Mail Merge

• Mail Merge allows you to create a personalized mass mailing.
  • "Personalized" party invitations
  • addressing envelopes for a party invitation.
  • "Personalized" form letters.
• This is an interesting process which I feel leads to an interesting skill.
• A main document is created
  • This main document contains merge fields
• A data source is used to find values to fill in the merge fields.
• The data source can com from many places,
  • You can create one in the mail merge section
  • You can use an excel worksheet
  • You can merge from a data base
  • Or other sources...
• A unique document is created for each record in the data source.
• Much like the Hobbits making their way to Mordor, this process can be guided by a wizard.
  • A utility that assists in completing a task.
• Everything takes place on the MAILINGS tab.
  • Start the guided creation by selecting Step-by-Step Mail Merge Wizard...
  • 
• This will walk you through the creation of your mail merge document.
  • The Mail Merge Wizard appears on the right.
  • 
  • At any point, you can go back and forth between steps on the bottom right.
• Steps:
  • Identify the type of document you will be creating
  • Select a starting document.
    • You can select from many templates here as well as existing documents.
    • This would change if we were printing envelopes for example.
  • Select Recipients
    • This is where we bring in the database.
    • At this point you can select fields, sort and otherwise edit the recipient list.
  • Write the letter
    • This is where you will insert the merge fields.
    • Use the Insert Merge Field box
    • Place the field where you want the data values to be in the final document.
    • Don't' mess with the merge fields, they are special
    • 
    • When you finish, you will probably have many fields in this document.
    • 
  • Preview and make any corrections.
    • Use the buttons to step trough the letters.
    • 
    • You have potentially produced MANY documents, check them before you print them.
  • Finish the merge
    • At this point you have some options.
    • Print all letters
    • Or edit them.