merge and print

[Tara]

I'm pretty comfortable using Access, rarely use word, and
I have NEVER used mail merge before...but now I have a
need to do so. So far, I can get my data from Access to
merge into a Word document, but what I need to do is have
it automate everything so that I can print each merged
document automatically from Access. Right now, I have to
go into word and merge to printer in order for each
record to print (otherwise, just the first record
prints). Any way to have Word automatically merge to
printer so that this step could be eliminated? I'm not
sure this is the best place to post this (maybe the
Access forum?), but I was hoping someone here would have
an idea.
Thanks,
Tara

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Tara,

The answer is a qualified yes. You can't do it using the
button that's there in Access. But you could create a
program in Access that automates Word to do what you want.

How complicated it would have to be depends a lot on whether
the data source you want to merge varies? Or will it always
be a particular table or query?

I'm pretty comfortable using Access, rarely use word, and
I have NEVER used mail merge before...but now I have a
need to do so. So far, I can get my data from Access to
merge into a Word document, but what I need to do is have
it automate everything so that I can print each merged
document automatically from Access. Right now, I have to
go into word and merge to printer in order for each
record to print (otherwise, just the first record
prints). Any way to have Word automatically merge to
printer so that this step could be eliminated? I'm not
sure this is the best place to post this (maybe the
Access forum?), but I was hoping someone here would have
an idea.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep
30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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[Tara]

Cindy,

-----Original Message-----
Hi Tara,

The answer is a qualified yes. You can't do it using the
button that's there in Access. But you could create a
program in Access that automates Word to do what you want.

How complicated it would have to be depends a lot on whether
the data source you want to merge varies? Or will it always
be a particular table or query?


Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Sep
30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any
follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e- mail


.

 

[Tara]

Cindy, thanks for the reply. In answer to your question,
it will always be a particular query that only pulls a
name. It also has a field for DATE(). The table it is
based on is created using a make-table query, so
obviously the data within the table varies. Any help
would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Tara

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Tara,

it will always be a particular query that only pulls a
name.

OK... In theory, you should be able to automate opening a
particular mail merge document, already linked to the
query, then execute the merge. The only hesitation I still
have is: are you all set on the query definition - to pull
ou the name you need?

Side note: if all you're really interested in is producing
a single letter, mail merge may not be the optimal
approach. It might be much better to simply automate Word
and pass in the relevant data (from a Form you already have
open, for example). If this sounds like what you're after,
you may want to d/l WdAcc97.zip from my website (Mail merge
FAQ/Special merges section, as I recall) and take a look at
the basic approach outlined there.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update
Sep 30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any
follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail

 

[Guest]

Hi Cindy,

-----Original Message-----
Hi Tara,

OK... In theory, you should be able to automate opening a
particular mail merge document, already linked to the
query, then execute the merge. The only hesitation I still
have is: are you all set on the query definition - to pull
ou the name you need?

Side note: if all you're really interested in is producing
a single letter, mail merge may not be the optimal
approach. It might be much better to simply automate Word
and pass in the relevant data (from a Form you already have
open, for example). If this sounds like what you're after,
you may want to d/l WdAcc97.zip from my website (Mail merge
FAQ/Special merges section, as I recall) and take a look at
the basic approach outlined there.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update
Sep 30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any
follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e- mail


.

 

[Tara]

Hi Cindy, as far as the query criteria goes, yes I'm all
set. The query actually pulls several names from the
database based on the criteria, so unfortunately, I do
need to mail merge all of the records, not just one.
Sorry if I wasn't clear on that...I should have said it
only pulls data from one field, rather than stating it
only pulls a name. I can get Access to open Word, what
I'm really after is automating the merge to printer
aspect once Word is open. Thanks for any help!

Tara

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Tara,

The query actually pulls several names from the
database based on the criteria, so unfortunately, I do
need to mail merge all of the records, not just one.
Sorry if I wasn't clear on that...

Not a problem I just wanted to be sure I understood
everything.

I can get Access to open Word, what
I'm really after is automating the merge to printer
aspect once Word is open.

I can't believe I didn't ask this before now <tsk> but if
you want to go directly to the printer I do need to know
which version of Word you have. The "best way" changed
slightly in Word 2002.

But to get you going It would roughly be:

Dim app as Word.Application
Set app = New Word.Application
Dim doc as Word.Document
Set doc = app.Documents.Add("Templatepath&Name")

With doc.MailMerge
If .MainDocumentType <> wdNotAMergeDocument Then
.Destination = app.wdSendtoPrinter
.Execute
End If
End with

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update
Sep 30 2003)
http://www.word.mvps.org

This reply is posted in the Newsgroup; please post any
follow question or reply in the newsgroup and not by e-mail