Mail Merge

Mail Merge templates define how record data is inserted from Archer into a Microsoft Word® document or PDF file using the Mail Merge functionality. You can use Mail Merge functionality for conducting successive vendor assessments, SOX compliance reviews, and capturing information at a specific point in time.

Mail Merge terminology

The following table defines Mail Merge terminology.

Term

Definition

Alias

A unique name that identifies a field. When you work with a field in the Application Builder, an alias is located to the right of the Field Name.

Exported File

The final output generated from an Export template with data merged from a record.

Export Template

The Microsoft Word document with merge code that is uploaded to the Mail Merge template area from the Administration menu.

Mail Merge

A Microsoft Word feature that is used to create reports.

Mail Merge Template

An entity in Archer that contains the status of the Export Template, the Export Template itself, and access settings about the Export Template.

Available field types for Mail Merge

The following list shows field types that are available for Mail Merge.

  • Attachment
  • Cross-Reference
  • Date
  • External Link
  • Image
  • IP Address
  • First Published
  • Last Updated
  • Matrix
  • Numeric
  • Record Permission
  • Record Status
  • Related Records
  • Sub-form
  • Text
  • Tracking ID
  • User/Group
  • Values List
  • Voting

Create a Mail Merge template in Microsoft Word

  1. In a Microsoft Word document, click the Insert tab.
  2. In the Text section, click Quick Parts > Field.
  3. From the Categories drop-down menu, select Mail Merge.
  4. From the Field Names list, select MergeField.
  5. In the Field Properties panel, in the Field Name field, enter the alias of the Archer field you want.
  6. Click OK.
  7. The field is inserted into the Mail Merge template.

  8. Adjust the Mail Merge syntax as needed. For more information, see Mail Merge Syntax.
  9. Repeat steps 1 to 7 to add additional fields to the Mail Merge template.
  10. Add the completed report template to a Mail Merge template in Archer. For more information, see Adding Report Templates to a Mail Merge Template.

Note: You can choose to display either the Mail Merge code itself or the code output. Ensure you update both sides of the code using F9, as noted below.

Keyboard Shortcuts

The following table lists keyboard shortcuts you can use to create a Mail Merge template.

 

Shortcut Keys

Description

Alt+F9

Toggles merge code for the entire document.

Shift+F9

Toggles merge code for selected fields.

You can highlight one or more fields, and then press Shift+F9 to toggle the merge code for the highlighted fields.

Ctrl+F9

Creates merge code braces for a field. Enter the relevant merge field code within the braces.

F9

Updates the field by committing changes to both sides of the merge field toggle.

Ctrl+Shift+F9

Strips merge code from selected fields.