Attach a template to 1000+ documents

ohmzoned · #1 02-03-2012, 07:49 AM

Hi everyone,

I have almost 1000 documents that have a template attached to them. The template has recently been updated so now whenever we open the documents, it says "your template needs to be updated." This is part of our coding, so I expect to see this warning. You click "ok" and then save your document, and now your template is updated.

I was wondering if there is a way to remove the old template and then apply the new one to all 1000 documents without going 1 by 1. The actual template file is the same name, but has been updated (file.dot). We are running Office 2007 - the files are technically stored on a SharePoint, but I can extract them\upload new ones as needed.

Thanks much!!

macropod · #2 02-04-2012, 12:09 AM

Hi ohmzoned,

Assuming all files in a given folder should have the same template, try:

Code:

Sub AttachNewTemplate()
Application.ScreenUpdating = False
Dim strFolder As String, strTmplt As String, strFile As String, wdDoc As Document
With Application.FileDialog(msoFileDialogFilePicker)
  .Filters.Clear
  .AllowMultiSelect = False
  .Filters.Add "All Word Templates", "*.dot; *.dotx; *.dotm", 1
  If .Show = -1 Then
    strTmplt = .SelectedItems(1)
  Else
    Exit Sub
  End If
End With
strFolder = GetFolder
If strFolder = "" Then Exit Sub
strFile = Dir(strFolder & "\*.doc", vbNormal)
' Create a temporary Word session to do the processing
Dim wdTmp As New Word.Application
wdTmp.Visible = False
'wdTmp.DisplayAlerts = wdAlertsNone
While strFile <> ""
  Set wdDoc = wdTmp.Documents.Open(FileName:=strFolder & "\" & strFile, AddToRecentFiles:=False, Visible:=False)
  wdDoc.AttachedTemplate = strTmplt
  wdDoc.Close SaveChanges:=True
  strFile = Dir()
Wend
Set wdDoc = Nothing: Set wdTmp = Nothing
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
End Sub
 
Function GetFolder() As String
Dim oFolder As Object
GetFolder = ""
Set oFolder = CreateObject("Shell.Application").BrowseForFolder(0, "Choose a folder", 0)
If (Not oFolder Is Nothing) Then GetFolder = oFolder.Items.Item.Path
Set oFolder = Nothing
End Function

When you run the code, simply select the template, then the folder containing the files to process. If you are getting unnecessary prompts as files are opened, try uncommenting the 'wdTmp.DisplayAlerts = wdAlertsNone' line. it may (or may not) kill the prompts. Don't do this if the files are mailmerge main documents, though, or they'll lose their data connections.

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