Automating Mail merge?

KobusP · 02-03-2009, 12:32 PM

I'm sure there must be a way to do this, but as a newbie I'm having problems in finding a solution.
I'm looking for a way to automate mail merges. Basically, the process I would like to automate is the following:

I receive data files via FTP in folder. Multiple data-files can arrive simultaneously, but each one will have an unique name. I then want to start a separate mail merge for each data-file received. There is only a single mail merge template. Multiple instances of mail merge should be able to run at the same time. This should run on an unattended server.

I've got 2 problems in setting this up - or maybe it's the same problem:

a) How to a initiate a merge process.
b) How do I pass the name of the data-file that should be used to the initiated instance of mail merge.

In my searches I came across DDE and OLE automation, but was unable to find actual examples of what I need to do. Which one to use if any of them is the solution? Any other ideas/tools to do the task initiation? Oh yes, if DDE is usable, it will fit in very neatly with another scheduling tool we are already using, since the tool supports DDE - I've just never used it.

Thanks in advance.

02-03-2009, 12:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
KobusP Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Windows Server 2003	Automating Mail merge? I'm sure there must be a way to do this, but as a newbie I'm having problems in finding a solution. I'm looking for a way to automate mail merges. Basically, the process I would like to automate is the following: I receive data files via FTP in folder. Multiple data-files can arrive simultaneously, but each one will have an unique name. I then want to start a separate mail merge for each data-file received. There is only a single mail merge template. Multiple instances of mail merge should be able to run at the same time. This should run on an unattended server. I've got 2 problems in setting this up - or maybe it's the same problem: a) How to a initiate a merge process. b) How do I pass the name of the data-file that should be used to the initiated instance of mail merge. In my searches I came across DDE and OLE automation, but was unable to find actual examples of what I need to do. Which one to use if any of them is the solution? Any other ideas/tools to do the task initiation? Oh yes, if DDE is usable, it will fit in very neatly with another scheduling tool we are already using, since the tool supports DDE - I've just never used it. Thanks in advance.