The Next field instructs Word to merge the next data record into the current merged document, rather than starting a new merged document. Use the Next field to print a specific number of data records in a single merged document.
If your goal is to list information from several data records in the same document, such as a membership directory or a price list, don't use the Next field. Instead, select Directory as the main document type when you start the mail merge.
Notes:
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Word automatically inserts this field when you set up a sheet of mailing labels as the main document during a mail merge.
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Next fields cannot be used in footnotes, endnotes, annotations, headers, footers, or data sources. A Next field cannot be nested within any other field or used with the SkipIf field.
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Insert a Next field after the first set of merge (MergeField) fields in the main document; otherwise, Word skips merging the first data record.
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Repeat the set of merge fields and the Next field in the main document only the number of times that it takes to fill one page or to print the number of data records that you want.
Syntax
When you view the Next field in your document, the syntax looks like this:
{ NEXT }
Note: A field code tells the field what to show. Field results are what’s shown in the document after having evaluated the field code. To toggle between viewing the field code and the field code results, press Alt+F9.
Instructions
You can use the Next field in a document or as part of a mail merge.
To use the Next field in a document, do the following:
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On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Quick Parts, and then click Field.
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In the Field names list, select Next.
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Click OK.
To use the Next field as part of a mail merge, while you are setting up the mail merge, do the following:
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On the Mailings tab, in the Write & Insert Fields group, click Rules, and then click Next Record.
Example
The following example uses a Next field to advise recipients of the starting time of an appointment that follows their own.
Your appointment is from { MERGEFIELD "AppointmentStartTime" } to { MERGEFIELD "AppointmentEndTime" }. Your advisor has another appointment that begins promptly at { NEXT }{ MERGEFIELD "AppointmentStartTime" }, so please plan your time accordingly.
If the data source for this merge is sorted by AppointmentStartTime in ascending order, the resulting document looks like this:
Your appointment is from 10:00 to 10:55. Your advisor has another appointment that begins promptly at 11:00, so please plan your time accordingly.
