hi userman,

No. 1 is easily resolved by using conditional formatting.
No. 2 depends on how the data in the text files are formatted (eg each specification on a separate line). It is also not clear from your post what you mean by a file, cell or a sub-cell. Are you trying to embed whole files in a cell, or just a piece of information about a file (eg its name).
If you provide more information about #2, someone here might be able to help you.

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