custom fields in multiple documents

[Guest]

I have a large set of documents that have project specific information
repeated in each. Is there a way to set up custom fields in each of these
documents that are linked back to a database (or other document). The intent
is that for each new project this data only needs to be changed in one spot.

 

[Jezebel]

Yes it's possible, but only by using macros. There are third-party
applications that do it also. It's actually quite hard to get it right
without burdening the users in their day-to-day use of Word.

 

[Guest]

I've been playing around a bit and have another fairly cumbersome solution
that seems to work.

I set up a database with one table for each field I require. Give the table
a name that describes the field.
Then "insert field" and select "database". Select "get data" this lists all
the tables which are actually the fields I need. After inserting the field, I
needed to delete the /h switch which displays the column name from the table.
Looks like a bit of work to set it all up (including changing paths to the
database so that they are contained in the document folders and don't have to
be changed each time the set of documents is moved) but should be worth it.

 

[Jezebel]

I suggest you test this before you go very far. This sort of database
activity, on a busy network, might make performance unacceptable. Your users
are likely to say rude things to you if every 'update fields' takes several
minutes.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the tip.

I suggest you test this before you go very far. This sort of database
activity, on a busy network, might make performance unacceptable. Your users
are likely to say rude things to you if every 'update fields' takes several
minutes.