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Brandy redux -> PS 2.0 not designed for standard Mail Merge (5/16/2011 10:28:16 PM)
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NOTE: Mail merge is an available option only in The Print Shop 2.0 Professional and Deluxe. Mail Merge is not an available option in The Print Shop 2.0 Standard.
Print Shop 2.0 was not designed to perform a standard mail merge - such as can be performed in all previous versions of both Print Shop and PrintMaster - which allows users to print different text on different items (i.e. labels, business cards, name tags, postcards, etc.) on the same sheet of paper.
Print Shop 2.0 was specifically designed to perform mail merge for ONLY single sheet items - such as envelopes, newsletters, etc. - where the same text is printed on each sheet of paper.
For that reason, Print Shop 2.0 mail merge projects will not place different text on different items on each sheet of paper (i.e. labels, business cards, name tags, postcards, etc.). Instead, the Print Shop 2.0 mail merge process will place the same text on all items on each sheet of paper. Then, it will place different text on the next sheet of paper. But, once again, it will place the same text on all items on that sheet of paper.
To view the Print Shop 2.0 "Mail Merge for Single Sheet Items" Tutorial, please click on the link below
http://ideas.printshop.com/?cat=11
then, click on the right arrow above the words "Mail Merge for Single Sheet Items".
As can also be seen on that same web site, Print Shop 2.0 is designed to perform mail merges by taking data from vCards which have been imported into Print Shop 2.0.
To view the Print Shop 2.0 "Importing a vCard File" Tutorial, click on the right arrow above the words "Importing a vCard Fille".
NOTE: Each vCard file contains only one name and address. So, each name and address which is to be used in a single mail merge process must be imported in a separate vCard file.
For more information about the Print Shop 2.0 mail merge process, see below:
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While the older versions of The Print Shop allow you to create a duplicate database (i.e. Address Book) of your contacts inside The Print Shop in order to perform a mail merge, The Print Shop 2.0 does not offer an Address Book option. Instead, The Print Shop 2.0 requires you to import electronic business cards (vCard).
Most mail applications, such as Microsoft Outlook, allow you to export your contact information to the vCard format. Refer to the documentation that comes with your mail application for instructions on how to do this.
There are five steps for using mail merge in Print Shop 2.0:
1. Create your project.
2. Import one or more vCard files.a. From The Print Shop 2.0 main window, select 'Print' in the toolbar at the top of the window, then select 'Configure Mail Merge' in the menu that drops down.
b. When the 'Configure Mail Merge' window opens, click 'Import', then browse to the directory that contains your vCard (*.vcf) files. All the vCard files that are in that directory will be loaded into Print Shop.
Note: The Print Shop 2.0 does not permanently store your vCard files. It does, however, remember the last directory used to import your vCards.
c. Either click to select each of the files you'd like to use in your mail merge or click 'Check All' to select all the files.
To view the data fields in a vCard, right-click on a listed card, and select 'View vCard Fields'. Click 'Close' when done viewing the information.
d. Click to select the 'Use selected cards when printing/exporting' box.
e. Click 'Done'. 3. Select the contacts (people) you'd like to include in the mail merge.
4. Add the mail merge fields to your project.a. From within a text box (or text box within a shape), click where you want to insert the mail merge field.
b. Scroll down to the Mail Merge area on the left side of the screen, select the appropriate mail merge field, and click 'Insert'. The field will display surrounded by double brackets (ie: {FirstName})
c. Complete your message, and save your project. 5. Click the 'Print' icon from the toolbar, then select 'Print' in the menu that drops down.
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