WD2000: DMM: All Postal Codes Not Imported from Excel Worksheet

ID: Q228793


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 2000
  • Microsoft Direct Mail Manager for Windows


SYMPTOMS

When you import your address list contained in a Microsoft Excel worksheet, all of the postal codes (ZIP codes) may not be imported.


CAUSE

Direct Mail Manager (DMM) requires that numbers, such as postal codes, be formatted as text. DMM ignores numbers that are formatted as either General (default cell format in Excel) or Number in an Excel worksheet.


RESOLUTION

Use one of the following methods to correct this problem:

Method 1: Format the Postal Code Column as Text

  1. In Excel, open the worksheet that contains your address list.

    NOTE: If you receive the following error message when you attempt to open your address list, close Direct Mail Manager and try again.


  2. Cannot access '<filename>.xls'
  3. Select the column that contains the postal code.


  4. On the Format menu, click Cells.


  5. On the Number tab, under Category, select Text and then click OK.


  6. Save and close your Excel worksheet.


Method 2: Add an Apostrophe Before the Postal Code

Add an apostrophe as the first character of the postal code, as in the following example:

'98052-6399

When you add the apostrophe at the start of a cell, Excel automatically marks that cell as a Text/Label cell and not as a General or Number format cell.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbdta kbdmm wd2000
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: May 13, 1999
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