Formatting Word Merge Fields with Picture Switches

Format merge data Word fields with picture switches or appearance parameters. Word provides several formatting switches (also called picture switches or appearance parameters) that affect the appearance of your merged data. This is invaluable, particularly for numbers and dates. You can use the Template Builder to add these picture switches to your merge fields so the merged data is correctly formatted in your output file.

You can use picture switches to format:

• Date Values
• Number Values
• Numbers as Text

You can manually add a picture switch to your field by simply typing it into your merge field in Word.

1. Click after the merge field name, but inside of the double curly braces.
2. Type a space and then type your picture switch.
   
   Example: {{ACCOUNT_CREATEDDATE \@ MM/dd/yy}}



To ensure that your data looks consistent in merged output, manually add a picture switch to all date and number fields.