Merge codes are merge fields that you insert into your templates in locations where you want information from your Top Producer 8i database to appear. Each merge code represents a piece of information that 8i will retrieve from your database and merge into the template when you perform a mail out or print correspondence for a contact.
This retrieval of information happens when the document is previewed or published (for example, when you print a letter template linked to an Activity, or publish a CMA to a URL). If you open a template from the Template Library and print it from the View Template screen, only sample information will be displayed, since you did not merge the template with any information of your own. Or, you can also print out the template with the actual merge codes that have been included for that document.
The merge codes can be both text and graphic items, with a number of categories within each one of them. They are easily recognizable in your templates as yellow boxes containing the name of the merge code.
For example, when you insert your Agent Photo into a letter template, it appears in your document as Agent.photo. When you preview, publish or save your template, the merge code merges with your agent photograph. Your agent picture will now appear on every letter that uses that template. This particular merge code is also linked to your My Account settings, so if you replace your agent photo with a more current one, the change will be reflected in all of your templates that contain this merge code.