Table-to-Text Conversion Inserts Comma Plus Space

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a

SYMPTOMS

In Word, if you convert a table to text and select the Commas separator option, the result includes a space after the comma. (To locate the separator options, select your table and choose "Convert Table to Text" from the Table menu.)

STATUS

In earlier versions of Word for Windows, a space after the comma causes problems when you try to use the delimited data for a print merge. By design, Word 6.0 mail merge accepts the comma-plus-space delimiter.

MORE INFORMATION

Although Word places a space after each comma delimiter during the table-to-text conversion, these extra spaces do not pose a problem in a Word 6.0 for Windows mail merge because Word ignores the extra spaces. When you convert the text back to a table, the spaces are eliminated and are no longer part of the fields.

If you prefer to convert your tables to text without the added space after the comma, choose the Other option under Separate Text With, type in a comma (or other separator character) and choose OK.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, p. 284-285