WD97: Mail Merge Tutorial and Help File Available

The Word 97 for Windows Mail Merge Help file is a resource both for beginners and for advanced users. Download this resource to have instant access to information about mail merge--after you install the Help file, you do not need to be connected to the Internet to use it. For more information about what this Help file contains, please see the "More Information" section of this article.

NOTE: To run the Word 97 Mail Merge Help file, you must have Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or later installed. To install Internet Explorer, please see the following Microsoft Web page:
The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:
For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

The Word 97 for Windows Mail Merge Help file is divided into the following topics:

Overview: "Ease into the Merging Lane"

A tutorial on the basics of performing a mail merge in Word. The tutorial also contains sample files that provide detailed instructions and sample content for accomplishing the tasks presented in the tutorial.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step-by-step instructions on how to start your mail merge, how to add a data source, how to create your main document, and how to perform the actual merge. Using these steps, you can create a mail merge to any of the following:

• Form Letters
  
  
• Mailing Labels
  
  
• Envelopes
  
  
• Catalogs

More About Data Sources

This section contains answers to some of the questions that you need to consider before you set up your data source. In addition, it provides step- by-step methods on how to use the following data sources for your mail merge:

• Microsoft Access
  
  
• ACT! for Windows
  
  
• Comma-delimited text
  
  
• dBase
  
  
• Microsoft Excel
  
  
• Microsoft FoxPro
  
  
• Microsoft Query
  
  
• Microsoft Outlook Contacts
  
  
• Paradox
  
  
• Tab-delimited text
  
  
• WordPerfect data

Beyond the Basics

Detailed information for advanced features that can be used during a Word mail merge. Some of the topics covered include:

• How to add a postal bar code and how to read it to ensure that it is correct.
  
  
• How to prompt for more information during your mail merge.
  
  
• How to customize your mail merge when certain criteria are met.
  
  
• Descriptions of the buttons on the mail merge toolbar and mail merge shortcut keys.
  
  
• How to get the results that you want by:
  
  
• Adding graphics to labels
  
  
• Merging by category
  
  
• Formatting your merged results
  
  
• Merging selected records
  
  
• Merging with specified conditions
  
  
• Using mail merge to electronic fax or electronic mail (e-mail)

Troubleshooting Specific Errors

A compilation of Microsoft Knowledge Base articles divided by function for easier and faster access to the answers to your mail merge problems.

Where to Find More Help

Additional resources for finding the answers to your mail merge questions.