Examples of ASK and FILLIN fields

ASK and FILLIN fields display prompts so that you can add personal notes to clients or add other information that is not suitable to store in a data source. The prompt can be displayed each time a new data record is merged with the main document so that you can enter unique information for each resulting form letter or other merged document.

Insert a FILLIN field in the main document where you want to print your response to the prompt. An ASK field, on the other hand, uses a bookmark name to represent your response. To have Word print your response to an ASK field prompt, insert a bookmark field in the main document. You can insert the bookmark in multiple locations or use it in other fields, such as IF fields or = (Formula) fields. Insert the bookmark anywhere after the ASK field.

Example

This FILLIN field helps you fill in the correct information by displaying the patient name from the current data record; for example, "Please enter the appointment time for Patrick Martin." Insert an ASK or FILLIN field in the main document, and then insert the merge field in the field codes.

{ FILLIN "Please enter the appointment time for { MERGEFIELD PatientName }:"}

Example

The first ASK field includes the field switch \o, which is inserted if you select the Ask once check box in the Insert Word Field dialog box. The number you enter for CurrentRate is used in all of the resulting merged documents. The second prompt is displayed for each merged data record.

{ ASK CurrentRate "Enter the current lending rate:" \o }

{ ASK LoanRate "Enter the current loan rate for { MERGEFIELD ClientName }:" }

{ IF CurrentRate < LoanRate "You may want to consider refinancing your loan." " " }

Insert the ASK fields, and then insert the IF field in the main document. In the Insert Word Field dialog box, click a name in the Field name box as a temporary placeholder, and leave the Compare to box empty. In the IF field codes, replace the merge field with the CurrentRate bookmark. Type the name of the second bookmark between the quotation marks after the "<" symbol. If the second bookmark value contains only numbers, as in this example, delete the quotation marks.

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