Insert variable hyperlinks with variable displayed text in mail merge

Question

Hello,

I need to do a merge mail with some hundred recipients but I have a problem that I could not solve by searching in different platforms for a solution:

I need to insert variable hyperlinks to the document displaying a variable text for each recipient. I am using an excel document to insert the data.

Example:

Displayed Text: Ticketcode1

Hyperlink: www.123.de

I do know some basic stuff about macros, etc  but nothing too deep... It would be so nice if anyone can help me with this shortly!

Thanks a lot! :)

Answer 1

Hi Paul,

I haven't tried it, but the method in the following link supposedly allows you to have variable display text for each record:

http://help.lockergnome.com/office/Active-hyperlinks-mail-merge--ftopict1007679.html

--
Hope this helps.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP,
Email: dkr[atsymbol]mvps[dot]org
Posted via the Community Bridge

"macropod [MVP]" wrote

You can't have variable display text for mailmerge hyperlinks, but you can have a constant display text with variable hyerlink destinations.

Answer 2

First of all: Thanks Doug, this is a great help and it does work for me!

As for macropod: In Word 2010 it works without a problem if you do as is said in the description and after merging to a new document prest ctrl-a to select everything and then update with F9 the hyperlink changes to the one matching the displayed text!

Answer 3

I haven't tried it, but the method in the following link supposedly allows you to have variable display text for each record:

http://help.lockergnome.com/office/Active-hyperlinks-mail-merge--ftopict1007679.html.

Hi Doug,

While it seems the technique does allow you to vary the display text in Word 2007 & later, my testing with Word 2010 shows that it locks you into a single url for all records (ie steps 4-8 don't seem to work as claimed). I've found it also doesn't work at all with Word 2003 & earlier - the hyperlinks are lost and only the unformatted display text remains. My solution varies the url but allows the user to choose the common display text - and it works with all Word versions.

Answer 4

Hi Lisaeck,

You can't have variable display text for mailmerge hyperlinks, but you can have a constant display text with variable hyerlink destinations.

By default, if you insert a mailmerge field into a hyperlink field, the hyperlinks will all show the first record’s address as the 'Text to display' text. Here's how you can do get a mailmerge to display your preferred default 'Text to display' text instead:

1. Disregarding mergefield issues for the moment, insert a hyperlink into the document in the normal way, choosing whatever 'Click Here' text you want in the 'Text to display' box.
2. Select the inserted hyperlink and press Shift-F9 to expose its field code
3. Replace everything in the field after 'HYPERLINK' with your mergefield.

Answer 5

If the text of the hyperlink is there, but it does not appear as a hyperlink, run a macro that contains

Sub ApplyHyperlinks()
ActiveDocument.Range.AutoFormat
End Sub

You may also want to take a look at the following articles:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/912679

and/or

http://help.lockergnome.com/office/Active-hyperlinks-mail-merge--ftopict1007679.html

--
Hope this helps.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP,
Email: dkr[atsymbol]mvps[dot]org
Posted via the Community Bridge

"Lisaeck" wrote I need to insert variable hyperlinks to the document displaying a variable text for each recipient. I am using an excel document to insert the data.