Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 109375
Mail merge data preview fails on first "Next Record" field
Last modified: 2014-03-24 18:48:26 UTC
0) Use Version 3.1 oder 3.2(RC5) on Linux or Windows, the results are the same. The screenshots were made on a German version, so I cannot provide the exact EN UI terms, but will give a generic translation in brackets. 1) Create a new spreadsheet with data to be merged (2 columns, some records) like that: Number Numeral 1 one 2 two 3 three (and so on). Save it as "merge-data.ods". 2) Create an empty writer document, save it as "merge-layout.odt"; it should default to an "A4 portrait orientation" page layout. 3) Start "Extras"[Tools]/"Serienbrief-Assistent"[mail merge wizard] 4) Choose its first option (to use current document) 5) "proceed >" 6) Choose first document type "Brief"[letter] 7) "proceed >" 8) In the 3rd dialog, press "1. Adressenliste auswaehlen..." [select address list] "Hinzufuegen..." [add...] and navigate to the spreadsheet created above at step (1), then deselect the second option field to add an address block. 9) "proceed >" 10) In the 4th dialog, deselect the first option to insert a salutation. 11) "proceed >" will take you to the 6th dialog 12) Choose "Dokument bearbeiten" [edit the document] 13) Press F4 to open "Datenquellen" [data sources]; "Sheet1" will be displayed 14) drag the two column heads ("Number" and "Numeral" in the sample attached) into the empty document and write the word " is " between them 15) Make the paragraph centered, raise fontsize to 44, define an extra 8 cm distance above the paragraph 16) Duplicate this single paragraph by copy and paste. - Now we have a layout like we'd like to print A5 handouts on A4 paper, labels or something else that needs more than one record per page. - 17) Return to the mail merge wizard, use its navigation buttons at step "6. Dokument vorbereiten" [prepare document] to browse through the records: You will see same data in both paragraphs - that's correct so far. Now lets demonstrate the bug: 18) Choose "Dokument bearbeiten" [edit the document] again. 19) Place the cursor at the ende of the FIRST paragraph (i.e. between the second field and the paragraph symbol) 20) Choose "Einfuegen[Insert]/Feldbefehl[command field]/Andere...[Other...],Datenbank[database],Naechster Datensatz[next record]" and press "Einfuegen" [Insert]. 20a) Optionally: Press Ctrl+F9 to verify that a "Next record" field actually has been inserted, and press Ctrl+F9 again. 21) Return to the wizard as in (17) and browse through the records: You will notice that only the first paragraph's fields are updated with sample data, while the second (more general: every field beneath the first "next record" instruction ) paragraph's fields always remain empty. Furthermore, while browsing in our 2-records-on-a-page-example should display only odd values on the first paragraph, every second preview isn't realistic, at least if you will create your merge without an offset (but then the even values on top of the pages were wrong). If you finally generate your merge with step 7 of the wizard, the resulting document will be correct, but the misleading browsing experience and incomplete rendering of field preview unnecessarily devaluates a data preview. Related issues I've found: 26878 - mail merge: see values in current document (NEW) 77724 - Create a mail merge toolbar (NEW) 20057 - Q-PCD Improve usability of Mail Merge (CLOSED,FIXED)
Created attachment 67881 [details] sample merge data
Created attachment 67882 [details] sample merge layout
Created attachment 67883 [details] Compilation of screenshots to point out the issue
The "next record" field is only of value when you select more than one record in the Database browser (F4) and merge it via the "merge field" button in the database toolbar. The "next record" is not for use with mail merge where only one record at a time is processed.
Closed.
Thanks mru, this really is a interesting point ... especially when you consider the fact, that it works - though not intended by the developers, as I now see - when it comes to the actual merging process! Because of this AND because I got familiar with the "NEXT RECORD" functionality from some other office suite ,-) AND considering the fact that I'm surely not the only one moving to OOo with this background, I may modestly ask to change my posting's state from DEFECT to FEATURE REQUEST. Summarized in short: just make the preview show up what the real merge will do, as this is the most inherent feature of a preview.
Reassigned to requirements.
Confirmed with AOO410m14(Build:9760) - Rev. 1573062 2014-03-01_04:11:01 - Rev. 1573123 Debian