TntMPD 2.1 r28 (beta) -- New Mail Merge Options: Word on Mac and OpenOffice

Please give TntMPD 2.1 r28 a try and let me know what you think!  Since TntMPD 2.1 r24, there's been alot of work on getting TntMPD to work on the Mac.  This latest release has a focus on Mail Merge.  Specifically there are two areas of interest:

1.  Mail Merge now supports OpenOffice.org Writer (2.2 and newer) (tested w/ 3.2). 

This feature is applicable to both Windows and Mac users!

If you have both Microsoft Word and OpenOffice.org Writer installed, you'll have to tell TntMPD that you prefer OpenOffice.org Writer.  Under the "Tools" menu, click on "Microsoft Word", then click on "Choose Mail Merge Application".

Once TntMPD launches the mail merge and puts you into OpenOffice, you can drag column headers (from the data grid) into your document to place the merge fields.  When your document is ready, under the "File" menu, click "Print".  OpenOffice will recognize that this is a mail merge and give you options.  Also there are additional options under the "Tools" menu with "Mail Merge Wizard" such as merge to email (requires you to enter SMTP settings).

2.  Mail Merge now supports Microsoft Word (2000 or newer) (tested w/ 2003) on the Mac.

This feature is applicable to Mac users only.

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How can you install OpenOffice or Microsoft Office into the same environment as TntMPD for the Mac?

If you're running TntMPD for the Mac (2.1 r26), you'll first need to upgrade to TntMPD 2.1 r28.  To do this: 

      a.  Under the "Tools" menu, click on "Options".  Under the "Instalation" tab, make sure "Alert me when new Beta versions are available" is checked.
      b.  Under the "Help" menu, click on "Check for Updates on the Web" to upgrade to TntMPD 2.1 r28.

Next: Launch TntMPD.app as you normally would.  Once TntMPD pulls up, you'll see the X11 menu.  Hold down the command key and tab key together until TntMPD is selected.  The menu should change from X11 to TntMPD 2.1.26.  Under the "Wine Tools" menu, click on "Control Panel".

Now double-click on "Add/Remove Programs" and click the "Install" button.  Find the setup program for your office program and install it as you normally would.  Make sure you install the Windows version of OpenOffice or Microsoft Offfice!

NOTE:  If you install Microsoft Office, you might want to consider twice before activating the license.  Once you do this, you're tied to that specific edition of TntMPD for the Mac.  When a new TntMPD for the Mac comes out, it wipes out the entire Wine environment (which is where you just installed Office) and replaces it with a new one.  Microsoft activation is not required for some editions of Microsoft Office.  I tested this with a corporate (volume license) edition of Microsoft Office 2003, and I didn't have to activate it over the Internet.

Here's a screenshot (on the Mac) of merging to Word 2003:

Here's a screenshot (on the Mac) of merging to OpenOffice.org Writer 3.2:

NOTE:  It took me a few tries using OpenOffice to get the merge to work.  First OpenOffice prompted me to register.  Then it gave me an error.  After this I closed everything and tried again.  After this it works fine.