How to make mail merge in openoffice

Mail merge is a powerful feature in OpenOffice that allows you to combine a main document with a data source, such as a spreadsheet or a database, to create multiple versions of the document with unique information. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make a mail merge in OpenOffice:

Prerequisites:

• OpenOffice version 4.1 or later
• A data source (e.g., a spreadsheet, a database, or a text file)
• A main document (e.g., a word processing document, a presentation, or a spreadsheet)

Step 1: Prepare your data source

• Create a data source with the information you want to use for the mail merge. For example, you can create a spreadsheet with columns for names, addresses, and other relevant information.
• Save the data source in a format that OpenOffice can read, such as CSV, ODS, or XLS.

Step 2: Create a main document

• Create a new document in OpenOffice, such as a word processing document or a presentation.
• Add the fields you want to use for the mail merge. For example, you can add fields for names, addresses, and other relevant information.

Step 3: Set up the mail merge

• Go to "Tools" > "Mail Merge" in the main menu.
• In the "Mail Merge" dialog box, select the data source you created in Step 1.
• Choose the type of data source you used (e.g., spreadsheet, database, or text file).
• Click "Next" to proceed.

Step 4: Map the fields

• In the "Map Fields" dialog box, match the fields in your main document with the corresponding fields in your data source.
• For example, if you have a field called "Name" in your main document, you can match it with the "Name" column in your spreadsheet.
• Click "Next" to proceed.

Step 5: Set the merge options

• In the "Merge Options" dialog box, you can set options such as:
  • Whether to merge all records or a specific range of records.
  • Whether to overwrite existing files or create new files.
  • Whether to use a template for the merged documents.
• Click "Next" to proceed.

Step 6: Perform the mail merge

• In the "Mail Merge" dialog box, click "Merge" to start the mail merge process.
• OpenOffice will create a new document for each record in your data source, using the information from the data source to fill in the fields in your main document.

Tips and Variations:

• You can use OpenOffice's built-in templates to create a mail merge document.
• You can also use OpenOffice's "Data Pilot" feature to create a mail merge document.
• You can use OpenOffice's "Conditional Formatting" feature to apply different formatting to different records in the mail merge document.
• You can use OpenOffice's "Mail Merge" feature to create a mail merge document with multiple data sources.