How do I auto-launch Microsoft Word for a mail merge?

When you want to merge an exported data file into MS Word, you can use the Auto-Launch Word feature to automatically merge your data into an existing document which will open the merge template that you specified in the export and will merge the data.

Notes:

• Before you can use this feature, you must have already created the MS Word template with all desired merge fields.
• The auto-launch feature is removed from FIMS on Azure Cloud. On-premises customers will be able to continue to use this feature.  

How to use auto-launch:
Once you have set up the Word document, you can activate the Auto-Launch Word feature for your exports:

• On the FIMS Report Selections window for your export, click the Send To tab.
• Enter your merge document's path and file name in the Auto Launch Document field.
• Enter any other selection or sorting criteria as desired.
• Click the Saved Reports tab and save the export so that you can easily recall the export settings (including the merge document's path and file name) for future merges to the same document.

Where auto-launch is used in FIMS:
Here are all of the places in FIMS that use auto-launch:

• Exports > 'Send To' tab
  • Reports > Profiles > User Defined Profile Export
  • Reports > Profiles > Export to Word Processing
  • Reports > Gifts > Gift History - Export
  • Reports > Gifts > User Defined Gift History Export
  • Reports > Gifts > Soft Credit Acknowledgement Export
  • Reports > Gifts > Memorial/Honorary Gift >> Report > Export
  • Reports > Gifts > Donor Reports > Donor Name and Address - Export
  • Reports > Gifts > Donor Reports > Promise Export
  • Reports > Gifts > Donor Reports > Special Donor - Export/Listing >> Report > Export
  • Gifts Module > Unposted Gifts > Processes > Gift Acknowledgements - Export
  • Reports > Pledges > Pledge Payments Due - Export
  • Pledges Module > Unposted Pledges > Processes > Pledge Acknowledgement Export
  • Reports > Funds > User Defined Fund Export
  • Reports > Funds > Fund Representative Export
  • Reports > Grants > Application History Export
  • Reports > Grants > Export Grant Information
  • Reports > Grants > User Defined Application History Export
  • Reports > Grants > Conditions Follow-up Due Report/Export >> Report > Export
  • Reports > Grants > Application Reports > Unposted Application Export w/ Fund Rep
  • Reports > Grants > Application History Reports > Application History Export w/ Fund Rep
  • Reports > Grants > Grantee Reports > Export Grantee Information
  • Grants Module > Applications > Processes > Export Application Data
  • Reports > Scholarships > Export Application History
  • Reports > Scholarships > Student Export
  • Scholarships Module > Applications > Processes > Export Applications
  • Accounts Payable Module > Open Items > Processes > Print Checks >> Check Pre-Print Report > Export Check Info > Export
  • Reports > Accounts Payable > 1099 Vendor Report and Forms >> 1099 Vendor Report > Export
  • Reports > Accounts Payable > 1099 Vendor Report w/ Fund Information>> 1099 Vendor Report > Export
  • Reports > FACTS > Outstanding Checks Report >> Report > Export
  • General Ledger Module >> Journal Entry > Automatic Entries > Sweep Clearing Account >> Report > export
  • File Maintenance > Accounts Payable > Recurring Vouchers from Fund Distributions >> Report > Export
  • File Maintenance > FACTS > Financial Institution Interface - DataPort > Processes > Process ASTTC XML Data >> Report > Export Detail (and also Export Summary)
  • Data Grids > Prcoesses Button > Export
  • Tools > System Utilities > Admin Utilities > Import Record Updates >> Report > Export To Audit File
  • Reports > General Ledger > Fund Statements Export > 'Export To' tab
  • Reports > General Ledger > Consolidated Financial Statements Export > 'Export To' tab