Can you do a mail merge with an attachment
The classic mail merge question!
Yes, you can do a mail merge with an attachment. Here are the general steps:
Using Microsoft Word:
- Create a mail merge document in Microsoft Word using the "Mailings" tab.
- Set up your mail merge fields and data source (e.g., an Excel spreadsheet or a database).
- Insert a "Merge Field" for the attachment (e.g., a PDF file).
- In the "Insert Merge Field" dialog box, select "File" as the field type.
- Browse to the location of the attachment file and select it.
- In the "Merge Field" dialog box, enter a name for the field (e.g., "Attachment").
- Close the "Insert Merge Field" dialog box.
- In the "Mailings" tab, click "Preview Results" to see how the mail merge will look with the attachment.
- When you're ready to send the mail merge, click "Finish & Merge" and select "Edit Individual Documents" to create a separate document for each recipient.
Using Microsoft Excel:
- Create a mail merge document in Microsoft Excel using the "Data" tab.
- Set up your mail merge fields and data source (e.g., an Excel spreadsheet or a database).
- Insert a "Hyperlink" to the attachment file.
- In the "Insert Hyperlink" dialog box, enter the path to the attachment file.
- In the "Text to display" field, enter a name for the link (e.g., "Download Attachment").
- Close the "Insert Hyperlink" dialog box.
- In the "Data" tab, click "Mail Merge" to create a separate document for each recipient.
Using other mail merge software:
If you're using a different mail merge software, such as Adobe Acrobat or OpenOffice, the process may vary. You can refer to the software's documentation or online resources for specific instructions.
Tips and considerations:
- Make sure the attachment file is in a format that can be opened by the recipient (e.g., PDF, DOCX, etc.).
- Consider using a cloud-based storage service (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox) to store and share the attachment file.
- Be mindful of file size and email attachment limits when sending the mail merge.
- Test the mail merge with a small sample group before sending it to the entire list to ensure everything works as expected.