[Solved+Issue] Footnote numbering in mailmerge doesn't reset

[vilandre]

I have a four page document with 3 footnotes on page 4. When I create a mailmerge file from more than one record, the footnote numbering doesn't reset after each record.
The document for the first recipient correctly numbers the footnotes 1,2,3. However the document for the second recipient gets footnotes numbered 4,5,6, for the third recipient the footnote numbering is 7,8,9 and so on. Page numbering gets reset properly for each new record. Field names from the database are correctly sequenced. It's just the footnote numbers that don't reset. What am I missing?

p.s. I am using OpenOffice 4.1.1 on XP

[John_Ha]

Can I suggest you check the Writer Manual especially Chapter 3. When I searched it there were 70 occurrences of footnote and one will probably give you what you need to know. See also Mail Merge in Chapter 11 - does the Cross References tab in Fig 307 help?

Alternatively, upload a small example odt file with the problem and someone can have a look at it.

As a workaround, don't use proper footnotes. Put superscript numbers in the text, and create paragraphs for each footnote.

If this solves the problem, please edit your original post title to [Solved].

[acknak]

I see the same problem here. In fact it has been reported already:
Issue 103045: Mail merge increments footnotes numbering
You can register there and add your vote (up to two) or comment.

However, it seems that the report has been closed for lack of information. I'll look into getting it re-opened.

The numbering is correct if you send the merge output to separate documents. Not exactly practical if you need printed output.

JohnHa's suggestion to handle the notes manually may be the simplest workaround. Or, avoid the notes altogether.

Edit: PS:

A better workaround if all the footnotes are on the same page:
perform the merge, send the output to a single document.
Open the output document, Tools > Footnotes/Endnotes > Footnotes > Autonumbering > Number: per page; OK

Now you can print or export to pdf and have the numbering reset as expected.

[vilandre]

Thank you, acknak, for the useful workaround of writing the merged output to a single file, then opening the output file in Writer and setting the numbering to "per page".
That does the job. Following your post, I also tried using the same technique on the original file before doing the merge, but as you found, that doesn't solve the problem.
I hadn't known that there was a Footnote/Endnote entry in the Tools menu; now I do. It might be useful if the options available in that menu also came up when selecting the Footnote/Endnote option from the Insert menu, especially if the problem is eventually fixed