Merge data file format


This application provides the ability to merge a file or data into a WriteUp document to create copies of that document for each line of data in the data file.  The format of that file is described below.


The format of WriteUp's data file for mail merge is a simple one. Each line contains a record of data items, each data item is separated by tabs or commas. Tabs cannot appear in a field. When WriteUp reads in the data file from the Merge Data panel, it assumes the first line in the file has the corresponding Field names.  These field names are used to generate tokens in the Merge Token Panel.

The following is a simple example, where "<tab>" is actually a Tab character, and "<newline>" is actually a newline or return character...

FirstName<tab>LastName<tab>Addr1<tab>Addr2<newline>
Bill<tab>Wilson<tab>464 Main St.<tab>Las Vegas, NV 99902<newline>
John<tab>LeCarré<tab>565 Elm St.<tab>Las Vegas, NV 99902<newline>
Harvey<tab>Wallbanger<tab>1000 East Ave.<tab>NY, NY 02444<newline>
Jim<tab>Kirk<tab>56 Longshore Drive.<tab>NY, NY 02444<newline>
Pat<tab>Lucecannon<tab>503 Broadway<tab>NY, NY 02444<newline>
Joe<tab>Smith<tab>13456 Wilshire Blvd.<tab>Los Angeles, CA 99908<newline>

In the WriteUp document, any occurrences of the «LastName» token will be replaced with the appropriate LastName column data item from the data file.


See also

Create a merge document
Insert a merge token
Generating merge tokens from data file
Merge Data Panel