# Simulating Mail Merge with Formatted HTML Content by Using the Find and Replace Functionality

## Environment

| Version    | Product           | Author                                                                          |
| ---------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2025.2.520 | RadWordProcessing | [Desislava Yordanova](https://www.telerik.com/blogs/author/desislava-yordanova) |

## Description

This article shows how to simulate [mail merge](https://www.telerik.com/document-processing-libraries/documentation/libraries/radwordsprocessing/editing/mail-merge) when formatted HTML content needs to replace placeholders in a DOCX template. When you perform a mail merge, the `RadWordsProcessing` library binds plain HTML text instead of rendering the HTML with its original formatting.

## Solution

To insert the formatted HTML content, use the [Find-and-Replace](https://www.telerik.com/document-processing-libraries/documentation/libraries/radwordsprocessing/editing/find-and-replace/find-and-replace-text) functionality instead. Replace placeholders with the styled HTML content by following these steps:

1. Import the HTML content using [HtmlFormatProvider](https://www.telerik.com/document-processing-libraries/documentation/libraries/radwordsprocessing/formats-and-conversion/html/htmlformatprovider).
2. Import the DOCX template using [DocxFormatProvider](https://www.telerik.com/document-processing-libraries/documentation/libraries/radwordsprocessing/formats-and-conversion/word-file-formats/docx/docxformatprovider).
3. Find placeholders in the template and replace them with the imported HTML content.

   ![Replace Placeholders with HTML content in DOCX template ><](https://www.telerik.com/document-processing-libraries/documentation/assets/ee4d3a22b7f50ba7ca61195498d539fb/simulating-mail-merge-with-html-content.png)

### Code Example

```csharp
// Import HTML content
RadFlowDocument htmlFlowDocument;
using (Stream input = File.OpenRead(@"info.html"))
{
    Telerik.Windows.Documents.Flow.FormatProviders.Html.HtmlFormatProvider htmlProvider = new Telerik.Windows.Documents.Flow.FormatProviders.Html.HtmlFormatProvider(); 
    htmlFlowDocument = htmlProvider.Import(input, TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10));
}

// Import DOCX template
RadFlowDocument templateFlowDocument;
Telerik.Windows.Documents.Flow.FormatProviders.Docx.DocxFormatProvider docxProvider = new Telerik.Windows.Documents.Flow.FormatProviders.Docx.DocxFormatProvider();

using (Stream input = File.OpenRead("template.docx"))
{
    templateFlowDocument = docxProvider.Import(input, TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10));
}

// Replace placeholder with HTML content
List<BlockBase> newContent = new List<BlockBase>();
RadFlowDocumentEditor editor = new RadFlowDocumentEditor(templateFlowDocument);

foreach (Section section in htmlFlowDocument.Sections)
{
    Section clonedSection = section.Clone(templateFlowDocument);
    newContent.AddRange(clonedSection.Blocks);
}

editor.ReplaceText("<<EXSUSection>>", newContent, true, false);

// Export the modified document
string outputFilePath = "output.docx";
File.Delete(outputFilePath);
using (Stream output = File.OpenWrite(outputFilePath))
{
    docxProvider.Export(templateFlowDocument, output, TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10));
}

// Open the output file
Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo() { FileName = outputFilePath, UseShellExecute = true });
```

### Notes

* Replace `<<EXSUSection>>` with your placeholder text.
* Modify the code to suit your template and requirements.
* Ensure the provided HTML content is [supported](https://www.telerik.com/document-processing-libraries/documentation/libraries/radwordsprocessing/formats-and-conversion/html/supported-elements) by `HtmlFormatProvider`.

## See Also

* [HtmlFormatProvider](https://www.telerik.com/document-processing-libraries/documentation/libraries/radwordsprocessing/formats-and-conversion/html/htmlformatprovider)
* [DocxFormatProvider](https://www.telerik.com/document-processing-libraries/documentation/libraries/radwordsprocessing/formats-and-conversion/word-file-formats/docx/docxformatprovider)
* [Mail Merge Documentation](https://www.telerik.com/document-processing-libraries/documentation/libraries/radwordsprocessing/editing/mail-merge)
* [Find-and-Replace](https://www.telerik.com/document-processing-libraries/documentation/libraries/radwordsprocessing/editing/find-and-replace/find-and-replace-text)