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Applies To: Word for Office 365 for Mac Word 2016 for Mac
When you have bulk mail to send to people on your mailing list, you can use mail merge to create a batch of personalized letters. Each letter that is produced has identical layout, formatting, text, and graphics. Only specific sections of the letter vary and are personalized.
There are three files involved in creating and printing letters using the mail merge process:
Your main document This document contains text and graphics (a logo or image, for example) that are identical for each version of the merged document. The body of the letter is an example of identical content.
Your mailing list This document contains the data that is used to populate information in the letter. Your mailing list has names, for example, and your main document is the letter that will be addressed to the names in your list.
Your merged document This document is a combination of the main document and the mailing list. Mail merge pulls information from the mailing list and puts it in your main document, resulting in a personalized for each person.
Follow the steps below to create and print personalized letters using mail merge.
Step 1: Prepare the main document
Before you begin the mail merge, prepare your letter. If you’re letting people know about an upcoming event, for example, include the name, date, time, and location of the event. It’s those details that would be important to all recipients of your letter.
In Word, type the body of the letter you want to send to everyone.
Step 2: Set up your mailing list
Tips
If you don’t have a mailing list, you can create one during mail merge. Before you start the mail merge process, collect all of your data records, and add them to your data source.
If you want to use your Outlook contacts, make sure Outlook is your default email program. To do this, open Apple Mail, and on the Mail menu, choose Preferences. On the General tab, next to Default email reader, select Microsoft Outlook
You can also use your Apple contacts, make sure Apple mail is your default mail program.
Use FileMake pro database as your datasource for mail merge.
Step 3. Link your mailing list to your main document
On the Mailings tab, choose Select Recipients, and then choose an option.
If you selected Create a New List, follow these steps:
In the Edit List Fields dialog box, Word automatically creates fields for some basic information, such as first name, last name, and address. If you want to add a new field-for example, a message field-add it now, so you can fill it in when you type the entries. Under New field name, type the name of the field you want to add and then choose the plus sign (+).
Tip: To change the order of the fields, select the field you want to move, and then use the up or down arrows to move the field where you want in the list.
When all of the fields are set up the way you want them, choose Create to create the list.
If you selected Use an Existing List, follow these steps:
Browse to the file you want to use and choose Open.
If you selected Choose from Outlook Contacts or Apple Contacts, follow these steps:
Choose Filter Recipients to select the recipients you want to include.
For Outlook contacts, in the Query Options dialog box, next to List mail merge recipients by, select Complete record. In the list of contacts, select the contacts you want to send bulk mail, and then choose OK.
For Apple contacts, in the Query Options dialog box, under Apple Group Contacts, choose the group you want send bulk mail and then choose OK.
For FileMaker Pro Database, choose the database file in the Choose a FileMaker Pro Database to use as a Data Source dialog box and choose Open
Step 4: Add personalized content to your letter
On the Mailings tab, choose Insert Merge Field and select the field you want to add.
Continue adding fields until you’ve added all the information you want on your letter.
Format the fields in the letter so it looks the way you want the rest of your envelopes to look. For example, include a space between First and Last name fields and press Return to start a new line for the Address field.
Tip: To sort your recipient list or remove recipients, on the Mailings tab, choose Filter Recipients, and then choose Sort Records or Filter Records. When you’re done, choose OK.
Step 5: Preview and print the letters
On the Mailings tab, choose Preview Results to see how your letter look. Use the left and right arrows on the Mailings tab, to scroll through each letter.
To make additional formatting changes, choose Preview Results again, which lets you add or remove merge fields.
Step 6: Save your personalized letter
When you save the mail merge document, it stays connected to your mailing list so that you can use it for your next bulk mailing.
To reuse your mail merge document To change addresses in mail merge document
This article was originally published here.
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