About mail-merging
Mail-merging is the process of merging variable data and fixed text.
Using mail-merging, you can create individualised letters, envelopes, labels and other documents without having to laboriously create each individual one.
Mail-merging naturally fulfils one of the DfES's conditions of reducing the administrative burden on teachers, namely that when data is inputted into a computer system it should be right first time. One of the aspects of this principle is that computer data should not have to be re-entered in order to generate a different view of it.
Examples of mail-merging
The "right first time" principle can be illustrated by the number of different kinds of document that you could create using one set of data consisting of school names and addresses and Head teachers' names:
Notification of funding allocations for anew financial year.
Invitation to a meeting.
Attendance registers for courses/conferences.
End-of-term letter.
Labels for conference packs.
Address labels for the envelopes. You can even use the same set of data (if set up properly initially) to send different letters to (for example):
Primary schools/secondary schools.
Schools that have/have not submitted their ICT Strategy.
Head teachers that are invited to a meeting on Monday, and those invited to the meeting on Tuesday. Advantages of mail-merging
It can save a lot of time over the long term.
Recipients often feel as if they have been given individual attention. Disadvantages of mail-merging
It can take a long time to set up initially, and so may not be worth it for a one-off job.
Recipients often feel as if they have been given individual attention. This is not always a good idea.
Terry Freedman runs the website http://www.ictineducation.org, on which he sells the Big Database, consisting of 1008 records and 23 fields -- ideal for practising mail-merging!
So you've got some spyware, ad-ware, or viruses on your... Read More
It's hard enough as it is these days to get... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the... Read More
In my humble opinion nothing makes a long trip easier... Read More
The Internet is an awesome tool, but be careful and... Read More
I'm eighty-one years old and I bought my first computer... Read More
First things first, what is Firefox? Well, it's a browser.... Read More
I got my eyes set on a iPod mini, as... Read More
That desk in front of you and everything else around... Read More
With the new technology used to transfer information to from... Read More
On 21 August 2003 Symantec Security Response upgraded the W32.SOBIG.F... Read More
How familiar does the following sound? Your computer was working... Read More
Computers are everywhere, and vary in specification, brands, sizes, shaped,... Read More
Cisco Certification: Taking Your First Certification ExamYou've studied hard; you've... Read More
Plasma and LCD TVs are the latest trend in home... Read More
Good Morning Mr. Sampson. Please type in you Personal Identification... Read More
If you use a computer, you need to know more... Read More
As the Web grows more crowded and just plain "noisy"... Read More
Unless you place your faith in internal search engine software... Read More
Here are some tips on how to use screensavers:First of... Read More
Tech support tells me to type 'regedt32' as opposed to... Read More
In the years of the dot com boom and bust,... Read More
Selecting a TV isn't as easy as it used to... Read More
We've all seen them, you've been browsing a website and... Read More
JVC developed and used a high-performance reflective film to produce... Read More
The basic language of the internet is html. If you... Read More
"Aaaaaahhhhhh! I've been invaded by a virus!" Getting a virus... Read More
Digital Video Disc or as it is sometimes referred to... Read More
Have you ever thought about building your own computer system?... Read More
It's free, it comes with Windows and it's used by... Read More
With the bewildering number of digital cameras on the market,... Read More
If you don't have an mp3 player, and even if... Read More
CCNAs and CCNA candidates hear it all the time: â??Get... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the... Read More
When you turn on your computer, does it act like... Read More
With renting methods such as online DVD rental and pay-per-view,... Read More
You probably heard of the new Firefox browser version 1.0... Read More
With the bewildering number of digital cameras on the market,... Read More
Ad Blocking is getting to be a common sport on... Read More
How long do you think DVDs have around? 20 years?... Read More
While most small businesses really do need to find a... Read More
When browsing the internet you are likely to come across... Read More
It's free, it comes with Windows and it's used by... Read More
One of the most confusing parts of beginning your Cisco... Read More
I've worked my way from the CCNA to the CCIE,... Read More
I'm eighty-one years old and I bought my first computer... Read More
With their solid-state technology, compact size, and abundant memory, portable... Read More
A friend told me: "My computer startup seems to be... Read More
In the early days, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) were not... Read More
I have a love-hate relationship with my computer.In fact, often... Read More
What led them to this choice, as all four studios... Read More
In Windows Xp, you can install two operating systems on... Read More
Get started creating web pages using text files and HTML... Read More
Save money. Save 10-15% on utility bills per month. Work... Read More
You use Ctrl+Alt+Del to see what's running on your PC,... Read More
I would like to tell you about a magic home.... Read More
Computers are supposed to speed up our productivity?to help us... Read More
BIOS - Basic Input Output SystemThe central processing unit of... Read More
I have always been interested in computers, but in the... Read More
If you utilize a computer at home or work it... Read More
Cookies, not the kind that Mom makes, but the computer... Read More
Getting a new computer should be an exciting and gratifying... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the... Read More
This article describes the basic properties of color, what the... Read More
If you don't have an mp3 player, and even if... Read More
That desk in front of you and everything else around... Read More
Personal Technology |