Starting The Merge & Creating The Data Source
Merging appears to be much more complicated than it actually is. The important thing to remember about merging is that you are dealing with three documents: the data source (where you enter and store the data information), the main document (the letter or form into which you will place your data), and the final merged document. For this example, we will create a letter that needs to be sent to many people. The letter will be the main document, and the list of addresses will be the data source. Let’s begin!
  1. Open a blank document.
  2. Click on the dropdown arrow in the upper righthand corner of the Task Pane.
  3. Select the option Mail Merge.
  4. The Select Document Type - Mail Merge pane will appear.

  5. In the Select Document Type field, choose the option Letters.
  6. Click on the Step 1 of 6 - Next: Starting Document link at the bottom of the Task Pane.
  7. The Select Starting Document Mail Merge pane will appear.

  8. The pane will prompt you to choose how you want to set up your letter.
  9. Choose the option Use the Current Document
  10. Click on the Step 2 of 6 - Next: Select Recipients link at the bottom of the Task Pane.
  11. The Select Recipients Mail Merge pane will appear.

  12. In the Select Recipients field, enable the Type a New List option.
  13. Click on the Create link in the middle of the pane.
  14. The New Address List dialog will appear.

  15. Click on the Customize button.
  16. The Customize Address List dialog will appear.

  17. In the Field Names section, select a field you wish to remove.
  18. Click on the Delete button.
  19. Remove all useless field names.
  20. Click on the Add button if you want to add a new field.
  21. When your field names are ready, click on the OK button.
  22. You will return to the New Address List dialog.

  23. Complete all of the pertinent data fields for the first person.
  24. Click on the New Entry button to add another person.
  25. Continue entering your data in this manner.
  26. When you are done entering your data, click on the Close button
  27. The Save Address List dialog will appear.

  28. Navigate to the desired directory in the Save In field.
  29. Enter a name for your data source in the File Name field.
  30. Click on the Save button.
  31. The Mail Merge Recipients dialog will appear.

  32. You can edit and sort your entries from this dialog.
  33. When you have finished editing and sorting, click on the OK button.
  34. You will return to the Select Recipients Mail Merge pane.

  35. Click on the - Step 3 of 6 - Next: Write Your Letter link at the bottom of the Task Pane.
  36. You are now ready to setup your main document.

Click HERE to return to the Table of Contents.