The code you've posted isn't trying to update Excel at all, and your Word bookmark population process isn't responsible for any errors.

Unless you're planning to edit the template, instead of creating a new document from it, you should be using Word's Documents.Add method, not Documents.Open.

PS: When posting code, please use the code tags, indicated by the # button on the posting menu. Without them, your code loses much of whatever structure it had.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]