Google docs mail merge

Google Docs offers a mail merge feature that allows you to combine a template with a list of data to create multiple documents with personalized information. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use Google Docs mail merge:

Prerequisites:

1. You need a Google account to use Google Docs.
2. You need to have a template created in Google Docs.
3. You need to have a list of data in a Google Sheets document.

Step 1: Create a template in Google Docs

1. Open Google Docs and create a new document or open an existing one.
2. Design your template with placeholders for the data you want to merge. For example, if you want to create a letter with a recipient's name, you can add a placeholder like {{Name}}.
3. Save your template.

Step 2: Create a data list in Google Sheets

1. Open Google Sheets and create a new spreadsheet or open an existing one.
2. Enter your data in the first row, with each column representing a field (e.g., Name, Address, Phone Number).
3. Save your spreadsheet.

Step 3: Set up the mail merge

1. In Google Docs, open your template.
2. Go to Tools > Mail merge.
3. Select the data source: Choose the Google Sheets document you created in Step 2.
4. Select the data range: Choose the range of cells that contains your data.
5. Choose the merge type: Select "Merge to new documents" to create a new document for each record in your data list.

Step 4: Run the mail merge

1. Click the "Merge" button to start the mail merge process.
2. Google Docs will create a new document for each record in your data list, replacing the placeholders with the actual data from your spreadsheet.

Tips and Variations:

• You can use conditional formatting to customize the appearance of your merged documents.
• You can use Google Apps Script to automate the mail merge process or add additional functionality.
• You can also use Google Forms to collect data and then use the mail merge feature to create documents based on that data.

Limitations:

• Google Docs mail merge has some limitations, such as:
  • It only supports a limited number of merge fields (around 20).
  • It doesn't support advanced formatting or layout options.
  • It may not work well with complex templates or large data sets.

Overall, Google Docs mail merge is a powerful tool for creating personalized documents quickly and easily. However, it may not be suitable for very complex or large-scale mail merge projects.