In a mail merge operation a data source contains all the information that is pulled in during a mail merge to personalize the individual emails and documents. The data sources can be created manually or produced by reporting from an existing system, database or application. pdfMachine merge accepts data sources in Excel or CSV format. The following instructions show how to format a data source for a mail merge operation.
These will be known as merge fields. The merge fields will be the column names in the data source. They must be placed in the first row of the data source. One of the merge fields must be the email address that the email will be sent to.
Configure pdfMachine merge so that "Each row creates an email". Build the
rows in the data source so that all information pertaining to the email and the PDF attachment is in a single row. Each
row will become a single email with a single PDF attachment.
Configure pdfMachine merge so that "Each row creates an attachment". Group the rows so that all information pertaining to the PDF attachments in
a single email are in multiple consecutive rows with the same email address. Each row will have the same information,
except for the information that needs to be different in each attachment. Each row will become a PDF
attachment in a single email.
Configure pdfMachine merge so that "One or more rows generates an email" Group the rows so that all information pertaining to the PDF attachment
is in multiple consecutive rows. Each row will have the same information, except for the
information that differs per line item. Each row will become a different line item in
the email body and / or PDF attachment and be sent in a single email.
Make sure there are no blank rows until the end of the data source.