Mail Merge With Variable Pictures Using Word 2013

I don't know why anyone would say it isn't possible or that the .doc format is required. Neither proposition is true.

To insert variable images in a mailmerge, you need to embed the relevant mailmerge field in a INCLUDEPICTURE field. However, there are some issues with this that make the process less straightforward than one might expect. For example, when embedding a mailmerge field in an INCLUDEPICTURE field for the purpose of merging graphics:

1. the file paths to the fields need to have the separators expressed as '\' or '/' instead of the usual '';

2. the pictures usually won't show until you refresh the fields (eg Ctrl-A, then F9) in the output document after completing the merge; and

3. even after updating the images, they remain linked to the image files, which can be an issue if you later delete the image or you need to send the merged output to someone else.

The following field construction addresses all three issues (i.e. you don't need to do anything special to the paths, or refresh the fields, and they'll no longer be linked to the source files):

{IF{INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "C:\Users\My Document Path\Pictures\«Image»"} \d} {INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "C:\Users\My Document Path\Pictures\«Image»"} \d}}

or:

{IF{INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "C:\Users\My Document Path\Pictures{MERGEFIELD Image}"} \d} {INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "C:\Users\My Document Path\Pictures{MERGEFIELD Image}"} \d}}

After running a mailmerge coded this way, you'll have the correct, unlinked image for each record.

This form of field construction can be very useful where the filepath for the images is held in the mailmerge data source, in which case you could use:

{IF{INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "«FilePath»\«Image»"} \d} {INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "«FilePath»\«Image»"} \d}}

or:

{IF{INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "{MERGEFIELD FilePath}{MERGEFIELD Image}"} \d} {INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "{MERGEFIELD FilePath}{MERGEFIELD Image}"} \d}}

Note 1 : You need a path separator between the filepath mergefield and the image mergefield. If that separator is included in the source data, it can be omitted from the field above construction but leaving it there has no adverse effects

either.

If you can be sure the pictures will always be in the same folder as the mailmerge main document, you can incorporate a FILENAME field thus:

{IF{INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "{FILENAME \p}..{MERGEFIELD Image}"} \d} {INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "{FILENAME \p}..{MERGEFIELD Image}"} \d}}

or:

{IF{INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "{FILENAME \p}..\«Image»"} \d} {INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "{FILENAME \p}..\«Image»"} \d}}

If the path data are included with in the image field, you can use:

{IF{INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE «Image»} \d} {INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE «Image»} \d}}

or:

{IF{INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE {MERGEFIELD Image}} \d} {INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE {MERGEFIELD Image}} \d}}

For what it's worth, *provided* the path has the separators expressed as '\' or '/', you can retain the links by omitting the all-encompassing IF test and the images will display correctly without the need to refresh the fields after completing the merge. For example:

{INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "C:\Users\My Document Path\Pictures\«Image»"} \d}

Note 2: The field brace pairs (i.e. '{ }') for the above example are created in the document itself, via Ctrl-F9 (Cmd-F9 on a Mac); you can't simply type them or copy & paste them from this message. Nor is it practicable to add them via any of the standard Word dialogues. Likewise, you can't type or copy & paste the chevrons (i.e. '« »') - they're part of the actual mergefields, which you can insert from the mailmerge toolbar. The spaces represented in the field construction are all required.

Thank you, Paul. However, I doubt I would be able to follow your directions to test the steps. That said, I'm sure there are others out there with enough familiarity with all those lines of codes you included and know Word merge enough to copy/paste or do whatever needs doing to get the merge to work. In any case, hopefully my post and yours are valuable to others. I didn't find anything relevant or recent in this regard when I searched the Microsoft Community. This is not a common application for Word merge and I own many Word books--none of them even mentioned it.

Good day all,

I was also struggling with this feature (until tonight).

I am using Office 365 (Word 2016 and Excel 2016).

I am trying to put a unique picture and unique QR code on a business card using mail merge from an excel file.

My Excel headers and sample data are as follows:

I am successfully using DISPLAYBARCODE as follows:

{ DISPLAYBARCODE "{ MERGEFIELD Merged_Name }" \s 80 }

I am now successfully using INCLUDEPICTURE using:

{ INCLUDEPICTURE { IF TRUE "{ MERGEFIELD Photo }" \* MERGEFORMAT \d }}

It took me more than several hours to sort this out, but I finally got it working.

Darcy

Hi Paul, 

I have seen your comment on this issue on a number of thread and I have tried to make it work. I am using the extended version to try and address the 3 points you mention. Here is an example of one of my statement: 

{IF {INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "{ MERGEFIELD PictureLocation }"} \d}{ INCLUDEPICTURE {IF TRUE "{ MERGEFIELD PictureLocation }"} \d}}

(Note: The "MERGEFIELD PictureLocation" contains the filepath and image name)

This works and indeed addresses the first two points. But after the merge is complete and pictures can be seen, when I then save the merged file and reopen, or if I change the location of the merged file and reopen, it no longer displays the picture but instead shows:

{ INCLUDEPICTURE \d"C:\Users\temborowski\Desktop\Picture Mail Merge\Picture Library\cycle length.jpg"\* MERGEFORMATINET }

Any ideas why and how to resolve?

Thanks,

Temi

I've posted the same advice (and variations of it) here and on other forums numerous times, and others have posted similar advice too. See also: http://www.gmayor.com/mail_merge_graphics.htm