This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

Skip Navigation skip menu and banner
University of Wyoming

4HPlus!
4H4Me Announcement Letter

[pdf version]  [sample mail merge letter]

An announcement letter introducing 4H4Me can be created using 4HPlus! SQL mail merge files and Word's mail merge.  This letter includes user IDs and passwords needed for members and leaders to log on to the 4H4Me system.

Create the Mail Merge File

The mail merge file is created in the members' and leaders' SQL.  Complete these steps for the members and then for the leaders.

  1. Open the 4HPlus! program.
  2. Click Go to > Members > SQL.

Note:  Click Go to > Leaders > SQL when creating the leader file.

  1. At the SQL screen, click Request > Mail Merge.  The Selection Criteria screen displays.  See Figure 1.  Click the image to enlarge it.

Figure 1. Selection for 4H4Me Letter Click the image to enlarge it.

Figure 1.  Selection for 4H4Me Letter
  1. Check the ID field.
  2. Click the Equal to radio button in the Operator section.
  3. Type an asterisk * in the Enter Target String field.
  4. Press Enter.
  5. Click the Process radio button.
  6. Select the fields to include in the mail merge file.  See Figure 2.  Click the image to enlarge it.

Figure 2. Mail Merge Fields Click the image to enlarge it.

Figure 2.  Mail Merge Fields
  1. Check the First and Last name boxes.
  2. Check the Street, City, State, and Zip boxes.
  3. Check the User ID and Password boxes.
  1. Click the Continue (select sort order) button.  The Sort Method screen displays.
  2. Check the Last and First name boxes.  See Figure 3.  Click the image to enlarge it.

Figure 3. Sort Order Click the image to enlarge it.

Figure 3.  Sort Order
  1. Click the Process My Request! button.
  2. An information message displays showing the location of the mail merge file.  Make a note of the file's location.  Click OK.

Mail Merge File location.

  1. Click Exit.
  2. Exit the program when both files are created.

Warning:  Rename the 4HPMail.dat file for the members before creating the leaders' file.  Otherwise, it will be overwritten when the leaders' file is created.  For example, rename it to 4Hmembers.txt.  After the leaders' file is created, rename it to 4Hleaders.txt.

Create the Announcement Letter

The announcement letter is created in Word and uses the mail merge feature to personalize the letter with the user ID and password.

  1. Open Word, and start a new document if needed.
  2. Click Tools > Letters and Mailings > Mail Merge.  The mail merge wizard displays in the task pane.
  3. Select the Letters radio button.
  4. Click the Next: Starting document link.
  5. Select the Use the current document radio button.
  6. Click the Next: Select recipients link.
  7. Select the Use an existing list radio button.
  8. Click the Browse link in the Use an existing list section.
  9. Navigate to the C:\CKV\4HPlus\WY\Files folder.
  10. Change the Files of type to All files(*.*).
  11. Locate the 4Hmembers.txt file.
  12. Click Open.
  13. Click the Next: Write your letter link.

Write the Letter

  1. Click Insert > Date and Time.
  2. Highlight the desired date format.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Press Enter twice.
  5. Click the Address Block link in the task pane.
  6. Click the Match Fields button.
  7. Click the Address1 down arrow.
  8. Select Street.  See Figure 4.

Figure 4. Match Fields

Figure 4.  Match Fields
  1. Click OK.
  2. Highlight the desired recipient's format.  See Figure 5.

Figure 5. Address Block

Figure 5.  Address Block
  1. Uncheck the Insert company name box.
  2. Check the Never include the country/region in the address radio button.
  3. Click OK.
  4. Press Enter twice.
  5. Click the Greeting line link.
  6. Select the parameters for the greeting line.  See Figure 6.

Figure 6. Greeting Line

Figure 6.  Greeting Line
  1. Type the rest of the letter.  A sample letter is available.
  2. Include the user ID and password.
    1. Click the More items link.
    2. Highlight user ID.
    3. Click Insert.
    4. Click Close.
    5. Click the More items link.
    6. Highlight password.
    7. Click Insert.
    8. Click Close.
  3. Click the Next: Preview your letters link.
  4. Review the letters as needed.
  5. Click the Next: Complete the merge link.
  6. Click Print.

Use the Leaders Mail Merge File

Use the same letter for the leaders to complete the mail merge.  Click the Previous links until the Select recipients displays.  Click the Select a different list link.  Select the leaders file.  Complete the rest of the mail merge.

Ed.  9/12/2005

[top]  • Back • Home • Up • Next •

Updated 09/13/2006