Tech Tip: Solve mail merge zip code woes
One of the most annoying parts of doing a mail merge from excel to a sheet of labels in word is when the leading ‘zero’ of a zip code drops off. The formatting of the zip code field is set to “Special zip code formatting,” but when you mail merge, Word assumes zip codes are 5 digits, but doesn’t think “zero” is a number – so it doesn’t include it. There are many complex ways to fix it, such as changing the formatting and going through and re-adding a leading zero, but it doesn’t need to be that difficult.
Before you do the mail merge, go into Word, go to Tools, then Options. Under the general tab check the box that says “Confirm conversion at open.” Then click OK. Now when you do the mail merge it will ask you where you’re importing from. As long as you choose Excel it should now include the leading zero in your zip codes.
Quick, easy and saves you the time of entering formulas or 300 zeros.
Shaun Ahern
Network Engineer
Related posts:
Tags: mail merge help, mail merge tip, mail merge zip codes, tech tip
BES vs BIS Blackberry Style!
Convert Everything for FREE!!!
Use Google right!
File Formats (extensions) 101: Part 3 of 3 – MEDIA files
Spring Clean Your IT - Part 3