Each Header Needs to be Different Word 2008

[CathClaud]

Have a mailmerge doc that is in a table format for ease of updating (pasting on label with new info). I would like to put, AB - BA, first 2 letters of first and last last names on the page header. As a rule I would put in Section Breaks, but since this is a table doc there is no place to do that.



Since you all only see me every couple of years this is obviously just dogging me.

OR is there a way that I can make a doc that preserves the spacing and merging without being stuck with the table?

[macropod]

Word doesn't have a practical way of inserting just the first 2 letters of the names into the header unless there's a separate data field for those letters. If, however, you were to apply unique character or paragraph Styles to the ranges containing the name mergefields, you could use StyleRef fields in the header (and/or footer) to replicate the complete first and last names.

Even the impractical way would require the above approach, but then it would need to be coupled with 52 IF fields for the first names and another 52 IF fields for the last names to extract the first & 2nd letters from each.

[CathClaud]

OH shoot me now. will save as PDF and add later. 104 IFs. I am struggling with 10. ;-\

[macropod]

Alternatively, if it's an Excel data source, you could use a another column with formula to extract those letters, then reference that column in the mailmerge. If you put the field that holds that result somewhere in the body and give it the same colour as the background (and even make it as small as 1pt) with an appropriate character Style, it won't show up in the body but can still be referenced via a StyleRef field in the header.

[CathClaud]

OOOOOOh that is pretty Paul - thanks!