Mail merge is a software function describing the production of multiple (and potentially large numbers of) documents from a single template form and a structured data source. This technique is typically used to create personalized letters and pre-addressed envelopes or mailing labels for mass mailings from a database mailing list of names and addresses[1].
The procedure of mail merging is typically carried out using a word processing program. The template is a word processing document which contains fixed text, which will be the same in each output document, and variables, which act as placeholders that are replaced by text from the data source. The data source is typically a spreadsheet or a database which has a field or column matching each variable in the template. When the mail merge is run, the word processing system creates an output document for each row in the database, using the fixed text exactly as it appears in the template, but substituting the data variables in the template with the values from the matching columns.
For example, a company may want to send letters confirming places at a set of events. The template will be laid out as the required letter, explaining to each recipient that their place is confirmed and detailing instructions for the event. The data variables will be used to specify the recipient's name, address, first name for the salutation and perhaps a seat number and the name and date of the specific event they are booked to attend. These variables can be placed anywhere in the template document, within a paragraph of text or on their own. When the mail merge is run, each letter will be personalized to the recipient and will show the information that is applicable to them.
This technique of merging data to create mailshots gave rise to the term mail merge.
Superscript text== References ==
^ "Word mail merge: A walk through the process". Microsoft Office Help. Retrieved on 2007-05-31.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail_merge"
Monday, August 11, 2008
A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper worksheet. It displays multiple cells that together make up a grid consisting of rows and columns, each cell containing either alphanumeric text or numeric values. A spreadsheet cell may alternatively contain a formula that defines how the contents of that cell is to be calculated from the contents of any other cell (or combination of cells) each time any cell is updated. Spreadsheets are frequently used for financial information because of their ability to re-calculate the entire sheet automatically after a change to a single cell is made.
In 1971, Rene K. Pardo and Remy Landau filed a patent on a spreadsheet related algorithm. Visicalc is usually considered the first electronic spreadsheet (although this has been challenged), and it helped turn the Apple II computer into a success and greatly assisted in their widespread application. Lotus 1-2-3 was the leading spreadsheet of DOS era. Excel is now generally considered to have the largest market
In 1971, Rene K. Pardo and Remy Landau filed a patent on a spreadsheet related algorithm. Visicalc is usually considered the first electronic spreadsheet (although this has been challenged), and it helped turn the Apple II computer into a success and greatly assisted in their widespread application. Lotus 1-2-3 was the leading spreadsheet of DOS era. Excel is now generally considered to have the largest market
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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