Creating or Obtaining the Data Source

The next step in the process is to open or create a data source document. This document not only provides the names and addresses that will be merged into your form letter, but it also dictates the merge fields that are placed in the main document (as placeholders for the actual data that will be placed in the form letters during the merge).

Creating a data source during the Mail Merge process is very straightforward because the Mail Merge Wizard provides you with a form that you use to enter people's names, addresses, and other information. When you enter the information for a particular person, you are creating a record. Each record pertains to one person.