Automating data entry in documents

[Tekbro]

I have a document templeate that requires a serial number to appear at the
top of the front page.

The serial number must appear in the header of the subsequent pages, some of
which ARE NOT connected by "Same as Previous". So, they must be updated with
the serial number manually.

My question is: How do I enter the serial number ONCE and have it update
with the exact same serial number at all the other required locations in the
document template?

My idea was to make some master field on the front page, and link all the
other serial number fields to the master. That way, when you filled out the
serial number in the beginning of the document, it would instantly populate
all the other locations, so you didn't have to worry about forgetting to put
it in manually at the other locations in the document.

 

[Jay Freedman]

Your idea is on the right track. Use REF or STYLEREF fields in the headers.
See http://gregmaxey.mvps.org/Repeating_Data.htm.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[gotta question]

If you insert a field for the original serial number entry, open the
properties of the field and give the field a bookmar name. Click on
'calculate on exit.

On subsequent pages, click on insert...field...and find the 'Ref' field name
(via links and references category.)

Click on 'options', then hit the 'bookmarks' tab at the top and double-click
on the bookmark that refers to the serial number field you originally put in.

Once you protect the document, type in the serial number on the first page,
leave that field, the ohter fields you inserted as ref fields will populate
with that number. You can probably put the subsequent fields right in the
header if you want to, but you'll have to make the first page header
different to the others, or you'll end off with 2 lots of that serial number

 

[Tekbro]

Great article! This helps a lot. It amazes me how powerful and application
Word can be...IF you know where the treasures are buried.

I think I'll start experimenting with the document property dialog. But, as
I try to turn this into a tool for OTHERS, I think I may chose to switch to
User Forms, or perhaps even automated prompts for this kind of functionality.

Thanks!

 

[Tekbro]

Yep. I went and tried this method too. Works like a charm!

I've always had a mental block against using fields and automation in Word,
but I'm SLOWLY getting over it. Thanks a lot.