Addresses into Word

Addresses into Word

Didn't find your answer?

We currently use an Access database on which we store all clients details including addresses and we use Word to type letters.
Is there a straight-forward way to integrate the two so that we do not need to rekey a client's address when typing a letter to him.
I have tried mail merging but this seems to take an age and I haven't found out how to import addresses into Word
Any advice would be welcome
Thanks
Martin

martin curtis

Replies (4)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By User deleted
02nd Aug 2007 11:22

We use mail merge...
..but we have our client details in Excel.

I'm sure it must be the same principal - certainly a lot quicker and more reliable that re keying.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Richard Willis
02nd Aug 2007 11:46

Mail merge should be ok
Hi Martin

Once you have set up your letter template as a mail merge document it should take no time at all to select the addressee from the database so that it propagates the name and address fields. This is easier if each client has a unique reference in the database.

Once you have done this it also enables selective mail shots; by adding, for instance, a status field to your database (e.g. C for current, RIP for deceased, M for moved away) you can do a mail shot to all current clients only. The opportunities are enormous, although sending a mail shot to all deceased clients isn't recommended!

Thanks (0)
avatar
By adam.arca
02nd Aug 2007 12:48

Other options
Mail merge seems a bit clunky to me if you're talking about one-off letters.

When you say "re-key," do you mean that literally? If so, why not just copy and paste out of the Access field into the Word doc?

The best option, if you have the confidence to tackle VBA, would be to write a procedure which picks up the address field(s) in Access and writes them to bookmarks in your Word template. I've seen example coding in both the Access programming books I have and would imagine it's in just about every one of those sorts of books.

Once you've got that sorted, you could then improve the procedure by picking up additional fields such as salutation and selecting from multiple templates. That's what I do and it really does save a shedload of time.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By AnonymousUser
09th Aug 2007 11:33

Thanks for your replies.
We are used to mail merge systems but with 1300 past and present addresses in the db it does take an age to select the right one, especially when there is a menu item called addresses in Word.
Although I'm reasonably proficient at Access I've never been near VBA. Always thought that was something for the pro's. I'm a bit in awe of any sort of coding, but I will have a closer look at the db book I have.
I hadn't heard of the DMS system, one worth investigating.
Kind regards
Martin

Thanks (0)