The Goal: Add an individual custom field to a Component Certificate by building the correct merge field in your Word document template.
Before You Begin:
- Permission to create and edit document generation templates (managed at Settings, General Settings section, under Document Generation Templates).
- The exact display name of the custom field you want to merge. The custom field should be a single word with no special characters like “#” or “*”.
- Review the standard merge fields available for Component Certificates, described in Continuing Education/Certificates Merge Fields.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- In your Word document template, create a merge field that starts with UFCertificationContact followed by the name of the custom field.
- Format the merge field name and the field’s display name identically. For example, if your custom field is called NPN #, your merge field would look like <<UFCertificationContactNPN>> and the code in Word would be { MERGEFIELD UFCertificationContactNPN /* MERGEFORMAT }.
- Keep the custom field to a single word with no special characters (such as “#” or “*”), and confirm the display name matches the merge field name exactly.
- Upload the finished Word template to Settings, General Settings section, under Document Generation Templates, then save to make it available for Component Certificates.
| NOTE: Individual Custom Merge fields will display best if the field is set to contain a single value. Some examples of good field types to use as merge fields on these documents are: Integer, Decimal, Money, Text, Dropdown |
Common Pitfalls
- Mismatched names: The display name must be the same as the merge field name. If they differ, the field will not populate on the certificate.
- Special characters in the field name: A custom field name with characters like “#” or “*” breaks the merge. Use a single word with no special characters.