Templates - choosing a header/footer

[bryan]

I have created numerous templates all based upon 1 letterhead with the
company logo on top and address info in the footer.
I populate form fields from our host systems, select drop downs, check
boxes, etc upon doc new.
Recently our company started marketing new poducts within a new company. All
correspondece for this company uses a different header/footer, although
eveything else is the same (body of letter, form fields, etc).

Rather than creating templates for each company, I was thinking of having a
userform where the person could select which company. Based upon that info it
could load the appropriate header/footer.

I'll use Comp A and Comp B for example.
Thinking I could leave templates with Comp A header/footer.
Upon doc (new) a userform would ask which company.
If Comp A selected then no change.
If Comp B selected then would need to delete header/footer and insert new
header/footer.
By delteting and inserting header/footer, would that affect the body text,
form fields,etc?

Or is it easier to start with a blank doc and then show userform and then
insert the header/footer based upon choice?

Is this possible to do either of these and if so please offer suggestions on
how to go about this.

Or am I reaching and the best practice would be to use different templates
and just copy the letter body and macros?

Thanks,
Bryan

 

[Jay Freedman]

On my own, I think I'd choose separate sets of templates for the two
companies. If you store them in separate subfolders under the Templates
folder, you'll get a separate tab for each subfolder on the File > New
dialog.

If you want to pursue the combined approach, though, I'll suggest that you
store each entire header as an AutoText entry (ditto for the footers) in
each template. The code in the OK button of the userform can then simply
insert the correct pair of entries for the chosen company.

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

 

[fumei via OfficeKB.com]

Generally, I would agree with Jay...separate templates.

I would also agree that if you do want a combined approach (and it really is
not a terribly bad idea), doing BOTH as AutoText is a very good idea. In
other words, have NO header, and when a choice is made by the user, the
appropriate one is inserted.

Or you could, if you really want to, keep CompanyA as the header in the
template, then if the user selects CompanyB (this could be by way of a
checkbox, or a combobox with CompanyA and CompanyB as items), delete the
current header (for CompanyA) and insert the header for CompanyB.

The first two choices are probably the best way though.

On my own, I think I'd choose separate sets of templates for the two
companies. If you store them in separate subfolders under the Templates
folder, you'll get a separate tab for each subfolder on the File > New
dialog.

If you want to pursue the combined approach, though, I'll suggest that you
store each entire header as an AutoText entry (ditto for the footers) in
each template. The code in the OK button of the userform can then simply
insert the correct pair of entries for the chosen company.

I have created numerous templates all based upon 1 letterhead with the
company logo on top and address info in the footer.

[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]

Thanks,
Bryan

 

[Gordon Bentley-Mix]

Bryan,

I second the opinions of Jay and fumei (or is that "third"? <g>) and would
add the following:

I faced a similar situation with a client that wanted a letter template that
would work to produce either an "electronic" or printed document. The printed
doc would be printed on letterhead stock, which had various elements (company
logo, main office address, etc.) pre-printed in the header and footer. The
e-doc needed to look just like the printed doc when viewed on the screen. And
just to make things more exciting, I had to provide functionality to allow
the user to re-run the template and possibly switch between the two versions.
Obviously separate templates wasn't going to work.

What I did was put a checkbox on the UserForm to indicate when the letter
was to be printed on letterhead. Then I used AutoText entries to insert the
correct header and footer based on the status of this checkbox; i.e. include
the graphic elements in the e-doc and insert placeholders (to maintain proper
spacing) in the printed doc. Works a treat and could be easily adapted to
your needs.

BTW, the I put the e-doc header / footer into the template as the "default",
even though they were subsequently replaced when the document was built. This
way the user didn't panic if they happened to notice that the document behind
the UserForm didn't have the graphics in it.
--
Cheers!
Gordon

Uninvited email contact will be marked as SPAM and ignored. Please post all
follow-ups to the newsgroup.

Generally, I would agree with Jay...separate templates.

I would also agree that if you do want a combined approach (and it really is
not a terribly bad idea), doing BOTH as AutoText is a very good idea. In
other words, have NO header, and when a choice is made by the user, the
appropriate one is inserted.

Or you could, if you really want to, keep CompanyA as the header in the
template, then if the user selects CompanyB (this could be by way of a
checkbox, or a combobox with CompanyA and CompanyB as items), delete the
current header (for CompanyA) and insert the header for CompanyB.

The first two choices are probably the best way though.

On my own, I think I'd choose separate sets of templates for the two
companies. If you store them in separate subfolders under the Templates
folder, you'll get a separate tab for each subfolder on the File > New
dialog.

If you want to pursue the combined approach, though, I'll suggest that you
store each entire header as an AutoText entry (ditto for the footers) in
each template. The code in the OK button of the userform can then simply
insert the correct pair of entries for the chosen company.

I have created numerous templates all based upon 1 letterhead with the
company logo on top and address info in the footer.

[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]

Thanks,
Bryan