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Here is my main question. I am a lawyer and the main thing I use WP for is merging a wp data file with a form I have prepared that has the appropriate fields designated for the data contained in the data file. This enables me to prepare an entire group of documents with one merge command.
Can this be done in Word?
Thanks
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While it probably can, I haven't developed it to that extent. I do my merges document by document. If I had a series of them, I imagine I would be able to put together a macro that would do the merges in series. You would still end up with individual documents.
Most writings on
Mail Merge are about mass mailings. I am also a lawyer and have a number of form documents that I use with a client data file to prepare draft documents for a specific client and case.
I create a new document based on a
template from the form. That template contains merge fields and the document based on the template contains those fields. Templates in Word are quite different in function from those in Word Perfect.
That new document becomes a merge master document. The macro transforms the new document into such a document and then attaches the data file. It calls up the function to choose a particular record. The document is viewed in a merge preview mode rather than actually running a mail merge. Once the proper record is incorporated I freeze the merge fields (another macro) and change the document back to a non-merge document. I then edit it to make it fit the individual client and case and use it.
If you do decide to learn to use Word, spend a substantial amount of time learning about
Styles and especially the use of the
built-in heading styles for
automatic numbering and the
generation of tables of contents.
Most of the links I have provided come from my
Intermediate Users Guide to Microsoft Word which is based on an old publication called the Legal Users Guide and on
Shauna Kelly's site.
I hope this does not overwhelm.