Data source in mail merge

In a mail merge, a data source is the file or database that contains the information you want to use to populate the merge fields in your document. The data source can be a variety of formats, including:

  1. Excel spreadsheet: A Microsoft Excel file (.xlsx) that contains the data you want to use for the mail merge.
  2. CSV file: A comma-separated values file (.csv) that contains the data you want to use for the mail merge.
  3. Database: A database management system like Microsoft Access, MySQL, or SQL Server that contains the data you want to use for the mail merge.
  4. Text file: A plain text file (.txt) that contains the data you want to use for the mail merge.
  5. XML file: An Extensible Markup Language file (.xml) that contains the data you want to use for the mail merge.
  6. JSON file: A JavaScript Object Notation file (.json) that contains the data you want to use for the mail merge.
  7. Microsoft Access database: A Microsoft Access database (.mdb) that contains the data you want to use for the mail merge.
  8. SQL Server database: A Microsoft SQL Server database (.sql) that contains the data you want to use for the mail merge.

When you create a mail merge, you need to specify the data source and the fields you want to use from the data source to populate the merge fields in your document. The data source is typically linked to the mail merge document using a connection string, which specifies the location and format of the data source.

Some common data sources used in mail merge include:

The data source is used to populate the merge fields in your document, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and other relevant information. The data source can also be used to filter and sort the data, and to perform calculations and formatting on the data.