Everything you need to know about mail merge is here -- from creating mail merge data sources from within your word processing software to using outside sources for your mail merge. Now is a great time to explore the options that this excellent feature offers.
Inserting the date as a field in your document will ensure that the date on the letters you send is always current. This feature is particularly useful for templates and mail merge documents.
Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn't provide a quick option for transferring data from your Word forms into Excel. It can be done quite easily, though, once you know how to do it.
Mail merge is one of the best features of word processing software. If you need to create numerous documents that are similar but require at least a modicum of personalization, learning to use the mail merge feature in Word will save you a lot of time.
You have numerous options when you create a data file for use in mail merge. It really can be overwhelming at times. If you need help deciding which program to use to create the data file, here’s some advice that will help you make a wise decision.
Proofing your documents is essential when you’re working with mail merge; you’ll want to pay particular attention to the inserted data. If you’re having trouble finding the data that has been inserted in your document, this tip will show you how to have Word highlight the fields for you.
As with any document you create, it is important to proofread your mail merge documents for errors. With mail merge, however, there are some mistakes that are easy to introduce into your document. Find out what to look for when you’re reviewing your work.
When you’re preparing a mail merge, it is a good idea to include the punctuation in the main document rather than including it in the merge field. If you will require different punctuation for different records, then you should read this work-around.
Is subject/verb agreement in mail merge giving you a headache? Here’s a startlingly simple tip that will provide a solution to your problem.
To cut down the editing time you need to spend on your finalized mail merge documents, Word includes an If...Then feature that will allow you to insert text in your document based on the contents of a mail merge field. This is particularly useful when you want to include text to take the place of a field that doesn't contain data.
Although Word gives you the option of personalizing documents created in mail merge after the data has been merged with the document, it makes more sense to personalize them before you complete the merge.
Puzzled why someone would use mail merge when they only need to create one document? It is a great idea, but there’s a catch…
The interoperability of Word and Excel takes a good thing and makes it even better. If you have Excel worksheets containing data such as names and addresses, you can use them to create personalized letters, invoices, or countless other documents. Can your work get any easier?
Getting the formatting right when you use an Excel data source for mail merge can be extremely frustrating. There are ways to correct the formatting by using switches in the field codes, but it can be a time-consuming and frustrating exercise. Fortunately, there is an easy way to circumvent the use of switches and still have your data appear as you would like it.
If you're using Excel as a data source and having difficulty getting your Word mail merge to display the correct number of decimal places, this tip is for you. Find out how to use a switch to specify how many decimal places to include in your finished document.
You created a mail merge data source in Word, but then you realize the data has a second purpose and you’d like to convert it to an Excel spreadsheet. Don’t despair, the solution is simple.
If you keep Outlook updated with all the pertinent information about your contacts, then you have a great data source to use in mail merge. Learn how to take advantage of it.
