Booklet merged from indiv. files

[Guest]

I'm using Word 2000, and we are trying to find a solution to the following.
We need to create sets of individual files that will ultimately create a
contract. For example, we would have 20 "definition" files, 20 "terms" files,
50 "state" files, etc., and specific ones will be merged to create the final
product, which is an 8 1/2 x 11 doc. However, we need these to print in
landscape booklet format on an HP9000 which is capable of printing a booklet
- duplex, saddle stitch, etc. The problem is that depending on the content
length of each file, the number of pages can vary greatly. We want the text
to flow to the proper page when the booklet is created, but can't seem to
achieve this without manually doing the layout by trial and error (cutting
and pasting pieces of the doc so that it is correct when the booklet is
printed). We also do not want to "shrink" the page so that it prints 2
mini-pages on one side of an 8 1/2 x 11 doc. Any suggestions would be
appreciated!

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

I think you have a few separate questions here--you may need to explain
more.

For merging specific files to create contacts, you have a few different
options. Assuming that the contract, once created, will not change,
AutoText will probably work best to let people easily pick from 20
definitions or 50 states, which you set up in advance.
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Customization/AutoText.htm

That gets the text into the file. Then you need to output that text as a
booklet. You aren't very clear here. Do you need a 8.5x11 booklet or a
8.5x11 folded in half booklet? What's the final product you are aiming for?

How I would probably do it would be to create the text file using a 5.5x8.5
inch page size, which presumably your printer can then print 2 pages per
sheet. That should avoid the shrinkage problem.

Of course the pages need to be reshuffled. If your printer does saddle
stitch, I would think that if you explore the printer driver, it may also
reshuffle the pages for you. However, you can also see here:
http://word.mvps.org/faqs/formatting/BookletPrinting.htm

Experiment with short test files first.