diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/datamerge.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/datamerge.rs
index e03da2d05..c57d507fb 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/datamerge.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/datamerge.rs
@@ -485,7 +485,9 @@ fn add_placeholder(d: &mut Document, sel: &mut Selection, p: &Value, name: &str)
     } else if explicit_story || role_param == Some("text") {
         false
     } else if role_param == Some("qr") {
-        true
+        // A QR role with the insertion point in text is refused below rather than bound to a
+        // selected frame the caret is not in.
+        sel.text.is_none()
     } else if role_param == Some("image") {
         // An image role with the insertion point in text places an inline image there.
         sel.text.is_none()
@@ -585,6 +587,11 @@ fn add_placeholder(d: &mut Document, sel: &mut Selection, p: &Value, name: &str)
                 st.replace(at..at, &marker);
             }
             d.adjust_text_ranges(story, at..at, marker.len());
+            // The caret moves past the field, as after typing, so the next field goes after it.
+            if let Some(t) = sel.text.as_mut().filter(|t| t.story == story && t.cell.is_none()) {
+                let shift = |pos: usize| if pos >= at { pos + marker.len() } else { pos };
+                (t.anchor, t.focus) = (shift(t.anchor), shift(t.focus));
+            }
             PlaceholderAnchor::Text { story, start: at, end: at.saturating_add(marker.len()) }
         } else {
             let text = d.story(story).map(|st| st.text.clone()).unwrap_or_default();
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/datamerge/tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/datamerge/tests.rs
index 5f5c4a118..9180964c2 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/datamerge/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/datamerge/tests.rs
@@ -831,6 +831,44 @@ fn a_qr_field_at_the_insertion_point_is_refused() {
     assert!(s.documents()[0].doc.data_merge.placeholders.is_empty());
 }
 
+/// An explicit QR role at a text insertion point is refused too, rather than binding the QR code
+/// to a selected frame the caret is not in.
+#[test]
+fn an_explicit_qr_role_at_the_insertion_point_is_refused() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    new_doc(&mut s, 1);
+    select_csv(&mut s, "Name,#Code\nAda,hello\n");
+    let made = text_frame(&mut s, [36.0, 36.0, 300.0, 300.0], "Hi ", None);
+    let other = text_frame(&mut s, [36.0, 400.0, 300.0, 600.0], "", None);
+    let other_id = designcraft_doc::ItemId(other["id"].as_u64().unwrap());
+    let sid = StoryId(made["story"].as_u64().unwrap());
+    let doc = s.doc_mut().unwrap();
+    doc.selection = Selection::text(TextSel { story: sid, anchor: 3, focus: 3, frame: None, cell: None });
+    doc.selection.items = vec![other_id];
+    let msg = err(&mut s, "data.placeholder.add", json!({"field": "Code", "role": "qr"}));
+    assert!(msg.contains("bind to a frame"), "{msg}");
+    let doc = &s.documents()[0].doc;
+    assert!(doc.data_merge.placeholders.is_empty());
+    assert_eq!(doc.item(other_id).unwrap().label, "", "the other frame is not bound");
+}
+
+/// Fields inserted one after another at the insertion point keep their order: the caret moves
+/// past each marker, as after typing.
+#[test]
+fn fields_inserted_at_the_insertion_point_keep_their_order() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    new_doc(&mut s, 1);
+    select_csv(&mut s, "Name,City,@Photo\nAda,Paris,/x.png\n");
+    let made = text_frame(&mut s, [36.0, 36.0, 300.0, 300.0], "Hi ", None);
+    exec(&mut s, "text.select", json!({"story": made["story"], "anchor": 3, "focus": 3}));
+    exec(&mut s, "data.placeholder.add", json!({"field": "Name", "role": "text"}));
+    exec(&mut s, "data.placeholder.add", json!({"field": "City", "role": "text"}));
+    exec(&mut s, "data.placeholder.add", json!({"field": "Photo"}));
+    assert_eq!(texts(&s), vec!["Hi <<Name>><<City>><<Photo>>".to_string()]);
+    let t = s.documents()[0].selection.text.unwrap();
+    assert_eq!((t.anchor, t.focus), (28, 28));
+}
+
 /// A typed `<<name>>` marker for an image column places the image too, from an absolute path;
 /// an explicit text role still writes the path as text.
 #[test]
diff --git a/docs/agents.md b/docs/agents.md
index b2ec4c156..8058510e6 100644
--- a/docs/agents.md
+++ b/docs/agents.md
@@ -91,8 +91,9 @@ external PDF/X certification.
 marks text or a frame as a field (`role`: text, image, qr, hyperlink). An image field (a `@` column) inserted at a text
 insertion point, or typed there as `<<name>>`, merges as an inline image at its natural size, scaled down to fit the
 frame. The merge writes only text into a table cell or a note: an image field inserted there is refused unless `role`
-is `text`, and its `<<name>>` marker, inserted or typed, merges as the path. A QR field (a `#` column) inserted at a
-text insertion point is refused; bind it to a frame instead. An image
+is `text`, and its `<<name>>` marker, inserted or typed, merges as the path. A QR field (a `#` column) or `role: "qr"`
+at a text insertion point is refused; bind it to a frame with `item` instead. A field inserted at the insertion point
+puts the caret after its marker. An image
 path is absolute or relative to the data file's folder, then the document's; a path that starts with one separator
 (`\Photos\a.jpg`) is tried from the drive's root first. `data.options` sets records, tiling and image fitting;
 `data.preview {record}` / `data.preview.stop` show one record without saving it.