Create a Badge Template From Scratch

Step-by-Step Instructions: Insert Merge Fields

1. Once you have downloaded or created the paper layout for your badges, start inserting the merge fields. Since we are working from scratch, you may need to refer to the merge field list for the Attendee Badge template type. Go to Settings, General Settings section, click Document Generation Templates, then click the ellipsis icon to the far right of any existing Attendee Badge template and select Merge Fields to view the list.
   
2. Review the list of available fields in the Document Generation Merge Fields window; copy and paste or note the fields you wish to use.
   
   IMPORTANT! Merge Fields must be entered EXACTLY as they appear in the available merge fields list—no spaces and with the appropriate capitalization!
3. Open your badge template in edit mode (see PC and Mac instructions) and begin inserting the desired fields into the template. We used the FirstName, LastName, and CompanyName fields, plus some custom text and a logo:
   
4. Place your cursor at the very beginning of the first merge field. Click the “Insert” tab in your Word toolbar, find the “Quick Parts” option, and select “Field”.
   
5. From the “Field Names” selector, choose “Next” and click OK.
   
6. It will look like nothing happens, but it did. Move your cursor to the beginning of the first merge field in the next cell and repeat. Do this in each cell of each badge.

View Hidden Fields

If you want to see the hidden fields you just entered:

1. Go to File > Options. (It will be at the very bottom of the “Info” page.)
   
2. Click “Advanced”, then scroll to the “Show document content” section and click the option to “Show field codes instead of their values”.
   
3. The hidden codes you just entered will be displayed in the template document. Look for { NEXT \* MERGEFORMAT } at the beginning of each cell.
   
   (If it’s in a different font or font size don’t worry; they don’t affect the actual formatting of the document.) If one got missed or duplicated, you can add it just as you did before or delete the extra field if needed.
4. After verifying the “Next” operators are in place where they should be, switch the field codes off (File > Options > Advanced > Show document content > uncheck Show field codes instead of their values). Save your file.

Upload Your Custom Badge Template

1. Navigate back to Settings, General Settings section, click Document Generation Templates, then click the Add button.
   
2. In the Add Document Generation Template window:
   
   • Set the Template Type to Attendee Badge.
   • Give the Template a Name.
   • Click the Choose File button and select the file you saved in the previous section.
   • The window will briefly show an upload status bar that will disappear.
3. Click Done and the template will now appear in your template list.

Use the Badge Template

1. Download the badges for your desired event. In the Edit Event Attendee Badges Print window, point the system to the template you just uploaded and click Done to complete the download.
   
2. Voila! You have event name badges in exactly the format you wanted!