How to Create a Word 2007 Template With an Attached Database

1. Prepare and save your database file. Microsoft Word accepts a wide variety of database file types, including Excel, Access, and plain text.
2. Click the Office icon on the Microsoft Word 2007 main menu and select "New." Browse the various templates available. They are categorized by type, such as contracts, forms and invoices.
3. Click on one of the templates and select "Download" to open the template in your program.
4. Edit the template to your liking. For instance, you can replace the default picture or logo with your own, or add your name, address, phone number, website, email address and additional identifying information to the template. Save the template file when you are done customizing it but keep it open.
5. Go to "Mailings" on the Word main menu. Select "Start Mail Merge" and choose "Normal Word Document" from the list of options.
6. Click "Select Recipients" located right next to the "Start Mail Merge" option. Choose "Use Existing List" from the list of options and find the database file that you saved in the first step.
7. Click "Open" to attach the database to your new template. From now on the template and your database file will be associated with each other.
8. Position your mouse in a section of your template where you want to add database information. For instance, if you have a Word invoice template and a database that contains the names and addresses of all of your customers, position your mouse in the "Customer Information" section of the invoice template.
9. Select "Insert Merge Field" on the "Mailings" menu. Choose one of the columns from your database from the list of "merge fields." In our example from the last step, you can select the "Company Name" field first. This will insert a field identifier into your template. Repeat this action for all of the fields that you want to add to the document.
10. Click "Finish and Merge" on the "Mailings" menu whenever you are ready to merge your database information into the template.