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Microsoft Word 2008

Mail Merge: Using an Excel Database for Mail Merge

In addition to the features and functions of Excel that make your database useful, you can also use the database to merge information into Word for large mailings. This means that you will not have to duplicate information you already have in your Excel database to perform a mail merge.

These instructions assume that you have an understanding of the Word mail merge process.

WARNING: The field names of your Excel database must begin in the upper-left corner of your worksheet, cell A1 (the first row and column).

Navigating to your Excel data document is similar to selecting a Word data document.

1. Open a blank Word document

2. From the Tools menu, select Mail Merge Manager
   The Mail Merge Manager appears.

3. In the Select Document Type section, from the Create New pull-down menu, select Form Letters

4. In the Select Recipients List section, from the Get List pull-down menu, select Open Data Source...
   The Choose a Data file dialog box appears.

5. Locate and select the Excel workbook you will use for your list

6. Click OPEN
   The Open Workbook dialog box appears.
   

7. If your Excel workbook has multiple worksheets, from the Open Document in Workbook pull-down menu, select the worksheet containing your data

8. Click OK

9. If you have not already done so, write your letter

10. To insert merge fields from the Mail Merge Manager,
    1. In the Insert Placeholders section, select the Contacts tab
       

    2. Click and drag a field to the desired location in your document

11. To insert conditional statements from the Mail Merge Manager,
    1. In the Insert Placeholders section, select the More tab

    2. Click and drag a field to the desired location in your document

12. To preview your merged document, from the Mail Merge Manager, in the Preview Results section, click VIEW MERGED DATA
    A preview of your first recipient appears.
    NOTE: For more information on editing the recipients' information, refer to Working with the Data Source.

13. To print the letters, from the Mail Merge Manager, in the Complete Merge section,
    1. Click MERGE TO PRINTER
       The Print dialog box appears.
    2. Make the appropriate selections

    3. Click PRINT

14. To save the merged letters as a separate file, from the Data Merge Manager, in the Merge section,
    1. Click MERGE TO NEW DOCUMENT
       NOTES:
       The merged letters appear in a new, unsaved document.
       Each letter is separated by a section break.
    2. Make any desired changes in the new document

    3. Save the new document