Purpose:
This article explains how to identify and resolve issues with Microsoft Word merge fields that cause incorrect or missing information in generated PDFs.

Issue:
Some fields in your PDF don’t display the expected information, even though the template appears correct.

Cause:
Microsoft Word merge fields contain hidden field codes that control what appears in the PDF. If these codes differ from the visible text—especially after manual edits—the PDF output may be incorrect.

Solution:
Follow these steps to inspect and fix merge field codes:

1. Reveal hidden field codes
   • Right-click the merge field and select Toggle Field Codes.
   • This reveals the hidden code. Right-click again to return to the normal view.
2. Edit and update the field
   • If you need to change the hidden code, make your edits.
   • Then, right-click the field and choose Update Field to apply the changes.
3. Toggle all field codes at once
   • Press Ctrl+A to select the entire document.
   • Press Shift+F9 to toggle all field codes on or off.
   • This helps you spot inconsistencies across multiple fields, including those in tables.
4. Delete a merge field properly
   • Place your cursor to the right of the merge field.
   • Press Backspace once to select it.
   • Press Backspace again to delete it.