Key Points

• You can use the Mail Merge Wizard to merge a data source, such as a database or contact list, and a main document, such as a form letter or labels.

• The information in a data source is organized into records, with each record containing the same set of fields.

• You can use a list from another program, such as Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Visual FoxPro, or the contact list from Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Outlook Express.

• You can sort the information in a data source. You can also filter the data in the data source or exclude specific records so that they are not part of the merge process.

• You can create a main document in two ways: by using an existing document and inserting merge fields into it; or by creating a new main document as you work through the mail merge process, entering the main text of the document, and then inserting the merge fields that you want to use.

• You can review merged data and add a merge field to personalize a sentence in the body of a main document.

• You can use a data source to create mailing labels or envelopes to use with your mailing. After you merge the data source and the main document to create labels, you can print them on standard paper to proofread them or on sheets of adhesive labels.