Help to understand the flow of text around a merge field.

[bosk00]

I am converting an old Q&A application into access 2000. With help from these forums , I have imported and formatted all of the old data. Making the queries for most of the old reports has gone somoothly. Now where I am encountering a problem. If I use a MS Word file and merge fileds, the document flows the text around the fields. It handles the varying length without a problem. I set up the merge document and the datasource. The datasource is a query, which asks for input to make its selection. When I start it from a button on a menu I created, word opens and halts, I have to manually go back to access to answer the input prompt, then manually back to word to use. This doesn't quite cut it. If I create a report and insert an object from file, and pick the word document, as long as I can use it as a static document with no reformating, I can overlay the Merge fields without any problem. The problem however comes when I need a merge field to go into the middle of the text. How can I get the text to react to the length of the merge fields and re-flow. The letters do not have to stay as a word documents, if a report can be setup.
I hope this is understandable.
Thanks for any imput.

Alan
Senility at its finest

 

[dhookom]

When I use Access data to merge in Word, I always export the records as a Word Merge format file. You can either filter the records going into the file or you can set criteria within the Word document.

I have a query by form sample where the user can create their own text and insert merge/data fields. Down load it from

http://www.rogersaccesslibrary.com/OtherLibraries.asp#Hookom,Duane

Duane
MS Access MVP
Find out how to get great answers faq219-2884.

 

[bosk00]

Duane;
Thanks for your response and the link. I looked at your Qry by Form and the Merge to report is doing what I am looking for. If you could give a little clearification. Where I am loosing it, I am creating a new merge to report document. If I am following this correctly, the body of the letter is a textbox that is tied into a table/field that is set to memo. What I dont understand is how you are putting in the merge fields after hitting F3.

Thanks

Alan
Senility at its finest

 

[dhookom]

Pressing F3 opens a dialog box with the fields available from your datasource query. The field names are then embedded in the memo field. The field values are then merged into the memo field when going to the report.

The Query By Form is a bit on the "full-featured" side and could be simplified if your needs don't require all of the features.

Duane
MS Access MVP
Find out how to get great answers faq219-2884.