Word 2007

[legalgofer]

Our office recently switched from WordPerfect to Word. I had a process in WP
that for each of my clients I would setup a database of all their
information. I saved that database in each clients directory. My work is
concentrated around family law so it is very form intensive. I have all my
forms setup to be merge documents. I would run the merge process and had
“keyboard†fields which would stop at that place in the form for me to put in
certain information that was not in the client database and then move on to
the next field using the alt+enter. I had many choices setup for "if and if
not" choices and for "if blank and if not blank". I am at a loss as to what
would be the best way to now set all this up in Word. I have been doing some
experimenting with the mail merge in Word and not sure that is best way to
accomplish my goal. Can you please give me some feedback on what would be
the best approach to this project?

 

[Robert M. Franz [RMF]]

hi lg

Our office recently switched from WordPerfect to Word. I had a process in WP
that for each of my clients I would setup a database of all their
information. I saved that database in each clients directory. My work is
concentrated around family law so it is very form intensive. I have all my
forms setup to be merge documents. I would run the merge process and had
“keyboard†fields which would stop at that place in the form for me to put in
certain information that was not in the client database and then move on to
the next field using the alt+enter. I had many choices setup for "if and if
not" choices and for "if blank and if not blank". I am at a loss as to what
would be the best way to now set all this up in Word. I have been doing some
experimenting with the mail merge in Word and not sure that is best way to
accomplish my goal. Can you please give me some feedback on what would be
the best approach to this project?

a mail merge approach is cool if all the information you need for a
certain merge is in one "row" of your "DB". Is that the case with your
DB or could it be arranged in such a manner?

2cents
Robert

 

[legalgofer]

I believe in most cases, yes. If I do the mail merge route, will it allow me
to stop in the form and enter such things as he, she, his, hers, etc.? Is
there an easy way to find all the "code" I need to put in variables for "if
and if not" and "if blank".

 

[Legal Learning]

Hello,

I am also in the legal environment (have been for 25 years now). I have
taken folks from WP to Word countless times. Your practice area is a perfect
candidate for a clause (similar to merge) process within Word. If you are
interested in some input on how to get this done in the most efficient manner
(I know you have huge amounts of documents in that practice area), post back
and I'll give you a way to contact me personally. That way, we can converse
efficiently also! I am into saving time - legal thing we have in common!

 

[legalgofer]

I would be happy to discuss the process with you. Sure beats me having to
pull my hair out

 

[Legal Learning]

Give me a shout on 720-422-5177. I have a 10:30 conference call but other
than that I can chat with you.

 

[Robert M. Franz [RMF]]

I believe in most cases, yes. If I do the mail merge route, will it allow me
to stop in the form and enter such things as he, she, his, hers, etc.? Is
there an easy way to find all the "code" I need to put in variables for "if
and if not" and "if blank".

you can use IF-fields around MERGEFIELDS and act accordingly.

More often than not it's a lot easier to do all the "acting" in the DB
already, though. If you have your data in Excel, it's very easy to
calculate such things (if the necessary info is in the DB to begin with).

HTH
Robert