Word displays the correct header names in the Mail Merge field list, but the FEEDBACK fields preview as blank — even though the cells contain text.

The issue you are experiencing with the Feedback fields merging as blank in Word for Mac, despite the cells containing text, may be related to how Word handles long text fields during mail merge operations. While the specific context does not provide a direct solution for this exact problem, it is known that Word can sometimes have difficulties with lengthy text entries from Excel, particularly if they exceed certain character limits or formatting constraints.

Here are a few suggestions that may help resolve the issue:

1. Shorten the Text: Try reducing the length of the text in the Feedback fields to see if shorter entries merge correctly.
2. Check Formatting: Ensure that the cells in Excel are formatted as plain text, as any special formatting might interfere with the merge.
3. Use DDE: Consider using Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) to connect to the Excel worksheet, as this method can sometimes help retain formatting and content better during the merge process.
4. Recreate the Merge: Sometimes, starting the mail merge process from scratch can resolve hidden issues. Create a new Word document and re-establish the mail merge connection to the Excel file.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to consult additional resources or support specific to Word for Mac and mail merge functionality.

References:

• Excel data doesn't retain its formatting in mail merge operations in Word

Hi @Charmin | Marketing Concierge

Thank you for posting your question in the Q&A Forum.

We understand that you are experiencing a situation where certain long text fields (such as Feedback) from your Excel workbook appear in Word’s Mail Merge field list but show blank in the merged output. We know this can be frustrating, especially when other fields merge correctly, which suggests the challenge may be related to how Word handles long text entries on macOS. 

This behavior is related to Word’s default connection method to Excel data sources, particularly when handling text that exceeds approximately 255 characters. While Microsoft has not officially confirmed a single fix for all scenarios, the following approaches have been found helpful in practice: 

Save the Excel file as CSV (Recommended First Step): 

• Save your Excel file as a Comma Separated Values (.csv) file. 
• Use the CSV file as the data source for Mail Merge. CSV files can sometimes allow Word to recognize and merge longer text without truncation. 

Format the Feedback column as Text in Excel: 

• Select the entire Feedback column(s) in Excel and set the cell format to Text. 
• Save and close the Excel file, then re-link the data source in Word. 

Split long text into multiple cells in Excel: 

• Use Excel functions such as LEFT() or MID() to divide long responses into smaller parts (each under approximately 255 characters). 
• Each smaller cell can then be merged individually into Word. 

These approaches are based on community experience and shared best practices. We suggest trying one or more of these steps and reviewing the merge results to see which works best in your environment. 

You might also find the following Microsoft support articles helpful if you’d like to explore more details: 

• How to use the Mail Merge feature in Word with Excel 
• Prepare your Excel data source for a Word mail merge (macOS section) 
• Mail merge using an Excel spreadsheet (macOS section) 

We also encourage you to share feedback directly with Microsoft regarding this behavior. Your input can help improve Word’s handling of long text fields in Mail Merge on macOS. Feedback can be submitted through Word by going to Help > Feedback > Send a Suggestion, or via the Microsoft Feedback Forum. 

We hope these suggestions are helpful, and we’d love to hear how it goes after trying these steps. Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or need clarification. 

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