Word 97 number format in table cell

[rlpotty]

I have an Access 97 table as a data source for a Word 97 merge document, which is designed as a form using a table. I am merging both text and currency data into the table's cells. Currency is coming across as a number, dropping trailing zeros and decimals (i.e. $12.10 and $13.00 in Access become 12.1 and 13 in Word).

I can't find anything in Word 97 help on how to change the data display format in individual table cells. I've been doing this in WordPerfect for several years. How do I force Word 97 to display numbers in a particular table cell in a specific format, in this case as currency?

 

[dianemarie]

Hello, try this: add a switch to the merge field. Formatting of fields in a merge must be done in Word, it doesn't pick up the source data formats (at least in the case of numbers, and you can overwrite case with switches as well). After adding your merge fields, click Alt+F9 to display the field codes. Go to the end of the field that you want number formats and add \# $#,###.## (before the end parentheses). If it doesn't work, make sure you used the correct backslash. Help has some very good information, look under Switches.

 

[rlpotty]

That's what I really love about MS Word, it's so intuitive. Who'd a' thunk you needed to use a picture in the merge field and that Alt+F9 gives access to the merge field code. Just so obvious!

The switch picture example in the lead paragraph to the "Numeric Picture (\#) field switch" help item of \#$#,##0.00 actually worked.

God, now I have to study and play around with formatting switches to accomplish what I easily did in a WordPerfect table through a popup menu choice from a right mouse click.

I really appreciate your help. You knew exactly what to do.