mail merge won't recognize header

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Level 1

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mail merge won't recognize header

I'm trying to do a mail merge in Pages 09, and while pages recognizes my Numbers file, it will only recognize 3 of 4 header titles. I can't get the first field to come up. Any suggestions?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on Apr 28, 2011 7:45 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 28, 2011 8:17 AM in response to Doctah

It's always helpful to post a screen shot. I wonder if there might be a problem with merging from a Header Column. If column A is a Header Column, you could try moving that data to a Body column and see if you luck improves. Copy column A, Add a Column to the Left of column B, Paste and Match Style into column B, delete Column A.

Jerry

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Answer 2

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Apr 28, 2011 10:16 AM in response to Doctah

What are the cells of column 1 storing ? Maybe dates ?

Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) jeudi 28 avril 2011 19:15:54

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Answer 3

Doctah Author

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Apr 28, 2011 4:02 PM in response to Doctah

Jerry, I did try moving everything into columns B, C, D etc. but it still would not recognize the header or the content. Yvan, the data is first names, and the column header is Fname. I'll post a screen shot shortly for all the world to see. Meanwhile, I've rebooted my computer but have yet to try again. More anon.

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Answer 4

Doctah Author

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Apr 28, 2011 4:56 PM in response to Doctah

Here is the Numbers sheet:

and the Pages document into which I need to merge FName LName and then School on the next line:

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Answer 5

Doctah Author

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Apr 28, 2011 5:42 PM in response to Doctah

In experimenting some, I have found I can perform merges into this Pages document with any other numbers file I choose. Unfortunately, this worksheet has the data I need. On Sheet 2, I duplicated the table, added a new Column A titled "X" and have attempted the merge but exactly the same thing happens: only Lname, School, and attending fields are recognized.

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Answer 6

KOENIG Yvan

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Apr 29, 2011 12:58 AM in response to Doctah

Try to edit the header in the source table then reset the merge field.

Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) vendredi 29 avril 2011 09:55:32

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Answer 7

Apr 29, 2011 2:13 AM in response to Doctah

I was going to suggest something similar to what you have already done, but just to get out of that problematic column A position, make a new column on the right (Column E) and name it "Y". Copy the body cells of column A and Paste and Match Style to the body cells of column E. Then set up the merge from "Y". I know that you probably want the order of columns as you have them now, so this is just a diagnostic.

Jerry

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Answer 8

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Apr 29, 2011 2:30 AM in response to KOENIG Yvan

May you send a subset of the table and the Pages target document to my mailbox ?

(click my blue name to get my address)

I wish to look in the internals of the documents to try to understand what is the wrongdoer.

Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) vendredi 29 avril 2011 11:30:13

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Answer 9

Doctah Author

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May 1, 2011 4:49 PM in response to Doctah

Here is what was wrong. In the Numbers table, Column A is a header column and cannot be reformatted to be a body column. So when creating a table to use in mail merge in Pages, be certain that the data to be used in the merge is in Column B and onward, from the outset, and not in Column A.

In the case of my problem, I was finally able to get the merge to work when I copied my data into a new worksheet using columns B, C and D, leaving A blank. Trying to move and paste things in the original worksheet did not work. Keep A open from the outset and it will work fine.

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Answer 10

May 1, 2011 4:54 PM in response to Doctah

You know, Doctah, you don't have to have a Header Column. Rather than leaving it blank, just delete it. Your new column A will be a body column.

Jerry

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