Merge custom fields from Outlook 2003 to Word

I have a custom form and need to merge data from one of the fields to my Word
merge doc. When I attempt to access the field in word, it doesn't appear on
the list. I desperately need this information, which is why it's being
collected on the custom form. I've tried exporting to Excel to grab the data
.... doesn't work. I've tried merging directly from the Outlook view that
displays the information ... doesn't work.

How can I get this information from within Word? Help???

If you have a user defined field in Outlook Contacts, you can merge to Word
for email or printing easily:

select the Contacts to merge to

Tools | mailmerge

to new document/or email

Use the Insert Merge Fields button to access the Contacts fields (including
your User Defined fields) Keep away from Insert Word fields!!

I hope this helps you at least a little bit!

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Outlook trainer and author of Productiv_IT with Outlook
www.acorntraining.com.au


"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." (Woodrow
Wilson)
"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
I have a custom form and need to merge data from one of the fields to my
Word
merge doc. When I attempt to access the field in word, it doesn't appear
on
the list. I desperately need this information, which is why it's being
collected on the custom form. I've tried exporting to Excel to grab the
data
... doesn't work. I've tried merging directly from the Outlook view that
displays the information ... doesn't work.

How can I get this information from within Word? Help???

Thank you for the suggestion, Judy, but the data field is not listed in the
Insert Merge Field button, under either database fields or address fields --
nor is it available in the Insert Word Fields button.

The data field simply doesn't appear on any list I can find. In fact, there
are a number of fields that I collect that are custom (I'm a Realtor and have
designed a custom form for my various data). None of these fields exist in
any Word list I can find. But the data "is" in Outlook and I can search on
it, sort by it, etc. etc.

Any other ideas?

-- Gabrielle


"Judy Gleeson (MVP Outlook)" wrote:

If you have a user defined field in Outlook Contacts, you can merge to Word
for email or printing easily:

select the Contacts to merge to

Tools | mailmerge

to new document/or email

Use the Insert Merge Fields button to access the Contacts fields (including
your User Defined fields) Keep away from Insert Word fields!!

I hope this helps you at least a little bit!

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Outlook trainer and author of Productiv_IT with Outlook
www.acorntraining.com.au


"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." (Woodrow
Wilson)
"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
I have a custom form and need to merge data from one of the fields to my
Word
merge doc. When I attempt to access the field in word, it doesn't appear
on
the list. I desperately need this information, which is why it's being
collected on the custom form. I've tried exporting to Excel to grab the
data
... doesn't work. I've tried merging directly from the Outlook view that
displays the information ... doesn't work.

How can I get this information from within Word? Help???

It looks as though a temporary work around is to display all fields in the
current outlook view, then select all of the records (contacts) I need to use
in the merge. Then copy to Excel and complete the merge using the Excel
worksheet as the data source rather than Outlook. This is a cumbersome work
around but almost works.

The only thing that's happening now ... and who knows why ... is that IF the
postal code is anything other than five digits, Word merges a "0" value as
opposed to the actual postal code. Messy, especially when some of the codes
are a combination of letters and numbers (such as Canadian zip codes) or when
the five+four digit zip codes have actually been input.

Also, if the address in the form actually is a combination of street
address, city, state & zip (as it does appear), then Excel dumps the city,
state & zip to the next row, as opposed to a separate column. Messy, messy.

So .... the fields in the Outlook view must be separated to street address,
city, state, postal code in order for the copy and paste process to work
right (except for that postal code thing).

It's a cludgy work-around, but it works.

I can't understand why all of the Office suite can't shake hands and be nice.



"Judy Gleeson (MVP Outlook)" wrote:

If you have a user defined field in Outlook Contacts, you can merge to Word
for email or printing easily:

select the Contacts to merge to

Tools | mailmerge

to new document/or email

Use the Insert Merge Fields button to access the Contacts fields (including
your User Defined fields) Keep away from Insert Word fields!!

I hope this helps you at least a little bit!

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Outlook trainer and author of Productiv_IT with Outlook
www.acorntraining.com.au


"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." (Woodrow
Wilson)
"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
I have a custom form and need to merge data from one of the fields to my
Word
merge doc. When I attempt to access the field in word, it doesn't appear
on
the list. I desperately need this information, which is why it's being
collected on the custom form. I've tried exporting to Excel to grab the
data
... doesn't work. I've tried merging directly from the Outlook view that
displays the information ... doesn't work.

How can I get this information from within Word? Help???

It's most unusual that the field is not in the Insert Merge Fields pop up
window - did you look at the bottom as sometimes they do not appear in alpha
order???


Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Outlook trainer and author of Productiv_IT with Outlook
www.acorntraining.com.au


"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." (Woodrow
Wilson)
"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
It looks as though a temporary work around is to display all fields in the
current outlook view, then select all of the records (contacts) I need to
use
in the merge. Then copy to Excel and complete the merge using the Excel
worksheet as the data source rather than Outlook. This is a cumbersome
work
around but almost works.

The only thing that's happening now ... and who knows why ... is that IF
the
postal code is anything other than five digits, Word merges a "0" value as
opposed to the actual postal code. Messy, especially when some of the
codes
are a combination of letters and numbers (such as Canadian zip codes) or
when
the five+four digit zip codes have actually been input.

Also, if the address in the form actually is a combination of street
address, city, state & zip (as it does appear), then Excel dumps the city,
state & zip to the next row, as opposed to a separate column. Messy,
messy.

So .... the fields in the Outlook view must be separated to street
address,
city, state, postal code in order for the copy and paste process to work
right (except for that postal code thing).

It's a cludgy work-around, but it works.

I can't understand why all of the Office suite can't shake hands and be
nice.



"Judy Gleeson (MVP Outlook)" wrote:

If you have a user defined field in Outlook Contacts, you can merge to
Word
for email or printing easily:

select the Contacts to merge to

Tools | mailmerge

to new document/or email

Use the Insert Merge Fields button to access the Contacts fields
(including
your User Defined fields) Keep away from Insert Word fields!!

I hope this helps you at least a little bit!

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Outlook trainer and author of Productiv_IT with Outlook
www.acorntraining.com.au


"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." (Woodrow
Wilson)
"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
I have a custom form and need to merge data from one of the fields to my
Word
merge doc. When I attempt to access the field in word, it doesn't
appear
on
the list. I desperately need this information, which is why it's being
collected on the custom form. I've tried exporting to Excel to grab the
data
... doesn't work. I've tried merging directly from the Outlook view
that
displays the information ... doesn't work.

How can I get this information from within Word? Help???

Yes I did look completely through every possible list of fields available ...
custom fields don't appear. I did write to the programmer for the outlook
form and, according to them, this is a known problem. Not only do the fields
not appear, the form itself does not appear in the selection list for custom
fields either.

"Judy Gleeson (MVP Outlook)" wrote:

It's most unusual that the field is not in the Insert Merge Fields pop up
window - did you look at the bottom as sometimes they do not appear in alpha
order???


Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Outlook trainer and author of Productiv_IT with Outlook
www.acorntraining.com.au


"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." (Woodrow
Wilson)
"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
It looks as though a temporary work around is to display all fields in the
current outlook view, then select all of the records (contacts) I need to
use
in the merge. Then copy to Excel and complete the merge using the Excel
worksheet as the data source rather than Outlook. This is a cumbersome
work
around but almost works.

The only thing that's happening now ... and who knows why ... is that IF
the
postal code is anything other than five digits, Word merges a "0" value as
opposed to the actual postal code. Messy, especially when some of the
codes
are a combination of letters and numbers (such as Canadian zip codes) or
when
the five+four digit zip codes have actually been input.

Also, if the address in the form actually is a combination of street
address, city, state & zip (as it does appear), then Excel dumps the city,
state & zip to the next row, as opposed to a separate column. Messy,
messy.

So .... the fields in the Outlook view must be separated to street
address,
city, state, postal code in order for the copy and paste process to work
right (except for that postal code thing).

It's a cludgy work-around, but it works.

I can't understand why all of the Office suite can't shake hands and be
nice.



"Judy Gleeson (MVP Outlook)" wrote:

If you have a user defined field in Outlook Contacts, you can merge to
Word
for email or printing easily:

select the Contacts to merge to

Tools | mailmerge

to new document/or email

Use the Insert Merge Fields button to access the Contacts fields
(including
your User Defined fields) Keep away from Insert Word fields!!

I hope this helps you at least a little bit!

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Outlook trainer and author of Productiv_IT with Outlook
www.acorntraining.com.au


"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." (Woodrow
Wilson)
"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
I have a custom form and need to merge data from one of the fields to my
Word
merge doc. When I attempt to access the field in word, it doesn't
appear
on
the list. I desperately need this information, which is why it's being
collected on the custom form. I've tried exporting to Excel to grab the
data
... doesn't work. I've tried merging directly from the Outlook view
that
displays the information ... doesn't work.

How can I get this information from within Word? Help???

I've made new fields and used them in merges to Contacts many times and in
hundreds of sites. So I'll persevere....

Does it work if you start from Phone List view and select the Contacts you
want to merge to from there? That works for me every time. Just use the
Field Chooser to show your field and then group or sort by it to find the
right Contacts. Then Tools | Mailmerge | etc.

I hope this helps you at least a little bit!

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Outlook trainer and author of Productiv_IT with Outlook
www.acorntraining.com.au


"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." (Woodrow
Wilson)
"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
Yes I did look completely through every possible list of fields available
...
custom fields don't appear. I did write to the programmer for the outlook
form and, according to them, this is a known problem. Not only do the
fields
not appear, the form itself does not appear in the selection list for
custom
fields either.

"Judy Gleeson (MVP Outlook)" wrote:

It's most unusual that the field is not in the Insert Merge Fields pop up
window - did you look at the bottom as sometimes they do not appear in
alpha
order???


Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Outlook trainer and author of Productiv_IT with Outlook
www.acorntraining.com.au


"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." (Woodrow
Wilson)
"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
It looks as though a temporary work around is to display all fields in
the
current outlook view, then select all of the records (contacts) I need
to
use
in the merge. Then copy to Excel and complete the merge using the Excel
worksheet as the data source rather than Outlook. This is a cumbersome
work
around but almost works.

The only thing that's happening now ... and who knows why ... is that
IF
the
postal code is anything other than five digits, Word merges a "0" value
as
opposed to the actual postal code. Messy, especially when some of the
codes
are a combination of letters and numbers (such as Canadian zip codes)
or
when
the five+four digit zip codes have actually been input.

Also, if the address in the form actually is a combination of street
address, city, state & zip (as it does appear), then Excel dumps the
city,
state & zip to the next row, as opposed to a separate column. Messy,
messy.

So .... the fields in the Outlook view must be separated to street
address,
city, state, postal code in order for the copy and paste process to
work
right (except for that postal code thing).

It's a cludgy work-around, but it works.

I can't understand why all of the Office suite can't shake hands and be
nice.



"Judy Gleeson (MVP Outlook)" wrote:

If you have a user defined field in Outlook Contacts, you can merge to
Word
for email or printing easily:

select the Contacts to merge to

Tools | mailmerge

to new document/or email

Use the Insert Merge Fields button to access the Contacts fields
(including
your User Defined fields) Keep away from Insert Word fields!!

I hope this helps you at least a little bit!

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Outlook trainer and author of Productiv_IT with Outlook
www.acorntraining.com.au


"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." (Woodrow
Wilson)
"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
I have a custom form and need to merge data from one of the fields to
my
Word
merge doc. When I attempt to access the field in word, it doesn't
appear
on
the list. I desperately need this information, which is why it's
being
collected on the custom form. I've tried exporting to Excel to grab
the
data
... doesn't work. I've tried merging directly from the Outlook view
that
displays the information ... doesn't work.

How can I get this information from within Word? Help???

The key issue is that the fields must be defined in the contacts folder. If you can add them to the view from the User-defined Fields in Folder list, then all should work. If not, you will need to add those fields using the Field Chooser's New button before you can use them in a merge.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

"Gabrielle" wrote in message ...
Yes I did look completely through every possible list of fields available ...
custom fields don't appear. I did write to the programmer for the outlook
form and, according to them, this is a known problem. Not only do the fields
not appear, the form itself does not appear in the selection list for custom
fields either.

"Judy Gleeson (MVP Outlook)" wrote:

It's most unusual that the field is not in the Insert Merge Fields pop up
window - did you look at the bottom as sometimes they do not appear in alpha
order???


Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Outlook trainer and author of Productiv_IT with Outlook
www.acorntraining.com.au


"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." (Woodrow
Wilson)
"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
It looks as though a temporary work around is to display all fields in the
current outlook view, then select all of the records (contacts) I need to
use
in the merge. Then copy to Excel and complete the merge using the Excel
worksheet as the data source rather than Outlook. This is a cumbersome
work
around but almost works.

The only thing that's happening now ... and who knows why ... is that IF
the
postal code is anything other than five digits, Word merges a "0" value as
opposed to the actual postal code. Messy, especially when some of the
codes
are a combination of letters and numbers (such as Canadian zip codes) or
when
the five+four digit zip codes have actually been input.

Also, if the address in the form actually is a combination of street
address, city, state & zip (as it does appear), then Excel dumps the city,
state & zip to the next row, as opposed to a separate column. Messy,
messy.

So .... the fields in the Outlook view must be separated to street
address,
city, state, postal code in order for the copy and paste process to work
right (except for that postal code thing).

It's a cludgy work-around, but it works.

I can't understand why all of the Office suite can't shake hands and be
nice.



"Judy Gleeson (MVP Outlook)" wrote:

If you have a user defined field in Outlook Contacts, you can merge to
Word
for email or printing easily:

select the Contacts to merge to

Tools | mailmerge

to new document/or email

Use the Insert Merge Fields button to access the Contacts fields
(including
your User Defined fields) Keep away from Insert Word fields!!

I hope this helps you at least a little bit!

Judy Gleeson
MVP Outlook
Outlook trainer and author of Productiv_IT with Outlook
www.acorntraining.com.au


"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." (Woodrow
Wilson)
"Gabrielle" wrote in message
...
I have a custom form and need to merge data from one of the fields to my
Word
merge doc. When I attempt to access the field in word, it doesn't
appear
on
the list. I desperately need this information, which is why it's being
collected on the custom form. I've tried exporting to Excel to grab the
data
... doesn't work. I've tried merging directly from the Outlook view
that
displays the information ... doesn't work.

How can I get this information from within Word? Help???