Template Issues

How to Create Sequential Raffle Tickets with Mail Merge in Word

Phi Hung Vo Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to generate sequential numbering for a 5-ticket-per-page raffle ticket template, ensuring each sequence number is printed twice on the same ticket (e.g., on the stub and the main ticket body).

How to Create Sequential Raffle Tickets with Mail Merge in Word

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating custom numbered raffle tickets using the Mail Merge feature to produce 40 pages of tickets numbered 1 through 200.
Observed behavior: A standard mail merge label setup incorrectly advances the number on every field, failing to duplicate the sequence number on the same ticket before moving to the next ticket.

Before you start

Before beginning the mail merge process, open Excel and create a simple spreadsheet with one column containing the numbers 1 through 200 to serve as your data source.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Mail Merge with Adjusted Next Record Fields

By linking an Excel number list and strategically removing the Next Record command from the second column of your Word template, you can duplicate the number on each ticket while maintaining the overall sequence.

In a standard Label merge, Word automatically inserts a <<Next Record>> rule at the beginning of each new label block to advance the data. To print the same number on a ticket's stub and body, you must place the merge field twice but prevent Word from jumping to the next row of data until the next actual ticket layout.

Prepare the Data Source

Open Excel, create a header named 'TicketNumber' in cell A1, and fill cells A2 through A201 with the numbers 1 to 200. Save this workbook to your computer.

Set Up the Main Document

Open Word and create your raffle ticket template with five tickets per page. Go to the Mailings tab, click 'Select Recipients', choose 'Use an Existing List', and open your saved Excel file.

Insert Merge Fields

Click 'Insert Merge Field' and place the 'TicketNumber' field on the stub portion of your first ticket. Insert the exact same 'TicketNumber' field into the main body portion of that same ticket.

Configure the Next Record Rule

To ensure the next ticket gets a new number, click 'Rules' on the Mailings tab and select 'Next Record'. Place this rule at the very beginning of the SECOND ticket's layout. Repeat your 'TicketNumber' insertions for the rest of the tickets on the page, ensuring the <<Next Record>> tag only appears once per ticket.

Merge to New Document

Click 'Preview Results' to verify that the numbers duplicate on a single ticket (e.g., 1 and 1) but increment on the next (e.g., 2 and 2). Click 'Finish & Merge' and select 'Edit Individual Documents' to generate your final 40-page file.

Use Mail Merge with Adjusted Next Record Fields

Preventing Number Skips: By manually controlling the <<Next Record>> rule rather than using the default 'Update Labels' button, you guarantee that Word only pulls a new number when moving to a completely new ticket.

Advanced Document Processing

Easily Create Numbered Tickets with WPS Office

WPS Writer offers a highly intuitive Mail Merge tool that seamlessly integrates with WPS Spreadsheet data. You can easily manage Next Record fields to generate thousands of custom, double-numbered raffle tickets with full precision.

1. Open Data Source: Launch WPS Writer, navigate to the References tab, click 'Mail Merge', and select 'Open Data Source' to load your WPS Spreadsheet.
2. Insert Ticket Numbers: Use the 'Insert Merge Field' button to place your number variables exactly where you need them on the ticket stub and body.
3. Manage Merge Rules: Use the 'Insert Word Field' dropdown to add the 'Next Record' rule precisely at the start of the next ticket block.
4. Complete the Merge: Click 'Merge to New Document' to instantly generate all 40 pages of sequentially numbered tickets.

Completely free to use with comprehensive document editing featuresFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and Excel spreadsheetsIntegrated Spreadsheets and Writer environments for seamless Mail Merge operationsIntuitive graphical interface for inserting and managing advanced merge rules

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are the numbers skipping sequentially within the same ticket?

This happens if there is an unwanted <<Next Record>> field placed between the ticket stub and the main ticket body. Ensure the Next Record rule only appears once at the very beginning of each new ticket block.

Can I add leading zeros to my mail merge ticket numbers (e.g., 001 instead of 1)?

Yes. You can either format the numbers with leading zeros directly in your Excel data source by formatting the cells as Text, or you can add a numeric picture switch (such as \# "000") to the merge field code inside your Word document.

How do I quickly generate the numbers 1 to 200 in Excel?

Enter the number 1 in your first cell. Click on that cell, grab the Fill Handle (the small square at the bottom right corner), and hold the Ctrl key while dragging down to cell 200. Alternatively, use the 'Fill Series' tool in the Home tab.

Can I use the 'Labels' mail merge type instead of a standard document layout?

While the Labels feature automatically sets up grids and Next Record fields, it often updates every single label cell with a new number. For raffle tickets requiring duplicate numbers per row, a standard Directory or Letter merge with a manual table layout gives you the precise control needed.

Document & File Issues