Populate PDF Forms From Data Files using … PDF Forms From Data Files using AutoMailMerge for Adobe...

Post on 03-Jul-2018

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Populate PDF Forms From Data Filesusing

AutoMailMerge for Adobe Acrobat®

www.evermap.com

What is it for?

Populate a single PDF form template with data to produce multiple personalized PDF files.

Mail Merge Processing:

Sample Use Cases

Fill out government forms Generate invoices or statementsPersonalize newslettersProduce mailing labels

File Prerequisites

1. Template PDF form2. Spreadsheet or database file

Software Prerequisites

1. Adobe Acrobat (Standard/Pro)2. AutoMailMerge plug-in

How it Works?

Every data record is used to produce a single copy of the PDF form:

What is the Output?

1. Multiple personalized PDF forms2. Single compound PDF file (optional)3. Email each output PDF file (optional)

What is a PDF form?

PDF form is a PDF document with interactive fillable fields.

Any PDF document can be converted into a form by adding fields.

Workflow:

1. Get a template PDF document2. Add form fields (if necessary)3. Prepare data file4. Run mail merge

Prepare PDF formStep 1: Open a template PDF document in Acrobat

Prepare PDF formStep 2: Select “Prepare Form” tool

Prepare PDF formStep 3: Use “Add text field” tool to place fields

Repeat for each field that needs to be placed

Give field a meaningful name instead of Text1

Prepare PDF formStep 4: Save PDF form to disk

Now PDF form is ready for mail merge.

Prepare Data in ExcelStep 1: Create new or open existing spreadsheet. Put field names into first row of each column:

Prepare Data in ExcelTip: Give data and form fields the same names to save time during mail merge setup

Data Fields PDF form fields

Prepare Data in ExcelStep 2: Enter data – one row per data record:

Prepare Data in ExcelStep 3: Save spreadsheet and exit Excel once done

Setup Mail MergeStep 1: Open a PDF form in Adobe Acrobat and select “Plug-ins > Mail Merge” from the menu:

Setup Mail MergeStep 2: Start mail merge setup by pressing “Edit Settings” button:

Setup Mail MergeStep 3: Press “Browse” button to choose a data file

Setup Mail MergeStep 4: Map data fields to form fields

Double-click on form field to map a data field to it

Press “Guess Mapping” button to map fields automatically, based on field names similarity

Press “Next>” button once done mapping fields

Setup Mail MergeStep 5: Specify field options (optional)

Check this option to produce non-fillable PDF documents as output

Press “Next>” button to advance to next step

Setup Mail MergeStep 6: Specify output folder and file naming

Press “Browse” button to select a folder where to save all output PDF files

Press “Next>” button to advance to next step

Setup Mail MergeStep 7: Optionally complete the rest of the screens or just click “Next>” button to skip the rest of non-essential steps.

Setup Mail MergeStep 8: Save settings into a file for reuse:

Run Mail MergeStep 1: Start processing

Run Mail MergeStep 2: Open output folder and inspect results

More Resources

Product web page: www.evermap.com/AutoMailMerge.asp

Step-by-step tutorial: http://www.evermap.com/AutoMailMerge/HowToAutoMailMerge.pdf

How to create and edit PDF forms:http://www.evermap.com/creatingforms.asp

Copyright© EverMap Company LLC, 2016