MS-Access and Mail Merge-3 ~ LEARN MS-ACCESS TIPS AND TRICKS

Continued from previous Post MS-Access and Mail Merge-2.

MAIL MERGE IN MS-ACCESS

We have already designed and tried the Form Letter preparation procedure through the earlier article. We need all those Objects for the Mail Merge in Access and here we have less work to do. I hope you understood the intricacies of the procedure explained there and how all those objects and methods works together to prepare the Form Letter. Since, we are through with the major designing tasks already; we can concentrate on the implementation of Mail Merge method with some minor changes in two or three places.

I will give few examples below as how to insert Field Values from the Report source Query/Table and how to use Built-in Functions into the letter body text on the editing Form. The user needs only few simple rules to keep in mind to use the Mail Merge method.

I will insert the Main Program Codes at the end of this Article. You may Copy and Paste them in appropriate locations in your Project as suggested there.

Usage of Field Values to merge with the Text:

Data Field Names must be enclosed in square brackets [ ] and there should not be any typographical errors in Field Names.
Use of at least one space between field names is recommended, if they are placed next to each other, but can be used without space also.
Field Names must be picked from the Report Source Data Table/Query only and can be inserted anywhere in the text.
Data field values from other Table/Query can be inserted with the help of built-in Functions (like DLOOKUP()), see usage of built-in functions given below.
If Field Names are joined with & + ' * / (for character or numerical values) it will not be treated as an expression, instead the symbol will appear between the field values. (See Usage of built-in functions for expressions involving Field Values).

Usage Example -1: A Statement of Year-wise special Sales Incentive, credited to [TitleofCourtesy] [Firstname] [LastName]'s personal A/c., is given below for information. His request for transfer to his home town [City]&[Zip] has been approved.

Output : A Statement of Year-wise special Sales Incentive, credited to Dr. Andrew Fuller's personal A/c., is given below for information. His request for transfer to his home town Tacoma&9801 has been approved.

NB: The inserted text will not appear in bold as shown above, it is used here for highlighting the results only.

Usage of Built-in Functions to Merge the result with the Letter text:

Built-in Functions must be enclosed in { } brackets.
Nested Functions should have only the outermost pair of { } brackets, like in {Format(Date(),"mmm-yy")}
Data Field Names enclosed in [ ] can be inserted as parameter for Built-in Functions, like DLOOKUP().
Expressions involving Data Field Names enclosed in [ ] can be joined with + - * / symbols in numerical expressions, & in text data expressions and must be inserted as parameters to the built-in Functions.

Example: To find the 90 days credit period expiry date: {Format([InvoiceDate]+90,"dd/mm/yyyy")}

Usage Example-2: A statement of Year-wise special Sales incentive, of [TitleofCourtesy] [FirstName] [LastName], for a sum of ${DLOOKUP("TotalAmt","Yearwise_Incentive","EmployeeID = " & [EmployeeID])} is credited into his personal A/c. during {Format(DateAdd("m",-1,Date()),"mmm-yyyy")}, is given below for information. His request for transfer to his home town [City], has been approved effective {Date()+15}.

Output: A statement of Year-wise special Sales incentive of Dr. Andrew Fuller, for a sum of $8696.41 is credited into his personal A/c. during Sep-2007, is given below for information. His request for transfer to his home town Tacoma, has been approved effective 30/10/2007.

Don'ts:

[ ] and { } brackets should not be used within the letter body text anywhere other than enclosing Field Names and Built-in Functions respectively.

NB: A simple validation check is performed on the input text for matching pairs of [ ] and { } and if you leave out one closing ] in one Field and one opening [ in a different Field the validation check will not detect it and you will end up with Errors. In that case find out the errors, correct them and re-run.

Always print a trial run page of the letter and check the output thoroughly for accuracy before the final print.

We need to make few changes to the Objects as a final step, the Cross-tab Query, the Letter editing Screen and on the Report Design.

Copy and paste the SQL String given below into the SQL window of Yearwise_FreightQ1 Query that we have created earlier overwriting the old SQL String and save the Query. This change is to create a new column for Total Amount of 1996, 1997 & 1998 figures.
```
TRANSFORM Sum(Yearwise_FreightQ0.Sales) AS SumOfSales
SELECT Yearwise_FreightQ0.EmployeeID,
 Sum(Yearwise_FreightQ0.Sales) AS TotalAmt
FROM Yearwise_FreightQ0
GROUP BY Yearwise_FreightQ0.EmployeeID
PIVOT Yearwise_FreightQ0.Year;
```
After saving the Yearwise_FreightQ1 run the Make-table Query: Yearwise_IncentiveQ by double-clicking on it to create the output table Yearwise_incentive with the new column TotalAmt, which we have used within the DLOOKUP() Function in the usage Example-2 above.
Open the letter editing Form (Letter) in design view, create a Combo Box to display the Report Source Data Field Names, which the Users can reference and type them correctly into the Body Text. See the image below:

Click to Enlarge

Turn off the Control Wizards (the Magic Want Symbol) on the Toolbox, if it is on, before clicking on the combo box control on the toolbox. Draw a Combo Box on the Form anywhere convenient on the design surface (I have placed at the left side of the body text area). Display the Property Sheet of the Combo Box and change the following property values:
- Name = cboFields
- Row Source Type = Field List
- Row Source = LetterQ
- Column Count = 1
- Column Width = 1"
- List Rows = 8
- List Width = 1"

Copy and Paste the following revised Code into the VB Module of the above Form (Letter) for the cmdPreview Button:

Private Sub cmdPreview_Click()
On Error Resume Next
Me.Refresh
DoCmd.OpenReport "Letter", acViewPreview

If Err > 0 Then
  MsgBox "Errors in Report source Data."
  Err.clear
End If

End Sub

Save the Form with the above change.
Open the Report named Letter in design view. Click on Para1 text box control and remove the field name Para1 from the Control Source property. Change the Name property to Para1x.
Remove the Field Name Para2 from the second Text Box's Control Source property and change its Name Property to Para2x.
Both Controls now show as Unbound Text Boxes.

Click to Enlarge

Copy and paste the following VB Code into the VB Module of the above Report:

Private Sub Report_Open(Cancel As Integer)
Dim xPara1, xPara2, ErrFlag1 As Boolean
Dim ErrFlag2 As Boolean, x

On Error Resume Next

xPara1 = DLookup("Para1", "LetterQ")
xPara2 = DLookup("Para2", "LetterQ")

'submit para1 for parsing
ErrFlag1 = False
x = MailMerge(xPara1)
Me![Para1x].ControlSource = x

If Err > 0 Then
    ErrFlag1 = True
    Err.Clear
End If

'submit para2 for parsing
ErrFlag2 = False
x = MailMerge(xPara2)
Me![Para2x].ControlSource = x

If Err > 0 Then
    ErrFlag2 = True
    Err.Clear
End If

If ErrFlag1 Or ErrFlag2 Then
   MsgOK "Errors Found, Correct them and re-try."
End If

End Sub

Save the Report after the changes.
Open a new Global VB Module in your Project. Copy and paste the following Main Programs and save the Module. The lines of code above the Function MailMerge() are Global Declarations and must appear at the top-most area of the Module.

Type ParaTxt
    text As Variant
    status As Boolean
End Type

Type SpecRec
    LsStart As Integer
    Lsend As Integer
    LfStart As Integer
    Lfend As Integer
    Str As String
    fun As String
End Type

Dim V As ParaTxt, DatF() As SpecRec, DatF2() As SpecRec

Public Function MailMerge(ByVal inpara) As String  
'------------------------------------------------------  
'Author : a.p.r. pillai  
'Date   : 01-10-2007  
'Remarks: Scan and Parse Text  
'------------------------------------------------------
Dim i As Integer, k As Long, L As Long
Dim i2 As Integer, xpara, ypara, yxpara
Dim j As Integer, xchar As String
Dim qot As String, size As Long
Dim curlbon As Boolean

On Error GoTo MailMerge_Err

yxpara = inpara

V.text = inpara
V.status = True

qot = Chr$(34)

strValidate 'run validation check

If V.status Then
  MailMerge = yxpara
  Exit Function
End If

'scan for Merged Fields
'ignore if embedded within built-in Function

xpara = V.text

i = 0
For j = 1 To Len(xpara)
  xchar = Mid(xpara, j, 1)
  If xchar = "{" Then
     curlbon = True
  End If
  If xchar = "[" And curlbon = False Then
     i = i + 1
  ElseIf xchar = "}" And curlbon = True Then
      curlbon = False
  End If
Next

If i > 0 Then
  i = i + 1
  ReDim DatF2(1 To i)
Else
  GoTo chkFunction
End If

'Parse embedded fields
L = 1: curlbon = False
For j = 1 To Len(xpara)
  If j = 1 Then
    DatF2(L).LsStart = 1
  End If

  xchar = Mid(xpara, j, 1)
  If xchar = "{" Then
     curlbon = True
  End If
  If xchar = "[" And curlbon = False Then
    DatF2(L).Lsend = j - 1
       size = DatF2(L).Lsend - DatF2(L).LsStart + 1
       DatF2(L).Str = Mid(xpara, DatF2(L).LsStart, size)
       DatF2(L).LfStart = j
  End If
  If xchar = "]" And curlbon = False Then
       DatF2(L).Lfend = j
       size = DatF2(L).Lfend - DatF2(L).LfStart + 1
       DatF2(L).fun = Mid(xpara, DatF2(L).LfStart, size)
       L = L + 1
       DatF2(L).LsStart = j + 1
  End If
  If xchar = "}" And curlbon = True Then
      curlbon = False
  End If

Next
DatF2(L).Str = Mid(xpara, DatF2(L).LsStart)
DatF2(L).fun = ""

'create output from parsed string
ypara = ""
For j = 1 To L - 1
  If j = 1 Then
    ypara = DatF2(j).Str & qot & " & " & DatF2(j).fun
  Else
    ypara = ypara & " & " & qot & DatF2(j).Str & qot & " & " & DatF2(j).fun
  End If
Next

ypara = ypara & " & " & qot & DatF2(j).Str
If Len(DatF2(j).fun) > 0 Then
   ypara = ypara & qot & " & " & DatF2(j).fun
End If

xpara = ypara

chkFunction:

'scan for embedded built-in functions
i2 = 0
For j = 1 To Len(xpara)
  If Mid(xpara, j, 1) = "{" Then
    i2 = i2 + 1
  End If
Next

If i2 > 0 Then
  i2 = i2 + 1
  ReDim DatF(1 To i2)
Else
  GoTo Finish
End If

'parse built-in functions
L = 1
For j = 1 To Len(xpara)
  If j = 1 Then
    DatF(L).LsStart = 1
  End If
  If Mid(xpara, j, 1) = "{" Then
    DatF(L).Lsend = j - 1
       size = DatF(L).Lsend - DatF(L).LsStart + 1
       DatF(L).Str = Mid(xpara, DatF(L).LsStart, size)
    DatF(L).LfStart = j + 1
  End If
  If Mid(xpara, j, 1) = "}" Then
    DatF(L).Lfend = j - 1
       size = DatF(L).Lfend - DatF(L).LfStart + 1
       DatF(L).fun = Mid(xpara, DatF(L).LfStart, size)
    L = L + 1
    DatF(L).LsStart = j + 1
  End If
Next
DatF(L).Str = Mid(xpara, DatF(L).LsStart)
DatF(L).fun = ""

'format the paragraph
ypara = ""
For j = 1 To L - 1
  If j = 1 Then
    ypara = DatF(j).Str & qot & " & " & DatF(j).fun
  Else
    ypara = ypara & " & " & qot & DatF(j).Str & qot & " & " & DatF(j).fun
  End If
Next

ypara = ypara & " & " & qot & DatF(j).StrIf
 Len(DatF(j).fun) > 0 Then
   ypara = ypara & qot & " & " & DatF(j).fun
End If

Finish:

'if there is no value for merging then
If i2 = 0 And i = 0 Then
  ypara = yxpara
End If

xpara = "=" & qot & ypara & qot

MailMerge = xpara

MailMerge_Exit:
Exit Function

MailMerge_Err:
MsgBox Err.Description, , "MailMerge()"
MailMerge = ""
Resume MailMerge_Exit
End Function

Public Function strValidate()  
'------------------------------------------------------  
'Author : a.p.r. pillai  
'Date   : 01-10-2007  
'Remarks: Pre-parsing validation check  
'Returned Valule = False, if no errors in Expressions  
'------------------------------------------------------   
Dim xpara, j As Long, xchar As String   
Dim msg As String, flag As  Boolean   
Dim SBopen As Integer, SBCIose As Integer   
Dim CBopen As Integer, CBclose As Integer   
Dim str1 As String, str2 As String

   On Error GoTo strValidate_Err

    xpara = V.text
    xpara = Trim(xpara)

    SBopen = 0: SBCIose = 0
    CBopen = 0: CBclose = 0
    str1 = "missing for built-in Function(s)."
    str2 = "missing for Fieldname(s)."

    For j = 1 To Len(xpara)
        xchar = Mid(xpara, j, 1)
       Select Case xchar
            Case "["
                SBopen = SBopen + 1
            Case "]"
               SBCIose = SBCIose + 1
            Case "{"
                CBopen = CBopen + 1
            Case "}"
                CBclose = CBclose + 1
        End Select
    Next
    msg = ""
    If SBopen = SBCIose Then
       GoTo nextstep
   Else
       If SBopen > SBCIose Then
         msg = "1. Closing ] " & str2
         flag = True
       Else
         msg = "1. Opening [ " & str2
         flag = True
      End If
   End If
nextstep:
    If CBopen = CBclose Then
       GoTo FinalStep
    Else
       If CBopen > CBclose Then
         If flag Then
          msg = msg & vbCr & "2. Closing } " & str1
         Else
           msg = "1. Closing } " & str1
         flag = True
         End If
       Else
        If flag Then
            msg = msg & vbCr & "2. Opening { " & str1
        Else
            msg = "1. Opening { " & str1
           flag = True
         End If
       End If
   End If

FinalStep:
   If flag Then
      msg = "Errors found in field/function definitions." & vbCr & vbCr & msg & vbCr & vbCr & "Program Aborted. " & vbCr & "Correct the errors and re-try."
      MsgBox msg
      V.status = True
    Exit Function
   End If

  V.status = False

strValidate_Exit:
Exit Function

strValidate_Err:
MsgBox Err.Description, , "strValidateQ"
strValidate = True
Resume strValidate_Exit
End Function

If you end up with errors when you Compile/Run the Programs for the first time try linking the essential Library Files to your Project and try again. Visit the Page Command Button Animation for a list of Library Files and for help on linking those files to your Project.

The Validation Program performs a simple validation check on the input data and gives out warnings if something found not in order.

Open the Text editing screen: Letter and try out examples explained above by inserting Field Names, Built-in Functions and Functions that uses Field Values as parameters and click the Preview Command Button to open the Report with merged values and check whether the output is coming correctly as expected.

Even though the program is very simple in its implementation it is very effective within controlled environment, User friendly and will be a powerful Tool in your Projects.

Any suggestions for improvement of the program are welcome.