Hi


I am fairly certain that this cant be done, but I would like to explore possible workarounds, etc...

So - I have a suite of documents (approx 30 docs) that make up a contract that has multiple fields that need completing in each document. Some fields are repeated several times in a document and occur in all or most of the documents.

For example, the Contractors Name appears one or more time in each document that forms the contract - so what would be handy is if you could fill it in, in one doc, and have that data propagate across all the documents in the suite(they will all be stored in the same folder)

As stated I am fairly sure it cant be done, using the normal Fields/bookmark method due to refs in other docs, but does any one know if there is some sort of mailmerge, macro, fields type of workaround that could be done?

I have just done a quick tally, and I have over 200 pieces of info to fill in each time the contract is let, to a contractor, of which about 60% of this data is repeated at least once across the suite of documents.

Any help, comments, directions most welcome.
Dave

PS - I know the contract could be better, but it's not mine to re-write so I have to make do with what I have.

I use Mail Merge for this.
You might use a UserForm if all the documents are being done at the same time.

• Create a Simple Userform by Graham Mayor, MVP
• Create & Employ a Userform by Greg Maxey

Either would require that the spots in the destination documents have identifiable places to receive the information. (Bookmarks, merge fields)

I would recommend you explore mapped Content Controls with an xml file.

If the fields are all populated in one place (same as a Mail Merge) then you could use that to create an xml file which then populates the contract docs as required. I would probably create a single template which contained all the suite of documents as building blocks. Each of those building blocks would include mapped CCs where relevant. Then as a user, you would create a new document, either replace the xml file or perhaps have an 'all fields' version for you to populate the XML fields which you do to fully populate the xml. Then for each different contract doc you can:
1. SaveAs to create a new doc
2. Select all and delete the content
3. Insert the Building Block you want - the fields will be already filled.

__________________
Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia

You might also consider DocBundler (Create multiple documents from commond data sheet)

__________________
Graham Mayor - MS MVP (Word) (2002-2019)
Visit my web site for more programming tips and ready made processes www.gmayor.com

WOW! You guys have given me a lot to read up on and learn about. Thank you.

Charles Kenyon - thank you for the links - both look great sources of information, which I need to explore further.

Guessed - this looks very interesting. I have zero experience of using xml files with word, so this is a whole new world for me, but looks very interesting... hope I’m up to the challenge!

Gmayor - again, thanks - the docbundler looks as if it could be a great solution.

You guys are absolutely fantastic, and I thank you for pointing me in these directions - hope I dont have to come back too much to ask questions! Lol.

Thanks again.
Dave

I split the part about mapped controls and building blocks into a separate thread.