Mail merge generates blank message

  • Thread starter Thread starter Alain
  • Start date Start date
A

Alain

Hi,

I want to email a Word mail-merge through Outlook so that each addressee
receives a copy of his or her record as an attached document.

Merge works ok and each addressee recieves correct data BUT with a blank
message.

I have tried to set default signatures and stationery, both from Word
and Outlook but message area is always blank.

How can I get message area to display a common message such as « Hi,
Here is a copy of your record »

Thanks,

Alain
 
Attachments are not supported in merges to electronic mail. You'd need to
look for third party software for that.
 
Hi Russ,

Thanks for your answer. Just to be sure:

You say: «Attachments are not supported in merges to electronic mail». I
can send mails with an attachement from my merge, but the message itself
is blank.

Alain

Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] a écrit:
 
That is non-reproducible. Explain how you are doing this mail merge,
including versions, steps and message format. You cannot attach files to
messages in a merge to electronic mail using Outlook and Word.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Alain said:
Hi Russ,

Thanks for your answer. Just to be sure:

You say: «Attachments are not supported in merges to electronic mail». I
can send mails with an attachement from my merge, but the message itself
is blank.

Alain

Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] a écrit:
Attachments are not supported in merges to electronic mail. You'd need to
look for third party software for that.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi,

Your answer is a surprise to me!

Here is how I did it on Win2KPro, with Office XP. I am using a French
version of both so some terms (those between «») have been translated,
and you may have to find the exact English counterpart.

1- I created a Word merge where each member will receive a copy of his
or her record as an email attachment. Its data source is an Access query
that has a field with the email address each record will be sent to

2- I open the Word mail-merge main document.

3- I display the Mailmerge toolbar

4- When I am ready merge (and to send the documents), I click on the
«Merge to email» button.

5- A window is displayed to set the «Message options»:
a) I select the data-source field containing the address each message
will be sent to
b) I enter the subject of the message
c) In the «Message type» drop down box, I select «Attached»

I then click on OK and an email message is created for each member with
an attached copy of his or her merged record.

Problem was: message itself is blank; I would like Outlook (or Word) to
insert a common message such as 'Hi, This is a copy of your record';

Have a good day.


Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] a écrit:
 
Aha. That explains it. In fact, you are not adding an attachment to a
message in a mail merge. Instead, you are trying to send the message itself
as an attachment. Don't do that. Just select HTML as your message format and
send the message. Deselect the "as an attachment" option.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Alain said:
Hi,

Your answer is a surprise to me!

Here is how I did it on Win2KPro, with Office XP. I am using a French
version of both so some terms (those between «») have been translated,
and you may have to find the exact English counterpart.

1- I created a Word merge where each member will receive a copy of his
or her record as an email attachment. Its data source is an Access query
that has a field with the email address each record will be sent to

2- I open the Word mail-merge main document.

3- I display the Mailmerge toolbar

4- When I am ready merge (and to send the documents), I click on the
«Merge to email» button.

5- A window is displayed to set the «Message options»:
a) I select the data-source field containing the address each message
will be sent to
b) I enter the subject of the message
c) In the «Message type» drop down box, I select «Attached»

I then click on OK and an email message is created for each member with
an attached copy of his or her merged record.

Problem was: message itself is blank; I would like Outlook (or Word) to
insert a common message such as 'Hi, This is a copy of your record';

Have a good day.


Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] a écrit:
Attachments are not supported in merges to electronic mail. You'd need to
look for third party software for that.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi Russ,

Got the message. Will do it that way next time.

Are there any ways to do what I was planning: send each merge result as
an attachment to a message?

Thanks for your help.

Alain

Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] a écrit:
 
None that I know of. Not sure what the advantage would be.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Alain said:
Hi Russ,

Got the message. Will do it that way next time.

Are there any ways to do what I was planning: send each merge result as
an attachment to a message?

Thanks for your help.

Alain

Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] a écrit:
Aha. That explains it. In fact, you are not adding an attachment to a
message in a mail merge. Instead, you are trying to send the message itself
as an attachment. Don't do that. Just select HTML as your message format and
send the message. Deselect the "as an attachment" option.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Sending as an attachment is one of the options in the Word mail merge wizard, but it will trigger security prompts.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Outlook and Exchange solutions at http://www.slipstick.com
Author of
Microsoft Outlook Programming: Jumpstart
for Administrators, Power Users, and Developers


Russ Valentine said:
None that I know of. Not sure what the advantage would be.
--
Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]
Alain said:
Hi Russ,

Got the message. Will do it that way next time.

Are there any ways to do what I was planning: send each merge result as
an attachment to a message?

Thanks for your help.

Alain

Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] a écrit:
Aha. That explains it. In fact, you are not adding an attachment to a
message in a mail merge. Instead, you are trying to send the message itself
as an attachment. Don't do that. Just select HTML as your message format and
send the message. Deselect the "as an attachment" option.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi,

....but, from my tests, the body of the message is blank! Are there any
ways to do what I was planning: send each merge result as
an attachment to a common message?
T
Click to expand...

Sue Mosher [MVP] a écrit:
 
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