Mail merging with information from a custom form.

  • Thread starter Thread starter srucci
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srucci

Is this possible? I initiated a mail merge (which opened Word and
created a document), but when I looked at the data source in "edit
data," my custom form information was not there. Is it possible to mail
merge out of Outlook when the information is in custom form?

Or, if anyone can think of a better way to accomplish what I'm trying
to do, here's my situation:
I'm trying to send a card to, let's say, "Bob and Linda Smith". My
contact record is Bob Smith, as he is the one I typically contact. But
for the card, I want the label on the envelope to say "Bob and Linda
Smith". In my custom form, I made a field called "family name" which
has "Bob and Linda Smith" in it, thinking I could use this in a
mailmerge. How else could I solve this problem?

Windows XP pro, Outlook 2003, Word 2003.
Thanks in advance for any help offered.
 
Yes, it's possible, but you started in the wrong place. You must start the
merge from the Outlook contacts folder and use the Tools | Mail Merge
command there. In the dialog that appears, select to merge all fields in the
folder. The custom fields that you want to use must be visible in the
User-defined Fields in This Folder list in the folder's Field Chooser. If
they are not there, add them.
 
Thanks for your help. That's exactly the procedure I've been using.
When you use the Tools | Mail Merge function, MS Word launches and a
dialogue opens allowing you to choose several options. From within this
dialogue I can view the datasource document and my custom fields aren't
there. I read and reread the directions for this multiple times. After
clicking the setup button in the dialogue and choosing the label
template I want, Word displays a blank sheet of labels. I can use the
"match fields" button on the word toolbar to display available fields
also and my custom form fields aren't there (they are showing in the
contacts folder view). Any ideas?
Yes, it's possible, but you started in the wrong place. You must start the
merge from the Outlook contacts folder and use the Tools | Mail Merge
Click to expand...
 
Did you check these key points:

1) Custom fields defined in the Outlook contacts folder

2) In the Mail Merge Contacts dialog in Outlook, choose "All contact fields"
not "Contact fields in current view."


--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
 
Point 2 yes, I tried the "all contacts fields".

Point 1 not sure what you mean. The Outlook contacts folder uses the
custom form. All of my contacts are created in that form and all are
displayed in that form. In the folder's properties | forms my form is
listed. The message class for all contacts are this form. Does that
mean the form is "defined" in the Outlook contacts folder?

Another question: at work the contacts I'm using are in a public
folder. Is this relevant? But this doesn't work at home either,
although I'm not sure I've selected "all contact fields" at home.

Thanks.
 
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