Print Merge Error Message: Syntax Error in Field Condition

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SUMMARY

In Word for Windows, the following error messages occur during a print merge operation if a condition is missing from a NEXTIF, IF, or SKIPIF field or if the field does not contain proper spacing:

   There is a syntax error in a field condition.

   Syntax error in field condition.

MORE INFORMATION

Use NEXTIF, IF, and SKIPIF fields in a print merge main document to specify the conditions under which a record should be merged. In the following example, Word for Windows only merges records if the ZIP field contains "98008:"

   {NEXTIF zip = 98008}
   {name}
   {street}
   {city}, {state} {zip}

Missing Condition

Switch to field codes view and verify that each NEXTIF, IF, and SKIPIF field in the document contains a condition. If you do not specify a condition, the error messages occur and the print merge operation stops.

The following example demonstrates an incorrectly used NEXTIF field:

   {NEXTIF zip}

   {NEXTIF zip = 98008}

Incorrect Spacing

The error messages occur if the spacing in any NEXTIF, IF, or SKIPIF field is incorrect. Each field must contain a space between each expression and the operator. In the following example, there must be a space between "NEXTIF" and "zip", between "zip" and "=" and between "=" and "98008":

   {NEXTIF zip = 98008}

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 640-641, 753

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Reference," version 1.x, pages 199, 424