A
feature supported by many
word processors that enables you to generate form letters. To use a mail-merge
system, you first
store a set of information, like a list of names and addresses, in one
file. In another file, you write a letter, substituting special symbols in place of names and addresses (or whatever other information will come from the first file). For example, you might write:
Dear NAME:
Our records show that your address is:
STREET
CITY, STATE ZIP
If this is incorrect,...
When you execute the merge command, the word processor automatically generates letters by replacing symbols (NAME, STREET, CITY, STATE, and ZIP) in the second file with the appropriate data from the first file
The power and flexibility of mail merge systems varies considerably from one word processor to another. Some word processors support a full set of logical operators that enable you to specify certain conditions under which information should be merged. Also, some merge systems allow you to merge data from several files at once.
Mail merge is sometimes called print merge.
