Re: [libreoffice-users] Multi-source Mail Merge

On 11 May 2015 at 16:30, A <publicface@bak.rr.com> wrote:
> On 05/11/2015 05:43 AM, T. R. Valentine wrote:
> > On 9 May 2015 at 13:40, A <publicface@bak.rr.com> wrote:
> > > I have multiple spreadsheet files that each represent one unique item.
> > > As
> > > an analogy, think of the spreadsheet as a basket that contains a variety
> > > of
> > > eggs (both calculated and hand-entered data). I have multiple baskets
> > > each
> > > with multiple eggs.  Each basket (spreadsheet) is associated with one
> > > person.  Each person can have multiple baskets (although that's probably
> > > not
> > > relevant).
> > >
> > > I also have a letter, with which I want to do a mail merge - against each
> > > spreadsheet.  i.e. each letter needs to draw multiple pieces of data
> > > (eggs)
> > > from each spreadsheet, one letter per spreadsheet.
> > >
> > > Normally to do a mail merge you have one data source.  The problem of
> > > course
> > > is that I don't have one data source, I have an unknown number - each
> > > spreadsheet is a data source.  So I'm at a loss as to how to mail merge
> > > against multiple data sources in an automated fashion.
> >
> > Would it be possible to create a 'master' spreadsheet, linked to the
> > various single spreadsheets and then do the mail merge from the
> > 'master'?
>
> That's a really good idea in concept, however in practice I don't know how
> it would work.  I presume you're saying that the master spreadsheet would
> contain filenames of all the other spreadsheets? That's fine except I don't
> see how that helps, as each file needs to be opened by the mail merge
> function one at a time and there doesn't seem to be a way to automate that.
>
> Unless you're saying that the master would contain just the needed cells
> from the other spreadsheets?  That seems interesting... it would solve the
> mail merge problem as then I'd only have one data source, but I'd have to
> hand enter each file name, modifying each cell one at a time.  That doesn't
> sound too appealing.

You copy from the cells in the various spreadsheets and do a Paste
Special to the 'master', selecting 'Link'. That way, any changes made
to the various spreadsheets is reflected in the 'master'. (Ranges can
be copied and linked with a single Paste Special — no need to copy and
re-enter one cell at a time.)

-- 
T. R. Valentine
A rich heart may be under a poor coat.

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