Unlinking fields

Question

I automate a merge from msaccess to a word template. The template has :

• {mergefield} codes for data fields in the msaccess database
• {includetext} fields for subdocuments that plug into the tempate
• {seq} codes for numbered lists.

When the merge completes, my vba code currently unlinks all fields so that the {mergefield} codes and {includetext) docs are no longer linked to the resulting Word document.  However, I do not want to unlink the {seq} fields.  The user may wish to add/delete lists/items from the resulting document, and of course, I don't want them to lose the feature of the auto re-numbering sequences.

I am currently using these commands to unlink all fields in the document. However, I don't want to unlink {seq} fields:

       Selection.wholeStory

       Selection.Fields.unlink

How can I keep word from unlinking the {seq} fields, while still unlinking the {mergefield} and {includetxt} fields?

Answer 1

You don't need any VBA code for this! Simply embed your INCLUDETEXT field in a QUOTE field. For example:

{QUOTE{INCLUDETEXT C:\Path\Filename}}

Answer 2

As you do not want to unlink the SEQ fields, Charles' code should have been:

Sub SomeFieldsUnlinkAllStory()

'   Written by Charles Kyle Kenyon 30 October 2018

'   help from Jezebel

'   All Story Date Field Unlinker

    Dim oField As Field

    Dim oStory As range

'    On Error Resume Next

    For Each oStory In ActiveDocument.StoryRanges

    ' This goes into headers and footers as well as the regular document

        Do

            For Each oField In oStory.Fields

                If oField.Type = wdFieldMergeField Or oField.type = wdFieldIncludeText Then

                    oField.Unlink

                End If

            Next oField

            Set oStory = oStory.NextStoryRange

        Loop Until oStory Is Nothing

    Next oStory

End Sub

Of course, if your code was actually executing the merge, there would be no need to unlink the merge fields.

Answer 3

Anything inside a QUOTE field will be unlinked during the merge; likewise if you use an IF field.

Answer 4

Hi Paul,

Does that rely on the merge actually being executed, which is probably not the case as it appears that there is a need to unlink the MergeFields?

Answer 5

Hi Karen,

First, your macro will not reach all fields.

Here is one that should do what you want.

Sub SomeFieldsUnlinkAllStory()
'   Written by Charles Kyle Kenyon 30 October 2018
'   help from Jezebel
'   All Story Date Field Unlinker
    Dim oField As Field
    Dim oStory As range
'    On Error Resume Next
    For Each oStory In ActiveDocument.StoryRanges
    ' This goes into headers and footers as well as the regular document
        Do
            For Each oField In oStory.Fields
                If oField.Type = wdFieldMergeField Then
                    oField.Unlink
                End If
                If oField.Type = wdFieldSequence Then
                    oField.Unlink
                End If
            Next oField
            Set oStory = oStory.NextStoryRange
        Loop Until oStory Is Nothing
    Next oStory
End Sub

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if you have any more questions or require further help.

Regards