---
title: "Using a Merge Field in a Link"
slug: "using-a-merge-field-in-a-link"
updated: 2026-04-03T20:17:10Z
published: 2026-04-03T20:17:10Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.technolutions.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Using a Merge Field in a Link

Use merge fields to create personalized links in [Deliver mailings](/v1/docs/deliver) and System Emails.

> [!NOTE]
> 📖 Further reading
> 
> Learn how to customize links with [query string parameters](/docs/prepopulating-or-prefilling-forms-using-query-string-parameters#in-a-mailing).

## Creating a merge field link in a Deliver mailing

> [!CAUTION]
> 🔔 Important: Use descriptive link text.
> 
> When you create the link, enter normal display text such as Log in to your account or Submit your recommendation.
> 
> Do not use the merge field itself as the visible text, and do not display a raw URL as the link text.
> 
> **Example:**
> 
> - Correct: display text = *Log in to your account*; URL = `login-link`
> - Avoid: display text = `login-link` or a visible URL; URL = `login-link`

### Set up the subquery export

It’s generally recommended to create a subquery export to formulate the full text of your link. This allows you to include record-specific data points in a URL while referencing only a single merge field in link construction later. *Skip to*[*Add the merge field link to your message*](/v1/docs/using-a-merge-field-in-a-link#add-the-merge-field-link-to-your-message)*if your merge field is already available — for example, in most system emails.*

1. Go to **Deliver**.
2. Select an existing email message, or [create a new one](/docs/email).
3. Select **Edit Recipient Lists**.
4. Configure the [recipient list](/v1/docs/adding-a-recipient-list) as needed.
5. In the recipient list query, select **Subquery Export**.
6. Configure the following:

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Creating a subquery export to render a unique link.png)
  - **Name:**Enter a descriptive name, like `login-link`.
  - **Type:**Dependent subquery
  - **Output:**Concatenate
  - **Exports:**Create two exports:
    - **Literal:**A literal representation of the desired URL up through the query string parameter, like `https://apply.slate.edu/account/login?id=`.
    - **Export:**Select the unique ID to be appended to the literal.
7. Select **Save.**

> [!NOTE]
> 📝 Note:
> 
> The example above hard-codes the protocol (https://) in the literal. Whether you do so is up to you — but your choice here affects how you configure the link protocol in the next section.

### Add the merge field link to your message

1. Use the breadcrumb navigation to return to the message overview page.
2. Select **Edit Message**.
3. Select the link icon, or press <kbd>Ctrl/Cmd</kbd> + <kbd>K</kbd>.
4. Configure the following settings:

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Adding a link with a merge field in the URL field.png)
  - **Display text:**Enter the link’s display text. This should describe where the link goes or what it does; it should **not** be the link URL itself.
  - **Link type:**URL
  - **Protocol:**`&lt;other&gt;`
  - **URL:**Enter the merge field for the link, for example `{{login-link}}`
5. Select **OK**.
6. Configure the remaining message text, then select **Save.**

> [!NOTE]
> 📝 Note:
> 
> Select <other> as the protocol in Step 4 above if your subquery export already includes a hard-coded protocol like `https://`. Otherwise, select the appropriate protocol from the list.

System generated emails that are transactional will trigger based on a very specific action in Slate. Some of the system emails were configured when the Slate Database was initially provisioned. Most system emails can be customized.