HELP!
I am running Word 2013 and Windows 8.1. I am using Mail Merge to create spec sheets for products. However, when I initiate the merge, no matter if I merge all of the records or an individual record, the resulting documents are missing some but not all of the objects in my header and footer. The header contains merge fields, a shape, and two pictures. The shape is the only thing from the header to disappear. In the footer, there is a text box and a shape. Both the text box and the shape disappear. I cannot figure out why this is happening. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

this sounds like a bad paragraph mark in the main doc - or else the merge is replacing the paragraph mark in main or header or footer causing items to "disappear"

I'd suggest checking what the text box and the shape are anchored to. If they're anchored to a mergefield that could explain the behaviour.

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

I looked into both of those solutions and neither of them are the case. There are no missing paragraph marks as far as I can tell. The anchors are not miss-positioned and are anchored to the page, not to a disappearing merge field. Furthermore, I attempted to group the objects with objects that remained in the header and footer. When I did that, all of the objects I grouped disappeared. When printing however, all of the objects are visible.

I don't understand - are you saying they disappeared from view in the mailmerge output file, but printed anyway?

It would be easier to diagnose the issue if you could attach copies of the mailmerge main document and an output document to a post with some representative data (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]

Paul, Ya sorry that was confusing. I meant to say that when I print the original template using a pdf printer, all of the objects appear just fine. However, when I merge the documents, they do not. I have attached the original template and the PDF file that is produced by the completed merge of one record. Notice the differences in the header and footer.

Attached Files

	Spec Sheet Template BDA.docx (144.9 KB, 23 views)
	TTRM1008.pdf (431.4 KB, 14 views)

A couple other clarifications. I know the problem is not in the macro I'm using to complete the merge because it occurs when I use the built in word mail merge function as well. Also, I have "discovered" that it is only the drawing tool objects that are disappearing. Pictures and text are fine but all shapes are disappearing. Does anyone know a solution to that problem?

Your header looks fine to me - the PDF version seems to be the same as in the main document. As for the footer, you could fix that by cutting the content out of the textbox there, deleting the textbox and pasting the content directly into the footer. All you'll need to do then is delete the final paragraph break and change the footer distance from edge page layout settings.

I can't comment on your macro because I haven't seen it
Have you checked Word's 'Print drawings created in Word' option?

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

I am having the exact same problem to my eye and would like to know if this issue has a solution?

Since you say you are "having the exact same problem", you should try the solution I posted nearly a year ago.

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