When doing a mail merge, you need to take data from one source and put it into a document. A merge field relates to one particular item of data, such as a name, which will be in the merged document. The merge field will be placed in the appropriate place in the document, so in the case of the name, it could be after the "Dear" at the start of the letter. As each letter is printed a different name from the source data would be placed in that position, so that each letter is different as they are being sent to different individuals.
A word document
The default file name is usually the first paragraph/line to suggest one. For example if your name was in the top of the document that would be your document file.
The extension. It tells Windows what kind of a file it is. For example, a file with the ".doc" extension is a Microsoft Word Document.
In Microsoft Word, or any word processor, mail merge is one of the most powerful features. It enables you to create multiple versions of a letter or document, enabling users to create circulars which can be personalised. So a letter that you want to send to 100 different people, each with their own name on it, can be done by typing the letter just once, and put each different name into each letter. You merge the list of names with the letter to come up with multiple versions, saving you huge amounts of time.
One specific situation is called mail merge. You can type a letter in MS Word and automatically merge data (name, address, etc.) from MS Excel when you print the letters. That way you can send many (perhaps thousands) letters and each letter is personalized for each recipient.
Mail Merge Step by Step Instructions for the PC Page 1 of 4 1. Open Microsoft Word 2003. 2. Go to Tools > Letters and Mailings > Mail Merge... If the task pane was closed, it will open the Mail Merge task pane. Step 1: Select Document Type 1. Under Select document type, choose Letters. 2. Click on Next: Starting document at the bottom of the task pane Step 2: Starting document 1. Selecting Use the current document will allow you to start from the current document shown on the screen. 2. Click Next: Select recipients. Note that you can always go between steps by clicking on the Next and Previous links at the bottom of the task pane. Step 3: Select Recipients 1. Select Use an existing list. 2. To find an already existing file, click Browse... and navigate your way to the file. 3. If your data source is an Excel worksheet that has data on multiple tabs, you need to select the tab containing the data you want. Click OK. 4. All the entries in the data source will now appear in the Mail Merge Recipients window, where you can edit the list of recipients. Mail Merge Step by Step Instructions for the PC Page 2 of 4 5. In the Mail Merge Recipients window, select the recipients you want by checking the boxes next to the recipients. To sort the list, click the column heading of the item you want to sort by. To filter items in the list click the arrow next to the column heading of the item you want to filter by and select any of the following: 1. Blanks display all the records in which the corresponding field is blank. 2. Nonblanks display all the records in which the corresponding field contains information. If your data source contains records that share the same information, and there are ten or fewer unique values in the column, you can filter by specific information. 6. If the arrow next to any column heading is blue, that category is screening out names. To display all the recipients again, click and blue arrows and select All. 7. To check all names in your recipients list, click Select All. To uncheck all names, click Clear All. 8. Click OK to return to the Mail Merge Wizard. 9. To change the file click Select a different list... 10. To edit the list click on Edit recipient list... (data source) 11. Click on Next:Write your letter. Step 4: Write Your Letter 1. If you are creating a form letter, type the text that you want to appear in every form letter. Insert merge fields where you want to merge names, addresses, and other data from the data source (i.e. recipient list) by clicking anywhere you want in the main document to insert the field. Then click on More Items and insert individual field Click More items... Mail Merge Step by Step Instructions for the PC Page 3 of 4 1. Select one of the following: (a) Address Fields will allow you to select from address fields that will automatically map to corresponding fields in your data source, even if the data source's fields don't have the same name as your fields. (b) Database Fields will allow you to select from fields that always take data directly from a column in a database. 2. In the Fields window, click the field you want. 3. Click Insert, and then click Close. 4. If the Match Fields window appears, Microsoft Word may have been unable to find some of the information it needs to insert the field. Click the arrow next to not matched, and then select the field from your data source that corresponds to the field required for the mail merge. If you are creating a form letter, click Next: Preview your letters. Step 5: Preview your letters 1. To preview the items in order, click the arrows under the Preview your letters heading. Mail Merge Step by Step Instructions for the PC Page 4 of 4 2. To locate a specific item, click Find a recipient..., and then enter the criteria in the Find field. 3. To change the list of recipients, click Edit recipient list..., and make your changes in the Mail Merge Recipients window. 4. Click on Next: Complete the Merge at the bottom of the task pane Step 6: Complete the Merge 1. Click Edit individual letters... 2. In the Merge to New Document window, select the records you want to merge. 3. Click OK. 4. Microsoft Word will create new merged document. 5. To personalize individual documents, scroll to the information you want to edit, and make your changes. 6. Print or save the document just as you would any regular document. Step 7: Save the Merged Letters Under most circumstances, you do not need to save the merged document. It is simpler and more useful to save the main document and merge it again if you need another copy. Below are examples of times when you might wish to save the merged document: • You wish to keep an archived copy of mailings, including to whom they were sent. • You have personalized individual letters or labels within the merge, and want to save those changes. If you do wish to save the merged document, collect the merged files into a single document by clicking Edit individual letters. In the Merge to New Document window, select one of the following: • To merge all the documents, click All. • To merge only the document that you see in the document window, click Current record. • To merge a range of documents, click From, and then type the record numbers in the From and To boxes. Click OK. Microsoft Word will open one new document that contains all the individual letters. Save the document just as you would any regular document.
Mail merge is a facility of Microsoft's Word program, and other wordf processing applications. It allows the user to set up a form letter, with blank spaces in certain parts. The user then sets up a mini-database, or uses an existing database, to send a personalised copy of the letter to people in the database, with the blank spaces being filled by their particulars... the process adjusts the text of the letter so that even if the entry is extremely long, or extremely short, the recipient thinks that the letter is unique to them. It can also be used just to print address labels.
The fields will be shaded grey if you see the actual data or have double angle brackets with the field name enclosed like this: <<Name>>
Call Letters
There are total of 9 letters in this word.
The document will be stored as a wp document and you will have to give it a name to the document