Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 21

Thread: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

  1. #1
    Registered User Clive Long's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    London-innit
    Posts
    1,467
    Rep Power
    11

    MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Hi all,

    I have known about mail merge for yonks but never used it

    Situation. A friend (that's 3 now) has her contacts in Outlook. We have successfully used the MS-Word Mail merge wizard to create a document template with fields to receive data from a filtered outlook contact list. The result can only be output to a printer. We want to produce separate word documents and send as an email attachments. I have used PDF995 as a cheap Adobe Acrobat to generate file output. However, the printer driver produces a single PDF file whereas I really want a separate file for each resulting document. Can I get the mail merge wizard to produce separate files?

    Further, are there any third party outlook add-ins that allow one to produce multiple outlook messages directly rather than using ms-word as the target for the mail merge? I am guessing that mail merge is a function of word so this approach is not viable?

    Clive

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    surrey
    Posts
    251
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    When I had to do this I wrote some vb code (you can probably do it in vba in word, not sure) - I looped through the database, did the mailmerge for the record and attached attached it to an email using the MAPI control.

  3. #3
    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Glasgow
    Posts
    10,015
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Do I hear a whoosh???
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

  4. #4
    Registered User LMC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    In the corner
    Posts
    4,508
    Rep Power
    12

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    <<<< streaks through thread >>>>

  5. #5
    The Gobby one! WittyBird's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Geekville
    Posts
    6,889
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Which version of Word is this?

    With Word 2003 you can just do a mail merge then return to the document. You can then print each page individually to the Printer (Print Specific page).

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Tarbrax
    Posts
    2,419
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by wittybird
    Which version of Word is this?

    With Word 2003 you can just do a mail merge then return to the document. You can then print each page individually to the Printer (Print Specific page).
    Erm.....he doesn't want to print - he wants to attach individual docs to emails.


    (It's the only part of this thread I understood.....)

  7. #7
    The Gobby one! WittyBird's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Geekville
    Posts
    6,889
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by Aleks
    Erm.....he doesn't want to print - he wants to attach individual docs to emails.


    (It's the only part of this thread I understood.....)
    Clarification point....

    The way I understood this was that the documents are created in Word and then printed to a PDF printer. (which is a virtual printer for example Instead of coming out on paper, it is "printed" to a PDF file. )

    Therefore the fact that the mail merge results are in a single document isn't a problem - you just "print" to the PDF printer one page at a time and then attach each file separately.

    Does that make it clearer?

  8. #8
    Registered User Clive Long's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    London-innit
    Posts
    1,467
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by wittybird
    The way I understood this was that the documents are created in Word
    Yes
    Quote Originally Posted by wittybird
    and then printed to a PDF printer. (which is a virtual printer for example Instead of coming out on paper, it is "printed" to a PDF file. )
    Yes
    Quote Originally Posted by wittybird
    Therefore the fact that the mail merge results are in a single document isn't a problem - you just "print" to the PDF printer one page at a time and then attach each file separately.
    You mean Print Page 1, then print page 2, then print page 3, etc. ???
    Painful when you are doing this for 500 contacts - unless you mean some other way of printing to PDF995 that results in separate file per contact.

    And what's with the ??
    Quote Originally Posted by wittybird
    Does that make it clearer?
    Yes, but I don't think I yet have a solution - unless I missed something

    CRL

  9. #9
    Registered User Clive Long's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    London-innit
    Posts
    1,467
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by mooncalf
    When I had to do this I wrote some vb code (you can probably do it in vba in word, not sure) - I looped through the database, did the mailmerge for the record and attached attached it to an email using the MAPI control.
    Unfortunately this may be the only way - surely what I am trying to do isn't very novel or sophisticated?

    CRL

  10. #10
    The Gobby one! WittyBird's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Geekville
    Posts
    6,889
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by Clive Long
    Unfortunately this may be the only way - surely what I am trying to do isn't very novel or sophisticated?

    CRL
    Ok first of all if you ask for help you need to state all the facts
    500 contacts makes it a lot more complex.
    The solution you are using isn't really cut out for that number of documents.

    I would be looking at some kind of script. The contacts would have to be exported out in to an Excel file or comma delimited file for the script to read. The script would then carry out the mail merge in to Word using a macro or other script language, this would then call each page, create the PDF and then attach the pdf to an email message - probably sent out via a command line emailer such as "The Blat".

    Inmac/PCWB do something similar with their quotes - key in the information at one end and the client gets an email with the attachment at the other.

    Depending on how often this task has to be carried out will depend on whether it is worth getting an Office developer to create something for you.

  11. #11
    Senior Member Minnie M's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Hove Actually
    Posts
    7,924
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by Clive Long
    Hi all,

    I have known about mail merge for yonks but never used it

    Situation. A friend (that's 3 now) has her contacts in Outlook. We have successfully used the MS-Word Mail merge wizard to create a document template with fields to receive data from a filtered outlook contact list. The result can only be output to a printer. We want to produce separate word documents and send as an email attachments. I have used PDF995 as a cheap Adobe Acrobat to generate file output. However, the printer driver produces a single PDF file whereas I really want a separate file for each resulting document. Can I get the mail merge wizard to produce separate files?

    Further, are there any third party outlook add-ins that allow one to produce multiple outlook messages directly rather than using ms-word as the target for the mail merge? I am guessing that mail merge is a function of word so this approach is not viable?

    Clive
    Does it have to be an attachment - would be much easier if the document was part of the email


    --ooOoo--
    Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter
    Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982)

    Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
    That date is recognized as her official birthday.

  12. #12
    The Dashing Moderator
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Midlands
    Posts
    3,556
    Rep Power
    12

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Clive,

    I dunno about the PDF one - but there do seem to be ways to mail merge emails so that they're personalised.

    This article may help, for instance:
    http://www.pcplus.co.uk/tutorials/de...bsectionid=785

    My version of Word (Word 2003) appears have an option to allow me to Merge to email.

    David
    Love dance, will travel

  13. #13
    Registered User Clive Long's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    London-innit
    Posts
    1,467
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by Minnie M
    Does it have to be an attachment - would be much easier if the document was part of the email
    Agreed that would be a preferable option to me - that was my last question on the original posting.

    However, I indicated I had found the Mail Merge function as being dependent on MS-Word - which I is why I am exploring that route.

    Talk of VB and scripts does not fill my heart with joy

    CRL

  14. #14
    Registered User Clive Long's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    London-innit
    Posts
    1,467
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by wittybird
    Ok first of all if you ask for help you need to state all the facts
    << snip useful ideas >>
    Think on this, oh small but perfectly formed one.

    Confuscious he say,

    "If one is in search of enlightment, how is one to know which are the relevant facts?"

  15. #15
    Senior Member Minnie M's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Hove Actually
    Posts
    7,924
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by Clive Long
    Agreed that would be a preferable option to me - that was my last question on the original posting.

    However, I indicated I had found the Mail Merge function as being dependent on MS-Word - which I is why I am exploring that route.

    Talk of VB and scripts does not fill my heart with joy

    CRL
    i send regular batch emails via outlook using an email list from either excel or access. you need to have the salutation etc in the excel or access file with the email address in the same line and there is a series of commands to apply that will send personalised email to Dear so and so. The actual document needs to be copied into the body of the text.
    So...
    copy the document you want to send into a new email file.
    Click on the icon on the far left which has a new page and envelope image and select 'email messages'
    Then click on the icon to the right of this which is a rectangle with lots of dots on it - this prompts you to select a source file, which is the access or excel file with the names and emails addresses..
    One of the icons further along allows you to put in a Dear so and so field
    you then have t0 go to an icon much further along which says 'merge to email' if you float your mouse over it. This gives you the option of putting a subject heading for the email. Click OK and it will send personlised emails to everyone on your mailing list.
    Hope this helps - may not be exaactly what you are looking for but this is what i do to send press releases to hundreds of people and make them think it is personal.

    Signed: Jack Gocher (Minnie's son)
    Last edited by Minnie M; 19th-October-2005 at 11:57 PM.


    --ooOoo--
    Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter
    Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982)

    Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
    That date is recognized as her official birthday.

  16. #16
    Registered User Clive Long's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    London-innit
    Posts
    1,467
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by Minnie M
    i send regular batch emails via outlook using an email list from either excel or access. you need to have the salutation etc in the excel or access file with the email address in the same line and there is a series of commands to apply that will send personalised email to Dear so and so. The actual document needs to be copied into the body of the text.
    << snipped good stuff >>
    Signed: Jack Gocher (Minnie's son)
    Thanks Jack

    Sounds more up my street - not knocking the "script crew", I just don't have the skills to play that game.

    We'll explore your suggestion this weekend and let you know what happens.

    Clive

  17. #17
    The Gobby one! WittyBird's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Geekville
    Posts
    6,889
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by Clive Long
    Think on this, oh small but perfectly formed one.
    Well thank you Oh smart one
    Quote Originally Posted by Clive Long
    Confuscious he say,

    "If one is in search of enlightment, how is one to know which are the relevant facts?"
    who was it that said ' Man play with fire get burnt '

  18. #18
    Senior Member Minnie M's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Hove Actually
    Posts
    7,924
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by Clive Long
    Thanks Jack

    Sounds more up my street - not knocking the "script crew", I just don't have the skills to play that game.

    We'll explore your suggestion this weekend and let you know what happens.

    Clive
    good luck - it is straightforward as long as you click the right buttons. Minnie's away for the weekend but i am happy for her to PM my email address if you want any more help.


    --ooOoo--
    Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter
    Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982)

    Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
    That date is recognized as her official birthday.

  19. #19
    Registered User Clive Long's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    London-innit
    Posts
    1,467
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Quote Originally Posted by wittybird
    who was it that said ' Man play with fire get burnt '
    Ken Wentworth.

    Who also said, "Man who wears his wellies on a Tuesday, will see a cold spring before December"

    Wise man. Sadly missed by those of us in the hostel.

  20. #20
    Registered User El Salsero Gringo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    London
    Posts
    4,881
    Rep Power
    12

    Re: MS Office / Word / Outlook mail merge

    Another way to do it would be to take the 500 page pdf and write a little perl script to chop it up into 500 individual pdf's (you can even email them from perl)

    Bet you it could be done in less than 5 lines of code.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Office Prank
    By WittyBird in forum Fun and Games
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 21st-August-2006, 07:58 AM
  2. Outlook Express Problems
    By jivecat in forum Geeks' Corner
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 9th-November-2005, 12:43 PM
  3. microsoft outlook
    By Lucy Locket in forum Geeks' Corner
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 13th-July-2005, 12:43 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •