Mail Mania: Creating a Conditional Word Merge

You've learned how to create a Blackbaud Simple Word Merge. It's pretty simple, eh? Let us take it a step further and look at the Blackbaud Conditional Word Merge. The basic difference between a simple and conditional merge is that a conditional merge generates letters based on a specific field, such as current status, while a simple merge generates the same letter content for everybody. A conditional merge prevents you from having to set up multiple export parameters and create queries to go along with those exports.

For example, let's base a conditional mail merge on status. Applicants with an accepted status receive one letter, waitlisted applicants receive another, and denied applicants receive a third letter.

The conditional merge starts out like the Blackbaud Simple Word Merge, you use a query in an export and select Blackbaud Conditional Word Merge as the format. On the Output tab, you'll select all the merge fields you'll use in the letter, including your conditional field, even if it's not used as a merge field in the letters. In the example above, we'll select Current Status because our letters are dependent on applicants' current status.

To start create your letters, click Conditional merge wizard in the export. You'll see a list of your selected fields. Highlight your conditional field, click Next, and then click New Document. Here's where you set up your condition. In our example, applicants receive a different letter based on their status, so for the first letter, select the condition of equal to, and then select the Accepted status. Enter a description for the letter (hint: Accepted Letter beautifully describes it), and click Edit Merge Document. Enter your letter with the merge fields, click Save and Return to EE7, and then repeat the process until all your letters are entered.

The rest is identical to the Blackbaud Simple Word Merge magic we worked earlier! A la peanut butter sandwiches!