Unfortunately, whenever you hard-format a cross-reference, Word 'helpfully' adds the MERGEFORMAT switch. The simplest solution is to toggle the field code display 'on' (e.g. via Alt-F9), then use Find/Replace to delete the switches, via:


Find = \* MERGEFORMAT<space>
Replace = nothing

Do note that, when adding the \* CHARFORMAT switch, you need only format the first character of the field code, in this case the 'R' of the field's 'REF' expression. There is no need to format anything else. Not applying the format to the whole field will avoid the addition of the extraneous \* MERGEFORMAT switch.

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

Hi Paul,

Another helpful feature to cope with ...

That's of course the fastest way, but an additional step ...

My crossreference macro only formats the first character of the { REF } fields ({ REF Name \* Charformat }, but nevertheless ...
... Word keeps adding the \* MERGEFORMAT switch.


Seem to be one of those features "resulting from far too many Tia Marias laced with vodka" (http://word.mvps.org/faqs/tblsfldsfms/FastTables.htm).

NP

Without seeing your macro, I can't really comment on why it might be doing that.

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

Hi Paul,

Adding \* M is completely independent from my cross reference macros which work like a charm.

I stumpled upon this 'feature' it when applying the field solution (https://www.msofficeforums.com/word/...est-empty.html) to my table.

When creating tables I often have to change table formatting until it fits my formatting ideas. Whenever I apply character formatting, the \* M switch is added to the { REF } fields. So I changed \* M to \*C, thought everything was fine and continued working. But Word still keeps inserting the \* M switch resulting in: { REF Text1 \* CHARFORMAT \* MERGEFORMAT }.

As soon as the \* M switch is inserted, the \* C switch becomes ineffective.

In the case of my table (and field formatting) it really does not matter, it is (was) more a sort of basic question.

NP

The problem, then, is that you're overriding the field's formatting when you change the table format. That's what's causing Word to add the \* MERGEFORMAT switch. IOW, it's behaving as intended.

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