Mail Merge Tools

You can edit the text of your mail merge letters, and use mail merge tools to help personalize the documents even further. When you save the document and exit your word processor, you return to theLetter Library where you can define the rest of the document properties.

Variables - You can personalize your mail merge documents by placing variables within the text of the document. Then, when you merge the document for a patient, parent, dentist, or other professional, the variables are replaced with information specific to that person. See "Mail Merge Variables" for details.

Ask For Text - The mail merge Ask / Ref field code combination is a handy way to ask for a typed response, then place that response at one or more locations in a merge document, or to use that response in a conditional statement. When you generate a document that has Ask / Ref codes, the merge will stop and prompt you to enter unique text. You can then either print that text in one or more locations in the document, or use it to test conditional statements. The response you type is not saved: It is used only for the current merging job. See "Mail Merge Tool: Ask for Text" for details.

Electronic Signatures - If you have installed one or more e-Pad devices at your workstations, you may want to include an electronic signature in your mail merge documents. This is especially useful for Truth-In-Lending and Contract documents, as the electronic signature will be archived in the correspondence history along with the merged document. See "Mail Merge Tool: Electronic Signature" for details.

Envelopes - You can associate an envelope with mail merge documents that require mailing, so that you can generate both the letter and accompanying envelope simultaneously. See "Mail Merge Envelopes" for details.

Fill-In Merge Codes - The mail merge Fill-In code is a simple way to insert a typed response into a specific location in a merge letters. When you generate a document that has a Fill-In code, the merge will stop and prompt you to enter the text you want to print in place of the Fill-In command. The text you type is not saved: It is used only for the current merging job, and only in the specific location where the Fill-In code exists in the merge document. See "Mail Merge Tool: "Fill-In" Fields" for details.

IF Conditional Codes - Use the mail merge If code to test the data being merged, and insert appropriate wording into the document. For example, you may want to print specific paragraphs based on the patient’s age, or include a second address line on envelopes only when appropriate.See "Mail Merge Tool: "If" Conditional Statements" for details.

Patient Images - You can add variables that will insert VP Imaging or Edge Imaging patient images into your mail merge documents. See "Mail Merge Tool: Patient Images" for details.

Treatment Findings Variables - You can insert both the short and long descriptions of your patients' treatment findings and patient etc. information from the Findings page of the patient folder into your mail merge documents, and print them in either list or paragraph form. See "Mail Merge Findings Variables" for details.