How to Create a Mail Merge in Microsoft Word 2010

MS office 2010 has a wide range of features including Mail Merge functionality. This lets user create documents (i.e. Letter, Emails, and Fax etc.) that consist of unique elements i.e. Contact Details, Name, etc.
It allows you to create one document for multiple recipients as well. Document includes the personal detail of recipients, which saves a lot of time.
In this tutorial you will how to create a Mail Merge in Microsoft Word 2010.



Step # 1: Go to the Mail Merge option
Open up a document you want to apply the mail merge option to. Here we have opened a marketing letter. Go to ‘mailing’ menu in the ribbon and click on the ‘Start Mail Merge’ drop down arrow. Select the last option that is ‘Step by Step Mail merge wizard’.
Open the Mail merge option

Step # 2 – Select the document type
Once you have clicked on step by step Mail wizard, a ‘Mail Merge’ panel opens up at the right hand side of the page. It will proceed in a step by step manner. The first step is to ‘Select the document type’ you are working on. Select the “letters” option.
Choose the document type

Step # 3 – Use the current document
You can start from the existing document, a template or even use the current document. Let’s say you have selected the current document because you want to send this letter to the multiple recipients.
work on the current document

Step # 4 – Type a new list
You can either select recipients from the existing list or type a new list. Let’s create a new list, for this select the ‘Type a new list’ option under ‘select recipients’ heading. After this press the ‘create’ button. A ‘New address list’ dialogue box will appear on the screen. Fill the required fields then press “OK”. You will have to save the list by assigning the name and selecting the format type and then click on ‘Save’.
Make a new list

Step # 5 – Insert information
The next step is to ‘Write your letter’. Even if you have written a letter before still you will need to add some recipient information. To add the recipient information, click a location in the document and then select any of the items like ‘Address block, greeting line, electronic postage etc. Once you click on any of these items, a dialogue box will appear where you will have to fill the preferences. For the ‘Address box’ you can put a ‘check’ sign to select the options that are required.
Enter information

Step # 6 – Preview your letter
After you are done with writing and adding recipient information at appropriate places in the letter, Microsoft Word allows you to preview it as to how it will look if you send it to an individual recipient. You can preview for more than one recipient by pressing the forward button under ‘Preview your letters’ option or press the ‘Preview’ button from the main ribbon.
view your letter before sending

Step # 7 – Edit the individual letters
You can do further editing in individual letters, or leave it as it is. You may print the letter by selecting the option from the same panel.
Such options and more are available for your help and use in this feature of Microsoft Office 2010.
Alter the individual letters