How to resolve the Invalid Merge screen in AutoMail

The following message may displayed when generating a template for a client:

Invalid Merge Field LMCLNAME

The merge field is used in the main document,

But it does not exist in the data source

You can remove the Invalid Merge Field from the main document.

Or you can replace it with a valid Merge Field

From the data source

Why does the Invalid Merge Field message appear?

The message occurs when an AutoMail tag has not been inserted correctly into a template. The tag exists in the AutoMail template but the tag has not been selected in the tag selection screen.

For example, if the tag LMCLName is in your word document but is not present in your tag selection screen then the Invalid merge screen message displays.

What to do when the Invalid Merge Field message appears

At the point you generate a letter AutoMail will not be able to merge the AutoMail tag and so will prompt you with the Invalid Merge Field screen. The message is displayed to inform you that the tag cannot be read and also provide you with two options:

Remove the field or
Insert another tag that is available

It is recommended that you:

Take note of the tag mentioned on the Invalid merge screen message. For example, LMCLNAME.
Click Remove Field to get rid of it for the purpose of generating the letter.
Continue to generate the letter and adjust the template manually.
Once generated it is recommended that you amend your template so that the tags are inserted correctly.

How to stop the Invalid Merge Field message from occurring again

To stop the Invalid Merge Field message from generating, identify the tag causing the Invalid Merge Field to occur. For information see the What to do when the Invalid Merge Field message appears, section.

Once you know which tag is causing the problem, you can then edit your template. There are two ways of editing your template to stop the Invalid Merge Field message showing:

Remove the tag from your word template (you do not want the tag in your template)
Insert the tag into the tag selection screen (you want the tag in your template)

Remove the tag from your word template

You will want to 'remove the tag from the Word document" when you do not want the tag to be in your template. For example, when you generate a letter you get an Invalid Merge Field message. The message displays the Invalid Merge Field as being LMCLCounty (which is the Client's County) and you do want the client's county to be inserted into your letter for this template.

From IRIS Main Menu, click IRIS AutoMail.
The AutoMail - Letter Request Browser displays. Click Templates.
The AutoMail - Letter Template Maintenance screen displays. Highlight the template and click Edit to edit the template.

The template will then be displayed,

Toggle on the Field codes (Press ALT + F9). For more information, click here.
Highlight the Tag (LMCLCounty), causing the Invalid Merge Field to occur, right-click and select Cut.
Minimize Word and click Save in the Tag Selection screen.

An Invalid Merge Field screen will not be displayed when generating the template for the client.

Insert the tag in the Tag Selection screen

You will want to 'insert the tag in the tag selection screen' when you want the tag to be used in your template. For example, when you generate a letter you get an Invalid Merge Field message. The message displays the Invalid merge as being LMCLName (which is the client name tag) and you do want the client's name to be inserted into your letter for this template.

To insert the tag into the tag selection screen

From IRIS Main Menu, click IRIS AutoMail.
The AutoMail - Letter Request Browser displays. Click Templates.
The AutoMail - Letter Template Maintenance screen displays. Highlight the template and click Edit to edit the template.

The template will then be displayed,

Toggle on the Field codes (Press ALT + F9). For more information, click here.
Minimize Word and the Tag Selection screen displays.
Open the folder, the Particular Client | Common | select the Client Name for documents option.
Click Refresh.
Maximise Word, to enter the tag in the document.
Left-click on the document where you would like to enter the tag.
To check for versions of Word, Click on Help | About when in the Word Document.

For version of MS Word 2007 or later:

Click the Mailings tab | In the Write & Insert Fields section, click on the Insert Merge Field down arrow.
Select LMCLName.

This will then be entered in the document.

Minimize word and click Save in the Tag Selection screen.

An Invalid Merge Field screen will not be displayed when generating the template for the client