Mail merge with google docs and sheets

Mail merge with Google Docs and Sheets! Here's a step-by-step guide to help you achieve this:

What is Mail Merge?

Mail merge is a process of combining a standard document (e.g., a letter or an email) with a list of data (e.g., names, addresses, and other information) to create multiple personalized documents.

Prerequisites:

  1. Google Sheets: You'll need a Google Sheet with your data (e.g., names, addresses, and other information).
  2. Google Docs: You'll need a Google Doc template for your mail merge document (e.g., a letter or an email).
  3. Google Drive: Make sure you have a Google Drive account and are logged in.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Prepare your data in Google Sheets

  1. Create a new Google Sheet or open an existing one.
  2. Set up your data in columns, with each column representing a field (e.g., Name, Address, Email).
  3. Make sure your data is organized and formatted correctly.

Step 2: Create a Google Doc template

  1. Create a new Google Doc or open an existing one.
  2. Design your template with placeholders for the data you want to merge (e.g., {{Name}}, {{Address}}, {{Email}}).
  3. Use the "Insert" menu to add placeholders for each field.

Step 3: Connect Google Sheets to Google Docs

  1. Open your Google Doc template.
  2. Go to "Tools" > "Script editor" (or press Ctrl+Shift+I on Windows or Command+Shift+I on Mac).
  3. In the script editor, click on "Create" > "Project" and name your project (e.g., "Mail Merge").
  4. In the script editor, paste the following code:
    
function mergeData() {
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
var data = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();
var template = doc.getBody();

for (var i = 0; i < data.length; i++) { var row = data[i]; template.replaceText("{{Name}}", row[0]); template.replaceText("{{Address}}", row[1]); template.replaceText("{{Email}}", row[2]); } }


5. Save the script by clicking on the floppy disk icon or pressing Ctrl+S (or Command+S on Mac).

**Step 4: Run the script**

1. Go back to your Google Doc template.
2. Click on "Run" > "mergeData" (or press Ctrl+Enter on Windows or Command+Enter on Mac).
3. The script will merge your data with the template, creating a new document for each row in your Google Sheet.

**Tips and Variations:**

* Use the `getRange()` method to specify the range of cells to merge.
* Use the `replaceText()` method to replace placeholders with data from your Google Sheet.
* Use the `appendParagraph()` method to add new paragraphs to your document.
* Use the `getFont()` method to change the font style or size.
* Use the `getAlignment()` method to change the alignment of text.

**Limitations:**

* Mail merge with Google Docs and Sheets has some limitations, such as:
    + Limited formatting options.
    + No support for conditional formatting.
    + No support for advanced data manipulation (e.g., sorting, filtering).

**Conclusion:**

Mail merge with Google Docs and Sheets is a powerful tool for creating personalized documents. By following these steps, you can automate the process of combining your data with a template to create multiple documents. Remember to experiment with different formatting options and data manipulation techniques to get the most out of this feature.