omit blank lines in merge

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From previous message posts I still don't understand the answers. Is it
syntax - I have Word 2003. Here is what I have.
<<P_Work>> is a work phone field
{IF {MERGEFIELD "P_WORK" }= < >" " {MERGEFIELD "P_WORK}"}
when I toggle field codes view all I see is MERGEFIELD
 
What are you trying to do? The merge function has a checkbox for omitting
blank lines automatically.
 
I am having the same problem. The older version of word definitely had a
checkbox - but I can't find where it is in this newer version. I've looked
everywhere I can think of.
 
I know and tried that but still no good.
I'll explain what I'm doing from the beginning. We are trying to create a
School Directory with students names, their parents and contact details. Some
families don't want some specific details published ie cell number. I'm
importing from an Excel database which is fine. I output to a new 3 column
document. Maybe the problem is that I have separated each line with
shift-enter. Originally I separated the lines with ENTER key but while the
blank lines were omitted the Student details were not kept together as a
group and sometime split/wrap over columns . With the shift-enter format they
are kept together as paragraph but the blank lines appear.
 
This web site http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister/MM2002/PrevVe02.htm
has the answer.
"Getting back older interfaces
Almost all the technology from previous versions is still available in Word,
stored nicely away in Tools/Customize/Commands, under the category All
Commands. In the following table, you'll find a list of these commands, and
the interface menu name or dialog box title. You can drag any of these
commands to the Mail merge toolbar."

You drag a MailMerge icon to the Mail Merge toolbar and it has the options
in the dialogue box when you click on it.
 
Yes, using Shift-enter will be the problem -- for merge purposes, Word will
see the entire block as one line. To prevent the splitting, set 'keep with
next' for all lines but the last of each block.
 
I tried that before my shift-enter solution. It still doesn't hold them
together. I was hoping for an old Wordperfect solution of keeping paragraphs
together.
 
Have you tried using "Keep lines together"?

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.
 
Hi =?Utf-8?B?U3RlcGhlbiBT?=,
From previous message posts I still don't understand the answers. Is it
syntax - I have Word 2003. Here is what I have.
<<P_Work>> is a work phone field
{IF {MERGEFIELD "P_WORK" }= < >" " {MERGEFIELD "P_WORK}"}
when I toggle field codes view all I see is MERGEFIELD
Click to expand...
If this is exactly what you have, then your quotes are in the wrong place.
It should look more like this:

{IF {MERGEFIELD "P_WORK" }= < >" " "{MERGEFIELD "P_WORK"}" }

Also, you want to make sure you used Ctrl+F9 to insert each pair of field
brackets { }. Once you've toggled off the field code, with the cursor in
the field, press F9 to force the field to update.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any follow question or
reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail :-)
 
Worked using "keep with next" . I just realised that I've been trying to
format the finished merged document rather than the main document with the
fields.
Thanks to you and Jezebel
 
From a previous reply to susan Barnhill
"Worked using "keep with next" . I just realised that I've been trying to
format the finished merged document rather than the main document with the
fields."
But thanks for your added input. This is the 1st time I've used mail merge
and also didn't realise that the field code was in not on the actual
keyboard. I've been to your site too.
 
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