Document Automation: Create A Simple Template

Document Automation: Create A Simple Template

Overview

Creating a template is as easy as creating a normal Word document (.docx). Yet it could be confusing to people who haven't used the Mail Merge feature in Microsoft Word. The steps are as follows:

Setup

  • Create a new word document

Step 1

  • Create your template

Add fields

Microsoft Windows

  • Click the Insert tab on the ribbon

Step 3.1

  • Click the Quick Parts dropdown and select Field...

Step 3.2

  • On the dialog, scroll down and select MergeField

Step 3.3a

  • Select Field Codes

Step 3.3b

Step 4

  • In the Field codes input box, enter your variable in front of the MERGEFIELD. Notice the space between the MERGEFIELD and the variable

Step 5

MacOS

  • From the menu bar, open the Insert menu and select Field...
  • Under Categories, select Mail Merge
  • Under Field names, select MergeField
  • Add your variable name in the input box; make sure to leave a space after the word MERGEFIELD
    • Example: MERGEFIELD =person.first_name
  • Click OK

Preview Template

  • You should then have something like this:
Step 6
  • A complete template might look like this:
Step 7
NOTE: When adding variables, those that display a value are preceded with an equals sign =. Those that just perform logics, such as loops and conditionals, do not need a preceding equals sign.