Attach attchment to a mail merge
In a mail merge, you can attach a file to the output document by using a merge field that references the attachment. Here's how:
Step 1: Prepare your data
In your data source (e.g., Excel spreadsheet, Access database, or CSV file), create a column that contains the file path or URL of the attachment you want to attach to the mail merge document.
Step 2: Create a merge field
In your mail merge template (e.g., Word document, PDF, or email template), create a merge field that references the column you created in Step 1. For example, if your column is named "Attachment", you can create a merge field like this:
{MERGEFIELD Attachment}
Step 3: Use the ATTACH
function
In your mail merge template, use the ATTACH
function to attach the file to the output document. The syntax is:
ATTACH {MERGEFIELD Attachment}
This will attach the file specified in the Attachment
column to the output document.
Example
Suppose you have a mail merge template in Word and a data source in Excel. Your data source has a column named "Attachment" that contains the file path of the attachment. Your mail merge template has a merge field named {MERGEFIELD Attachment}
.
Here's the code:
Dear {MERGEFIELD Name},
This is a test email with an attachment.
ATTACH {MERGEFIELD Attachment}
When you run the mail merge, Word will replace the {MERGEFIELD Attachment}
merge field with the file path specified in the Attachment
column of your data source. The output document will then attach the file to the email.
Tips and Variations
- You can use the
ATTACH
function in combination with other merge fields to create a more dynamic attachment process. For example, you can use a merge field to specify the file name or type. - If you're using a PDF template, you may need to use a different syntax for attaching files. Check the documentation for your PDF template software for more information.
- Be mindful of file size and compatibility issues when attaching files to your mail merge output.