Mail Merge
Learning Objectives: At the end of this topic you should be able to: define the term mail merge, describe the steps involved in performing the mail merge process, describe the advantages & disadvantages of using mail merge;
What is Mail Merge? The process of using: a standard document ….. created in a word processing (or DTP package) combined with information from a data source ….. usually held in a spreadsheet or database names, addresses .... to create a personalised copy of a document to be sent to many different people examples: letters, address labels, school reports, ….
Mail Merge: The Documents
Mail Merge Completed
Mail Merge process create data source create document as a spreadsheet or database create document letter, address label …. link data source to document insert merge fields from the data source where the data from the data source is to be inserted e.g. Dear <title> <surname> will become Dear Mr Hunter check merge fields with data preview complete merge to printer or multiple documents
The Advantages of Mail Merge: speeds up creation very quick to produce multiple copies of ..... allows other work to be done in same time single data source can be used does not require it to be created specially ensures consistency standard document less likely to have errors only needs to be checked once can select individuals to receive material by using field codes (IF, NEXT, SKIPIF, ....)
The Disadvantages of Mail Merge: mail merged letters can lack a personal touch because the only individual part in a mail merged document is the data merged from the database. can take a long time to set up initially may not be worth it for a one-off job can create vast amounts of junk mail annoys recipients self-defeating (mailshots not read)?