I have a data set that is being output from File Maker. I need to be bale to create a template so that someone can create an update directory with as little effort as possible. Part of this includes creating a directory of services grouped by topic. I have two questions regrading this.

1. I cant seem to save conditional statements when I save my template. I open it back up and the statements are just gone. If I have already attached my data source then the conditions are already evaluated. I will need to enter approximately 50 of these. So I really need them to be saved. I have tried just about every file type there is but still no luck.


2. I need something similar to a while loop. I have a heading that lists the type of service, then I need to list all of the entries that are tagged with that type of service. So it should read something like this

childcare services

first place that offers childcare

second place that offers childcare

third place that offers childcare

I have only been able to output the heading "childcare services" above each one of the entries.

Hopefully that all made sense. Thanks for your help!

How are you creating these 'conditional' statements and why are you using a template instead of a mailmerge main document?

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Maybe I have my terminology wrong. what is the difference between a template and a mail merge main document?

I am creating the conditional statements by hitting ctrl+f9 and entering the statement in the resulting brackets.

Re templates, see:
https://support.office.com/en-us/art...2-1191BCE57DEB
https://support.office.com/en-us/art...A-A6F5E3E8B9AE
A mailmerge main document, on the other hand, is a document that has been connected to a data source for mailmerge purposes. Once you've completed its setup and saved it, it's suitable for running as many mailmerges as you need. You shouldn't have to recreate any field coding or filters each time, but you will need to answer to the SQL prompt you receive when opening the document.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

I have a lot of conditional statements to enter. I need to be able to save my work on them and come back to it later, also I need other people to be able to open them up and view the structure of the statement. When I hit "ctrl+f9" to bring up the curly braces, enter in my statements, save the document, and then reopen the document, the curly braces and everything inside of them is gone. Is there no way to save the statements in an unevaluated form?

The conditional statements will still all be there in a fully-functional state. Simply pressing Alt-F9 will reveal them. Pressing Alt-F9 again will hide them.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

OMG thats all it was. Than you!

What about my other issue? I am trying to output all of the contacts that contain a certain value in a field. so I can do something like this.

Static Text

first contact whos filed matches value x
Second contact whos filed matches value x
Third contact whos filed matches value x
ect....

Static Text

first contact whos filed matches value y
Second contact whos filed matches value y
Third contact whos filed matches value y
ect.....

Without seeing your mailmerge main document and, perhaps the data source, it's difficult to say what the best approach might be. For a single set of repeated data, one might use a catalogue/directory merge but, because you have multiple sets of repeated data, I suspect a DATABASE field might be more appropriate in this case.

Can you attach a your mailmerge main document and some sample data to a post (delete anything sensitive)? You do this via the paperclip symbol on the 'Go Advanced' tab at the bottom of this screen.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]