Using ODBC Database in the Mail Merge
Introduction
This tutorial shows how to connect to ODBC Database in the AutoMailMerge™ plug-in for the Adobe® Acrobat®. Use this tutorial to connect to ODBC database for performing a mail merge processing on PDF forms.
Prerequisites
You need a copy of the Adobe® Acrobat® along with the AutoMailMerge™ plug-in installed on your computer in order to use this tutorial. You can download the trial versions of both the Adobe® Acrobat® and the AutoMailMerge™.
Step 1 - Start the AutoMailMerge™ Plug-in
Start the Adobe® Acrobat® application and open a PDF form using "File > Open..." menu. Select "Plug-Ins > Mail Merge..." to open the "Mail Merge" dialog.
Start mail merge
Click "Edit Settings...".
Click Edit Settings
Press the "Browse..." button in the "Data Source" screen.
Start ODBC Setup
Step 2 - Select ODBC Data Source
Select "ODBC Data Source" in the "Select Data Source Type" dialog and click "OK".
Start to manage ODBC
Step 3 - Create File DSN
Click "New..." in the "File Data Source" tab to add a new file DSN.
Add a new file DSN
Select a driver for which you want to set up a data source. The tutorial uses the "Microsoft Access Driver" as an example. Click "Next >".
Select a driver
Now you will be presented screens and dialogs that correspond to the specific ODBC database you have selected.
Press the "Browse..." button to create a file DSN.
Create a file DSN
Select a folder and enter any desired file name. Remember where you are saving this file, you will need to select it later in the AutoMailMerge™. Click "Save" once done. We are using "MS Access Test DSN" in the tutorial.
Enter a file name
The file path would appear in the field. Click "Next >" to proceed.
The file path would appear
Check information in the box about the file data source which you have just configured. Click "Finish".
Finish file DSN creation
Step 4 - ODBC Database Connecting
The ODBC driver will now prompt you for additional information. Remember, this screen is specific for the ODBC driver used.
Click "Select..." in the "ODBC Microsoft Access Setup" dialog.
Start ODBC setup
Select a folder and a database from the list in the "Select Database" dialog. In the tutorial it is the Microsoft Access database file. Click "OK" once done.
Select a database
Click "OK" in the "ODBC Microsoft Access Setup" dialog to complete ODBC setup.
Complete ODBC setup
You may get a message that "The File Data Source was not saved", just ignore it. Now you should see this newly created File DSN in the list. Click "Cancel" to finish ODBC managing and close this dialog.
Finish ODBC managing
Step 5 - Select a Data Source
Select "ODBC Data Source File (*.dsn)" in the "Select Data Source Type" dialog.
Select data source type
Open a folder and select a file DSN that was created earlier. Click "Open".
Select a file DSN
Now you will be connected to the database and the "Select Table" dialog should appear on the screen. Select a table from the list. You can enter a custom SQL SELECT statement in this window. Click "OK" to finish.
Select a table form the list
Now the list of the PDF form fields should appear on the screen. The data source is ready for the field-mapping step. See "How to Perform a PDF Mail Merge" tutorial for step-by-step instructions on setting up the mail merge process.
Data would appear
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