Creating Custom Letters

To create your own custom letters, click New. This will open the New Letter window.

Name - Enter the name of the letter as you wish it to appear within the Letter Generator list.

Filename - This is the name of the letter template that will be created. You can either use the default name given, or enter your own name for the template. You will generally not see the filename.

Default - If you have changed the Filename, you can decide to change it back to the default filename by clicking this button.

When creating a new customised letter, you can choose from three ways to begin:

Create from blank template - This option will allow you to select from any of the mail merge fields available, and place them within a blank document. You may then create the template text for your letter yourself.

Base on existing letter - This option will allow you to select a template from a list of all existing letters to use as the basis for your custom letter. You will still have the option to include any of the mail merge fields available to add to this letter, and you will be able to amend the text within the letter template.

Add from another location - You may browse to and select any existing Microsoft Word document to use as the basis for your custom template. You will still have the option to include any of the mail merge fields available to add to this letter, and you will be able to amend the text within the letter template.

Once you have made your selections, click OK.

Word will then open and your custom letter template will be displayed. If you have chosen to base your custom letter on an existing template, you will see the existing template displayed.

Mail Merge Fields - this is a  window displaying the range of data fields that can be selected for inclusion in your custom letter. To add a field to the letter, simply highlight the field name and click Insert (or Enter if using the keyboard).

The field will appear on the document like this:

Dear [112|Salutation]

When you preview letters the field <<CorresName>> will be replaced by the actual correspondence name of the appropriate client. 'Dear' is normal text and will be displayed as it appears here on all generated letters. You can move these merge fields to wherever you wish within the letter.

Once you have added the mail merge fields and template text required to your letter, save and close the template.

Within the Select Letter window, you will now see your letter templates available within the Custom folder.

Note: If you wish, you can move your templates into another folder by dragging and dropping with the mouse.