I'm using Word 2010. I created a word document that I use for an invoice. I keep it attached to an email so I can conveniently double click it and make a few changes and the send it. I a place that I named Invoice in the document. Beside that word I insert a number. I want to automate the sequential numbering. I have searched but have found nothing that meets my specific need. Can anyone help? Thanks

There have been numerous topics along these lines. See, for example:
https://www.msofficeforums.com/word/...html#post19265
https://www.msofficeforums.com/word/...html#post43283

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Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thanks for the post. None of the information from the links worked for me. I'm not sure how to explain more of what I need.

You can't really work with a document that's permanently attached to an email - you need to create & use a template.

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Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

I see. Yep, that is my dilemma

A bit off-topic. editing documents attached to emails has been a very good way for people to lose their work. I would strongly urge you to consider using a template, creating a new document based on the template, and using Save and Send to send as an email attachment.

Thank you for your post. I thought that is what I was doing. I have a folder with a saved email with a document attached to it. When I need to send an invoice, I open the email, then I open the attached document. I edit the document, click save, then close the document. I then enter the email address, click save and the send. I just wish I could automate the invoice numbering.
I am open to a new way if it is as simple.

Templates and documents are two entirely different things. What you've described so far is a document. And, as you're working from an email attachment, you're just as likely to be sending the unedited document, since editing email attachments typically doesn't update the attachment, but only the temporary copy of it that you've opened. Hence Charles' comment:
In any event, working with a proper template (which is what the zip file in https://www.msofficeforums.com/word/...html#post34444 contains) and attaching the document generated from it to an email is hardly any more difficult - it also gives you a permanent copy of the invoice without having to troll through your emails.

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Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thank you for your post. I started with a blank Word document. I then copied my old document and pasted it to my New document and Saved it As a Word Macro-Enabled Document. When I opened the New Document I got a Runtime error 5. When I ran debug it had highlighted a portion of the code. I am attaching a copy of what debug reported. I guess I need to change something, but I am not quite sure what to do. Thanks for the help.

Attached Files

Debug copy.docx (13.5 KB, 7 views)

You need to add the Custom Document Property named "InvNum" to the document, as discussed in post #2 of the thread in the link (https://www.msofficeforums.com/word/...html#post19265)

You will also need to add the DOCPROPERTY field for the numbering to your file, as per the Invoice.dot demo.

Alternatively, you could have simply edited the Invoice.dot demo by adding your own content to it.

Finally, you should also be saving the Word file as a Macro-Enabled Template, not as a Document.

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Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

A macro-enabled document is still a document, not a template. You really do want to be using a template for this.
Templates in Microsoft Word

Sorry, I mistakenly said document when I really meant to say template. The code was from the invoice.zip file. I just copied it and pasted it into my new "template".
I tried just adding content to the invoice.zip, it just moved the numbers around. Once I added anything to it it would not work anymore. The other things list above, I do not know how to do those things. It seems to me that invoice auto numbering should be a simple task, but it is not for me. I can continue the way I have been doing it for about 3 years now, but it would make it a little bit easier if I could figure this out. Thanks

As I said in post #10, the steps required for implementation in a different template are detailed in post #2 of the linked thread.

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