Hello Forum members; here is a post from a Nooby.

I have a problem, concerning a master doc-, sub document construction.

I have updated a list of approximately 200 work instructions (for a accounting department), for which we want to create a master document. So far no problem; able to set that up.
The real problem/challenge is omitting the first page of each sub-document in the Master doc. All work instructions contain a first page with information about the document (date, editor, version, selection, etc.), which is of no use in the Master document for the ultimate user.

There I'm lost and fear that it requires higher VBA - implementations. If that is the case, let me know & I replace this thread.

If not - All advice help is highly appreciated.

Kind regards,



Maarten

Attached Files

Word_template_20131204.VB2.docx (49.7 KB, 8 views)

I f you value your work, don't waste your time with Master Documents!

See: http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/General/Wh...ocsCorrupt.htm
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/General/RecoverMasterDocs.htm
http://www.addbalance.com/word/masterdocuments.htm

Word's Master Document 'feature' has never worked properly and using it usually ends in tears.

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

Thanks Paul!
Kind off figured it would be an endeavor in Word...

I gather your "200 work instructions" are in separate documents. You can keep them that way, yet also consolidate them, via INCLUDETEXT fields. Simply create your consolidation document, then insert an INCLUDETEXT field for each of the instruction documents. See Word's help file & Insert|Quick Parts|Field>Includetext for more details.

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

Hi Paul,
Thanks for that additional tip! I am currently trying it out. However, advanced previse dictates that the end-user has to do with a fancy excel sheet, full off hyperlinks.

Kind regards,

Maarten

You can set up links to Excel worksheets too. For example, if you copy an Excel range, then go to Word and use Paste Special with the 'Paste Link' option and choose a suitable past format, any subsequent updates to the Excel data will appear in the document.

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

Hi Paul,

the INCLUDETEXT field seems to work, including updates (right-mouse click --> Update field) in the 'source' document as well.
I have a few additional questions.
1: Is it save to use THIS METHOD? I mean no corruption damage issues as can happen in a master-subdoc structure?
2: How can I keep track of where an INCLUDETEXT field is implemented in the Master document?

Many thanks for your help in advance.
Kind regards,

Maarten

The INCLUDETEXT field is quite safe to use and suffers none of the stability/corruption issues of Master Documents.

You can see where all fields are in a document by turning on field shading under File|Options|Advanced>Show Document Content.

A bonus of using INCLUDETEXT fields is that you can update the source documents from the destination document - simply make the edit then press Ctrl-Shift-F7.

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