Letterhead - Autotext vs. Linking

[DebD]

We are having a major debate regarding updating letters in our firm. The
secretaries have 2 suggestions: 1 - Create AutoText entry at every users
desk for the letterhead or 2 - On all "Shell" letters (these are forms in
each case) create a link to the letterhead. I've read some other users
comments, and think that the AutoText or Templates are a better way to go.
If we "link" the letterhead and then close a file, and hire a new attorney
will old letters be changed if they are "opened" at a later date, thus
changing the letterhead. One comment was that a letter sent to the court
needs to contain the letterhead in force at that time and not change if
opened at a later date when you may have hired or lost attorneys (whose names
do appear in the letterhead).

 

[Dawn Crosier, Word MVP]

We use templates with AutoText containing specific attorney information for
"personalized" letterhead.

Once you create a document based on a template - the letterhead will stay
stagnate. Be sure you do not use any fields which will change such as
"Current Date" or "Print Date", because they will update when you open the
document.

Depending on how you setup the template, you could setup the styles so that
they would automatically update. I did not. We standardized on certain
criteria such as a base font and font size and did not setup an automatic
anything for just the reason that you state. A document sent to the court
needs to retain the same characteristics when re-opened.

--
Dawn Crosier
Microsoft MVP
"Education Lasts a Lifetime"

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We are having a major debate regarding updating letters in our firm. The
secretaries have 2 suggestions: 1 - Create AutoText entry at every users
desk for the letterhead or 2 - On all "Shell" letters (these are forms in
each case) create a link to the letterhead. I've read some other users
comments, and think that the AutoText or Templates are a better way to go.
If we "link" the letterhead and then close a file, and hire a new attorney
will old letters be changed if they are "opened" at a later date, thus
changing the letterhead. One comment was that a letter sent to the court
needs to contain the letterhead in force at that time and not change if
opened at a later date when you may have hired or lost attorneys (whose
names
do appear in the letterhead).