Mail merge integration techniques

US8661342B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Michael James Lu · Seattle, US
• Edward A. Martinez · Redmond, US
• Shashi Ranjan · Redmond, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 17, 2008
• Grant date: Feb 25, 2014
• Expiry date: Mar 6, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/10
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

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.