To insert a barcode, the OnMerge Barcodes software must already be installed.

Mail Merge Basics

The Mail Merge process works with two elements: the master document (or form letter) and with a data source. The data source can be another Word document, a spreadsheet, an Outlook Address Book, a database, or other data source. Whatever the exact nature of your data source, it is always divided into one or more rows, each row containing one or more fields (also known as columns).

Word 2007: Comma- and tab-separated (CSV, TSV, Text) data does not work with OnMerge. This is due to a limitation in Word.

Word 2010 and later: If your document is in the old (.doc, .dot) format, Comma- and tab-separated (CSV, TSV, Text) data does not work with OnMerge due to a limitation in Word. They work fine with new Word document format (.docx, .docm, .dotx).

The Mail Merge process will repeatedly print the master document, once for each row of the source data, but with a twist: you can specify that each copy of the master document must have some of the source data fields inserted into the result at specific places. Since there is a the master document made for each row of the source data, only the data fields from that row are inserted into the corresponding copy of the master document.

Setting Up a Mail Merge

The master document is a regular Word document, but the data source requires setting up. The easiest way to do that is to use the Mail Merge Wizard:

Select Mailings | Start Mail Merge | Step by Step Mail Merge Wizard in Word's Ribbon and follow directions.

If the Mail Merge Wizard doesn't meet your needs, access Word's Help and search for "mail merge," or consult a local expert.

Inserting an OnMerge Barcode

1. Make sure that the data source you'll be using is loaded into Word as outlined above.
2. Place Word’s cursor where the barcode should appear. If you need to place the barcode somewhere away from the cursor, see here.
3. Pop up OnMerge Barcodes by clicking [Word 2007 and onward]: Mailings, OnMerge Barcodes, or [Word 2002 – 3]: the button in the Mail Merge toolbar. See here for details.
4. The OnMerge Barcodes dialog will pop up with the Barcode Setting tab showing. Fill in the appropriate settings. At a minimum, this will probably include the Barcode Type, Barcode Width and Barcode Height. See here for details.
5. Click on the Barcode Data tab and follow the steps shown below, starting with Step 1:
   
6. There are 6 lines like the one shown in steps 1 and 2, above. You can select different data into each line; OnMerge Barcodes will combine all 6 lines' data to create the barcode.
7. Each of those lines may be a database lookup, or you may select Text in (1 above) to enter plain text that will be joined with the database field(s) as shown here. Likewise, you may select Bookmark to pull in data from bookmarked text elsewhere in the Word document.
8. If the barcode preview area (5 above) displays an error message, review the data-format rules shown in blue above the data entry area. This area will explain any restrictions on the character set, amount, and format of the data that apply to the particular Barcode Type you’re creating.
9. Press OK. You’re ready to complete the mail merge.