Retaining Excel Formats in Mail Merge

Getting the formatting right when you use an Excel data source for mail merge can be extremely frustrating. There are ways to correct the formatting by using switches in the field codes, but it can be a time-consuming and frustrating exercise. Fortunately, there is an easy way to circumvent the use of switches and still have your data appear as you would like it.

1. With the main document open, click the Tools menu
2. Select Options…
3. On the General tab, select Confirm Conversion at Open
4. Click OK

When you select an alternate data source such as Excel, it will ask you to choose the type of data source.

When present with the choice, select MS Excel Files via DDE.

When you merge the document with the data source, the formatting from the Excel data source will be retained.