Using MAILMERGE fields within HYPERLINK fields for Merge to Email

It appears that MAILMERGE fields within HYPERLINK fields are not updated like
MAILMERGE fields used elsewhere in a mail merge document as the merge is
being performed. Is this correct?

For instance, using the statement below within a document for Merge to Email
should, in theory, insert the value of the PONumber field for each record of
the data source into the mailto: hyperlink. If the HYPERLINK field is
manually updated using F9, the MERGEFIELD value is updated, the PONumber
value for the current record is incorporated into the hyperlink and the
hyperlink functions as expected, however, the MERGEFIELD value is not updated
when the Merge to Email sequences through each record.

{HYPERLINK "mailto "PONumber"}%20Already%20Paid" \o "Click here to send an email if you've
already paid"}

Is there a way to ensure that the MERGEFIELD within the HYPERLINK statement
is automatically updated when the Merge to Email sequences through the data
source records?

Thanks, Mark V

Sorry, failed to mention below that I'm running Word 2003 (11.5604.5703) and
Outlook 2003 (11.5608.5703) from Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003
on Windows XP Professional, SP1.

"Mark V" wrote:

It appears that MAILMERGE fields within HYPERLINK fields are not updated like
MAILMERGE fields used elsewhere in a mail merge document as the merge is
being performed. Is this correct?

For instance, using the statement below within a document for Merge to Email
should, in theory, insert the value of the PONumber field for each record of
the data source into the mailto: hyperlink. If the HYPERLINK field is
manually updated using F9, the MERGEFIELD value is updated, the PONumber
value for the current record is incorporated into the hyperlink and the
hyperlink functions as expected, however, the MERGEFIELD value is not updated
when the Merge to Email sequences through each record.

{HYPERLINK "mailto "PONumber"}%20Already%20Paid" \o "Click here to send an email if you've
already paid"}

Is there a way to ensure that the MERGEFIELD within the HYPERLINK statement
is automatically updated when the Merge to Email sequences through the data
source records?

Thanks, Mark V

Hi =?Utf-8?B?TWFyayBW?=,

The mail merge field embedded in the Hyperlink field does update. What does NOT
change is the display text for the Hyperlink field. The only way I've ever found
to get this to work is:
- set up the mail merge with everything except the hyperlink and test
- when you're all set, create the Hyperlink field but do NOT force a manual
update and do NOT toggle back to field results. Merge directly to a new
document.
- Ctrl+A, F9 to update the fields. The display text will be the hyperlink
path (there's no way to change this)

Now, since you want to send emails, you'll need to pull the result document
apart and email it, section by section. You'll find macro code for this on
word.mvps.org by Doug Robbins.

It appears that MAILMERGE fields within HYPERLINK fields are not updated like
MAILMERGE fields used elsewhere in a mail merge document as the merge is
being performed. Is this correct?

For instance, using the statement below within a document for Merge to Email
should, in theory, insert the value of the PONumber field for each record of
the data source into the mailto: hyperlink. If the HYPERLINK field is
manually updated using F9, the MERGEFIELD value is updated, the PONumber
value for the current record is incorporated into the hyperlink and the
hyperlink functions as expected, however, the MERGEFIELD value is not updated
when the Merge to Email sequences through each record.

{HYPERLINK "mailto "PONumber"}%20Already%20Paid" \o "Click here to send an email if you've
already paid"}

Is there a way to ensure that the MERGEFIELD within the HYPERLINK statement
is automatically updated when the Merge to Email sequences through the data
source records?


Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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