MAIL MERGE INTEGRATION TECHNIQUES
First Claim
1. A method for generating a mail merge document from a customer relationship management application that can integrate with a mail merge operation on a client-side word processor comprising the steps of:
- receiving one or more mail merge settings from a user, including a record set to use in a mail merge operation;
creating a new mail merge document;
adding the record set to the new mail merge document; and
adding a link to a template that will control the mail merge operation on a client-side word processor, the template being operable to be attached to the new mail merge document and opened on the client-side word processor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for integrating a customer relationship management application with a mail merge operation on a client-side word processor. Mail merge settings are received from a user, including a record set to use in a mail merge operation. A new mail merge document is created. The record set is added to the mail merge document. A link is added to a template that will control the mail merge operation on a client-side word processor. The linked template gets attached to the new mail merge document when opened on the client-side word processor. Techniques for beginning a mail merge operation on a client-side word processor are described. A downloaded mail merge document is validated. The record set contained in the downloaded mail merge document is separated into one or more separate files. A mail merge wizard is started and advanced to a proper stage.
52 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for generating a mail merge document from a customer relationship management application that can integrate with a mail merge operation on a client-side word processor comprising the steps of:
-
receiving one or more mail merge settings from a user, including a record set to use in a mail merge operation; creating a new mail merge document; adding the record set to the new mail merge document; and adding a link to a template that will control the mail merge operation on a client-side word processor, the template being operable to be attached to the new mail merge document and opened on the client-side word processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method for beginning a mail merge operation on a client-side word processor comprising the steps of:
-
validating a downloaded mail merge document that contains settings specified previously by a user, including a record set to use as a data source along with a link to a template that contains a macro for controlling a mail merge operation when opened within a client-side word processor; separating the record set contained in the downloaded mail merge document into one or more separate files; and starting a mail merge wizard and advancing the mail merge wizard to a later stage based upon settings already specified by the user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising:
-
receiving a selection from a user to upload a mail merge template for a word processor to a customer relationship management application; prompting the user to specify additional template settings that are used by the customer relationship management application to help integrate a mail merge operation initiated in the customer relationship management application with the word processor; and storing the mail merge template and additional template settings in the customer relationship management application for later use. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification