Merging to multiple files?

[Guest]

Is it possible to merge a document to multiple files (i.e. one per record),
so that, for example, we can save an electronic copy of individualized memos
in each employee e-files with a minimum of manipulation.

If the above is feasible, can each filename be automatically be generated
based on specified fields (for example Lastname_Firstname_DocumentID.doc).

Looking forward to any suggestions that might facilitate this process for us!

Thanks all in advance...

 

[Graham Mayor]

No - but you can merge to a new document then split that document into
individual files http://www.gmayor.com/individual_merge_letters.htm

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

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[Guest]

Thanks so much... this is great!!! Our whole HR department will save a lot
of time and frustration with this macro.

 

[Guest]

I don't understand why this issue hasn't been addressed YEARS ago by
Microsoft. Although the macro is well written, it is a clumsy workaround to
a a problem that should be very simple. I have had a need for this feature
ever since I started doing mail merges over 10 years ago. I have trouble
believing that no one at MIcrosoft ever thought "Wait, maybe they don't want
to print every document! Maybe they might want keep them in an electronic
format!" Especially since this is one of the more common questions that has
been asked.

The one part of the problem that the macro doesn't address is the need to
have each document name be generated by one of the fields, rather than just a
sequential number. When you have hundreds of documents generated by this
macro, it is a real problem to have to rename each one individually.

Thanks for posting the macro though. (The above rant is pointed at Microsft,
not you!)

 

[Graham Mayor]

Once you have merged the document the field information no longer exists to
split by field name. One way to do it would be to insert the field(s) you
want included at the start of the document then modify the macro to select
the result of those fields for use as file name, then delete them from the
finished document.

If you do a newsgroup archive search at Google fellow MVP Doug Robbins on
whose code the macro was based, posted an alternative solution a while back,
but unfortunately I did not record the link. Alternatively, he haunts the
mailmerge fields newsgroup. You could ask the question there.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

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[Guest]

Hi Graham
I'm very pleased to have found your macro. I'm sure it's exactly what I've
been looking for. After installing it for Word 2003, I navigated up to the
point where it asks me what field has my file name and where I want to
deposit the documents. After that, I get Run-Time error '4608' value out of
range. Any thoughts?

Thanks bunches.
Amanda

 

[Graham Mayor]

I have passed your comment to Doug who wrote the add-in.

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

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[Graham Mayor]

His comment:

I think that you might get that error when the filename field includes the
path and the user browses for the path so that the concatenation of the two
pieces of information results in path for the files that does not exist.




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Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

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[Guest]

Hi Graham
Doug's idea was good, but that doesn't seem to be the problem. I didn't have
the file path in the fieldname field. But based on Doug's idea, I tried
putting the path in the fieldname path and removing the path from
browse-to-folder area, but that didn't help. I also removed the 2 landscape
pages from my 14 page document, thinking it was choking on landscape vs.
portrait. That didn't help either.

Any other thoughts?
Thanks for all of your help.
Amanda

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

Amanda,

Can you send me the document and a copy of the data source and I will try
and find out what is going wrong.

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Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

 

[Guest]

Hi Doug
Thank you for your continued support. I got the macro to work by starting
with a brand new, unformatted document. My old document must have had some
icky relics in it that the new template didn't like.

In any event, your macro is a lifesaver. Thanks again!
Amanda