article Last Modified on 8/17/2005
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Word 6.0a
- Microsoft Word 6.0c
- Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Word 95a
- Microsoft Word 6.0 for Macintosh
- Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
- Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
- Microsoft Word 98 for Macintosh
This article was previously published under Q177003
SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to run a mail merge using a main document and data source
that were created in Word version 5.x, the following error message may
appear:
Error! MergeField was not found in header record of data source.
CAUSE
This problem occurs if the Word 5.x document contains a MERGEFIELD
field with a division (/) symbol. This symbol is not converted correctly in
later versions of Word.
For example:
In a converted Word 5.x main document, you may have a MERGEFIELD that
resembles one of the following examples:
<<Zip/10>>
-or-
{ MergeField Zip/10 }
WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, change the MERGEFIELD so that it resembles the
following:
{ = { MergeField Zip } / 10 }
NOTE: To change field codes in the Word versions listed at the beginning of
this article, use the ALT+F9 (Windows) or OPTION+F9 (Macintosh) shortcut
keys.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products
listed at the beginning of this article.
Keywords: kbbug kbfix kbfield KB177003