Mail Merge into word

Question

The Best way to create labels is using existing industry standard tools , such as Microsoft word.

How do you execute this and set up the shipping labels ?

I am unsure how to map merge fields against data grid view columns. This is the code I have so far:

// Create a new empty document.
DocumentModel document = new DocumentModel();

// Add document content.
document.Sections.Add(
    new Section(document,
        new Paragraph(document,
            new Field(document, FieldType.MergeField, "FullName"))));

// Save the document to a file and open it with Microsoft Word.
document.Save("TemplateDocument.docx");
// If document appears empty in Microsoft Word, press Alt + F9.
Process.Start("TemplateDocument.docx");

// Initialize mail merge data source.
var dataSource = new { FullName = "John Doe" };

// Execute mail merge.
document.MailMerge.Execute(dataSource);

// Save the document to a file and open it with Microsoft Word.
document.Save("Document.docx");
Process.Start("Document.docx");

Algae

Your question is extremely unclear. – Scrivenor

If you're generating the document programatically, you don't need to use mail merge at all. – Scrivenor

Answer 1

First, you should learn how to make Label template document. For example, by following this video tutorial: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIg70utT72Q

Before saving the template document, remove mail merge data source created in the mail merge process because you will be using .NET object as mail merge data source. To remove mail merge data source go to Mailings tab -> Start Mail Merge -> select Normal Word Document, like in the image:

Save the document to a file, for example "LabelTemplate.docx". When you press Alt + F9 you should see the field codes like in the following image:

Now you are ready to perform programmatic mail merge with GemBox.Document component (which code you use in the question). Here is a C# code how to perform a mail merge:

// Set licensing info.
ComponentInfo.SetLicense("FREE-LIMITED-KEY");
ComponentInfo.FreeLimitReached += (sender, e) => e.FreeLimitReachedAction = FreeLimitReachedAction.ContinueAsTrial;

// Create mail merge data source. 
// You should use DataGridView.DataSource property - it will return DataView or DataTable that is data-bound to your DataGridView.
var dataTable = new DataTable()
{
    Columns =
    {
        new DataColumn("Name"),
        new DataColumn("Surname"),
        new DataColumn("Company")
    },
    Rows =
    {
        { "John", "Doe", "ACME" },
        { "Fred", "Nurk", "ACME" },
        { "Hans", "Meier", "ACME" }
    }
};

var document = DocumentModel.Load("LabelTemplate.docx", LoadOptions.DocxDefault);

// Use this if field names and data column names differ. If they are the same (case-insensitive), then you don't need to define mappings explicitly.
document.MailMerge.FieldMappings.Add("First_Name", "Name");
document.MailMerge.FieldMappings.Add("Last_Name", "Surname");
document.MailMerge.FieldMappings.Add("Company_Name", "Company");

// Execute mail merge. Each mail merge field will be replaced with the data from the data source's appropriate row and column.
document.MailMerge.Execute(dataTable);

// Remove any left mail merge field.
document.MailMerge.RemoveMergeFields();

// Save resulting document to a file.
document.Save("Labels.docx");

The resulting "Labels.docx" document should look like this:

Promotional header is added automatically because the component is used in the Trial mode. GemBox.Document mail merge is very flexible, it supports hierarchical mail merge, customizing each field merging by handling FieldMerging event or by specifying merge field format string.

Aerify

Thank you so much for this, it worked exactly as you explained, and it was very very helpful. You guys ROCK! – Shutout