The MergeSeq field numbers each merged record in a mail merge. This number is not visible until you finish the merge. The number may be different from the value that is inserted by the MergeReq field.
You can use the MergeSeq field to count the number of records in your merged document. For example, the last record in a batch of form letters displays the total number of letters. You can use this total to calculate the cost of postage.
Syntax
When you view the MergeSeq field in your document, the syntax looks like this:
{ MERGESEQ }
Note: A field code tells the field what to show. Field results are what’s shown in the document after having evaluated the field code. To toggle between viewing the field code and the field code results, press Alt+F9.
Instructions
You can use the MergeSeq field in a document or as part of a mail merge.
To use the MergeSeq field in a document, do the following:
-
On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Quick Parts, and then click Field.
-
In the Field names list, select MergeSeq.
-
Click OK.
To use the MergeSeq field as part of a mail merge, while you are setting up the mail merge, do the following:
-
On the Mailings tab, in the Write & Insert Fields group, click Rules, and then click Merge Sequence #.
Example
Suppose that you add both a MergeReq field and a MergeSeq field to your main document in a mail merge. You filter a data source of 150 records down to a recipient list of 25 names. In this case, the MergeReq values and the MergeSeq values will both range from 1 to 25. If you remove two recipients from the merge by clearing the check box next to their names in the Mail Merge Recipients dialog box (Edit Recipient List button in the Start Mail Merge group on the Mailings tab), the MergeReq values still range from 1 to 25, with two values missing, because the data source for the merge still consists of 25 records. However, in this case, the MergeSeq values will now range from 1 to 23 because only 23 records are being merged.
Note: Values in the MergeSeq field are not visible in a merged document until you complete the merge.
