Master and Sub collation and other things

[nige hamilton]

Hi there,

I sent this query to microsoft a week ago but haven't
heard anything, so I thought I'd try you guys out as I've
found your site helpful in the past.
================================================== ========
I have been working on a solution for a business process
for a couple of months. The process is quite complex in
that it:

1. takes data from spreadsheet
2. stores the spreadsheet data in a SQL database
3. produces reports in word based on that data
4. collates these reports with other word reports to
produce approx 100 (different) reports based on this
information.

I have written an application in VB6 which automates
Excel, Word and accesses the SQL database. The problem is
with the final part (4), the collation is using master and
sub documents - and I know the [your]recommendations are
not to use this feature, but I don't know of any other way
to provide a solution. I think that because the master and
sub documents are not based on a common template and have
a mixture of styles etc, when the collation is complete
there are lots of blank pages and different paper sizes
etc. My question is that if I were to create a 'global'
template with all the required styles in it, which is
protected and has 'automatically update styles' disabled
would this allow me to control collation, pagination,
table of contents, paper sizes and orientation, and
printing? If this is the right way to go would I be able
to print different sections of the report to different
printers (e.g. colour printers) during the printing of an
entire report whilst maintaining page numbering?

Furthermore, would a progression of the solution be to
ship all the VB6 code into the global Word template and
use a customised version of Word with new menus etc to
automate Excel and access the database hence controlling
the business process from Word rather than VB6 forms?
================================================== =======
I have since been investigating the problem and think that
maybe the best way to go is split my application so that
my VB app handles the data (SQL) and Excel side of things
and leave Word to deal with the viewing, editing,
printing, and collating processes. Anyhow the main problem
is to get a decent global template together so that the
collation works (master and sub). If I am taking the wrong
direction please tell me which path leads to the correct
solution :-)

I look forward to any responses and please ask if you
require any furhter information.

Best Regards
Nige Hamilton

[Jonathan West]

Hi Nige,

Its not entirely clear what process you are including in "collating these
reports with other word reports". I guess you mean grouping a set of files
into a single printed document, and adding a consolidated table of contents.
If so, you might be interested in this article.

Creating a Table of Contents Spanning Multiple Documents
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?ID=148


If this isn't what you are after, could you explain in a bit more detail
what goes into stage 4 of your process?


--
Regards
Jonathan West - Word MVP
http://www.multilinker.com
Please reply to the newsgroup


"nige hamilton" > wrote in message
...
> Hi there,
>
> I sent this query to microsoft a week ago but haven't
> heard anything, so I thought I'd try you guys out as I've
> found your site helpful in the past.
> ================================================== ========
> I have been working on a solution for a business process
> for a couple of months. The process is quite complex in
> that it:
>
> 1. takes data from spreadsheet
> 2. stores the spreadsheet data in a SQL database
> 3. produces reports in word based on that data
> 4. collates these reports with other word reports to
> produce approx 100 (different) reports based on this
> information.
>
> I have written an application in VB6 which automates
> Excel, Word and accesses the SQL database. The problem is
> with the final part (4), the collation is using master and
> sub documents - and I know the [your]recommendations are
> not to use this feature, but I don't know of any other way
> to provide a solution. I think that because the master and
> sub documents are not based on a common template and have
> a mixture of styles etc, when the collation is complete
> there are lots of blank pages and different paper sizes
> etc. My question is that if I were to create a 'global'
> template with all the required styles in it, which is
> protected and has 'automatically update styles' disabled
> would this allow me to control collation, pagination,
> table of contents, paper sizes and orientation, and
> printing? If this is the right way to go would I be able
> to print different sections of the report to different
> printers (e.g. colour printers) during the printing of an
> entire report whilst maintaining page numbering?
>
> Furthermore, would a progression of the solution be to
> ship all the VB6 code into the global Word template and
> use a customised version of Word with new menus etc to
> automate Excel and access the database hence controlling
> the business process from Word rather than VB6 forms?
> ================================================== =======
> I have since been investigating the problem and think that
> maybe the best way to go is split my application so that
> my VB app handles the data (SQL) and Excel side of things
> and leave Word to deal with the viewing, editing,
> printing, and collating processes. Anyhow the main problem
> is to get a decent global template together so that the
> collation works (master and sub). If I am taking the wrong
> direction please tell me which path leads to the correct
> solution :-)
>
> I look forward to any responses and please ask if you
> require any furhter information.
>
> Best Regards
> Nige Hamilton
>
>

[nige hamilton]

Hi Jonathan,

Many thanks for your prompt reply. Your article
http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?
ID=148 looks like it should help - I think I've been
taking the option #2 approach, but a blend of the
information in the article looks like it will provide an
answer. I'm in the process of creating my global template
at the moment (with all the required styles), so it might
be some time before I implement your suggestions but I'll
let you know how I get on :-)

Cheers
Nige

>-----Original Message-----
>Hi Nige,
>
>Its not entirely clear what process you are including
in "collating these
>reports with other word reports". I guess you mean
grouping a set of files
>into a single printed document, and adding a consolidated
table of contents.
>If so, you might be interested in this article.
>
>Creating a Table of Contents Spanning Multiple Documents
>http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?
ID=148
>
>
>If this isn't what you are after, could you explain in a
bit more detail
>what goes into stage 4 of your process?
>
>
>--
>Regards
>Jonathan West - Word MVP
>http://www.multilinker.com
>Please reply to the newsgroup
>
>
>"nige hamilton" >
wrote in message
...
>> Hi there,
>>
>> I sent this query to microsoft a week ago but haven't
>> heard anything, so I thought I'd try you guys out as
I've
>> found your site helpful in the past.
>>
================================================== ========
>> I have been working on a solution for a business process
>> for a couple of months. The process is quite complex in
>> that it:
>>
>> 1. takes data from spreadsheet
>> 2. stores the spreadsheet data in a SQL database
>> 3. produces reports in word based on that data
>> 4. collates these reports with other word reports to
>> produce approx 100 (different) reports based on this
>> information.
>>
>> I have written an application in VB6 which automates
>> Excel, Word and accesses the SQL database. The problem
is
>> with the final part (4), the collation is using master
and
>> sub documents - and I know the [your]recommendations are
>> not to use this feature, but I don't know of any other
way
>> to provide a solution. I think that because the master
and
>> sub documents are not based on a common template and
have
>> a mixture of styles etc, when the collation is complete
>> there are lots of blank pages and different paper sizes
>> etc. My question is that if I were to create a 'global'
>> template with all the required styles in it, which is
>> protected and has 'automatically update styles' disabled
>> would this allow me to control collation, pagination,
>> table of contents, paper sizes and orientation, and
>> printing? If this is the right way to go would I be able
>> to print different sections of the report to different
>> printers (e.g. colour printers) during the printing of
an
>> entire report whilst maintaining page numbering?
>>
>> Furthermore, would a progression of the solution be to
>> ship all the VB6 code into the global Word template and
>> use a customised version of Word with new menus etc to
>> automate Excel and access the database hence controlling
>> the business process from Word rather than VB6 forms?
>>
================================================== =======
>> I have since been investigating the problem and think
that
>> maybe the best way to go is split my application so that
>> my VB app handles the data (SQL) and Excel side of
things
>> and leave Word to deal with the viewing, editing,
>> printing, and collating processes. Anyhow the main
problem
>> is to get a decent global template together so that the
>> collation works (master and sub). If I am taking the
wrong
>> direction please tell me which path leads to the correct
>> solution :-)
>>
>> I look forward to any responses and please ask if you
>> require any furhter information.
>>
>> Best Regards
>> Nige Hamilton
>>
>>
>
>.
>

[nige hamilton]

Hi Jonathan,

Progressing well with the RD fields - and strange beasts
they are! Several gotchas regarding show/hide paragraph
marks and the handling of the quotes and \f switch. Anyhow
it looks like it will solve my printing, pagination and
TOC problems - I'm now applying it programmatically
through VB along with your handy macro(s).

However, is there any way of viewing or saving an entire,
collated document (electronically) - as defined by the
TOC? This is necessary as I have to 'archive' each
finished report (preferably in pdf format).

Best regards
Nige Hamilton

>-----Original Message-----
>Hi Jonathan,
>
>Many thanks for your prompt reply. Your article
>http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?
>ID=148 looks like it should help - I think I've been
>taking the option #2 approach, but a blend of the
>information in the article looks like it will provide an
>answer. I'm in the process of creating my global template
>at the moment (with all the required styles), so it might
>be some time before I implement your suggestions but I'll
>let you know how I get on :-)
>
>Cheers
> Nige
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>Hi Nige,
>>
>>Its not entirely clear what process you are including
>in "collating these
>>reports with other word reports". I guess you mean
>grouping a set of files
>>into a single printed document, and adding a
consolidated
>table of contents.
>>If so, you might be interested in this article.
>>
>>Creating a Table of Contents Spanning Multiple Documents
>>http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp
?
>ID=148
>>
>>
>>If this isn't what you are after, could you explain in a
>bit more detail
>>what goes into stage 4 of your process?
>>
>>
>>--
>>Regards
>>Jonathan West - Word MVP
>>http://www.multilinker.com
>>Please reply to the newsgroup
>>
>>
>>"nige hamilton" >
>wrote in message
...
>>> Hi there,
>>>
>>> I sent this query to microsoft a week ago but haven't
>>> heard anything, so I thought I'd try you guys out as
>I've
>>> found your site helpful in the past.
>>>
>================================================== ========
>>> I have been working on a solution for a business
process
>>> for a couple of months. The process is quite complex in
>>> that it:
>>>
>>> 1. takes data from spreadsheet
>>> 2. stores the spreadsheet data in a SQL database
>>> 3. produces reports in word based on that data
>>> 4. collates these reports with other word reports to
>>> produce approx 100 (different) reports based on this
>>> information.
>>>
>>> I have written an application in VB6 which automates
>>> Excel, Word and accesses the SQL database. The problem
>is
>>> with the final part (4), the collation is using master
>and
>>> sub documents - and I know the [your]recommendations
are
>>> not to use this feature, but I don't know of any other
>way
>>> to provide a solution. I think that because the master
>and
>>> sub documents are not based on a common template and
>have
>>> a mixture of styles etc, when the collation is complete
>>> there are lots of blank pages and different paper sizes
>>> etc. My question is that if I were to create a 'global'
>>> template with all the required styles in it, which is
>>> protected and has 'automatically update styles'
disabled
>>> would this allow me to control collation, pagination,
>>> table of contents, paper sizes and orientation, and
>>> printing? If this is the right way to go would I be
able
>>> to print different sections of the report to different
>>> printers (e.g. colour printers) during the printing of
>an
>>> entire report whilst maintaining page numbering?
>>>
>>> Furthermore, would a progression of the solution be to
>>> ship all the VB6 code into the global Word template and
>>> use a customised version of Word with new menus etc to
>>> automate Excel and access the database hence
controlling
>>> the business process from Word rather than VB6 forms?
>>>
>================================================== =======
>>> I have since been investigating the problem and think
>that
>>> maybe the best way to go is split my application so
that
>>> my VB app handles the data (SQL) and Excel side of
>things
>>> and leave Word to deal with the viewing, editing,
>>> printing, and collating processes. Anyhow the main
>problem
>>> is to get a decent global template together so that the
>>> collation works (master and sub). If I am taking the
>wrong
>>> direction please tell me which path leads to the
correct
>>> solution :-)
>>>
>>> I look forward to any responses and please ask if you
>>> require any furhter information.
>>>
>>> Best Regards
>>> Nige Hamilton
>>>
>>>
>>
>>.
>>
>.
>

[Charles Kenyon]

Print it as a .pdf file.
--

Charles Kenyon

Word New User FAQ & Web Directory: http://addbalance.com/word

Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented version of
Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide) http://addbalance.com/usersguide

See also the MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word which is awesome!
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
from my ignorance and your wisdom.

"nige hamilton" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Jonathan,
>
> Progressing well with the RD fields - and strange beasts
> they are! Several gotchas regarding show/hide paragraph
> marks and the handling of the quotes and \f switch. Anyhow
> it looks like it will solve my printing, pagination and
> TOC problems - I'm now applying it programmatically
> through VB along with your handy macro(s).
>
> However, is there any way of viewing or saving an entire,
> collated document (electronically) - as defined by the
> TOC? This is necessary as I have to 'archive' each
> finished report (preferably in pdf format).
>
> Best regards
> Nige Hamilton
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Hi Jonathan,
> >
> >Many thanks for your prompt reply. Your article
> >http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?
> >ID=148 looks like it should help - I think I've been
> >taking the option #2 approach, but a blend of the
> >information in the article looks like it will provide an
> >answer. I'm in the process of creating my global template
> >at the moment (with all the required styles), so it might
> >be some time before I implement your suggestions but I'll
> >let you know how I get on :-)
> >
> >Cheers
> > Nige
> >
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>Hi Nige,
> >>
> >>Its not entirely clear what process you are including
> >in "collating these
> >>reports with other word reports". I guess you mean
> >grouping a set of files
> >>into a single printed document, and adding a
> consolidated
> >table of contents.
> >>If so, you might be interested in this article.
> >>
> >>Creating a Table of Contents Spanning Multiple Documents
> >>http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp
> ?
> >ID=148
> >>
> >>
> >>If this isn't what you are after, could you explain in a
> >bit more detail
> >>what goes into stage 4 of your process?
> >>
> >>
> >>--
> >>Regards
> >>Jonathan West - Word MVP
> >>http://www.multilinker.com
> >>Please reply to the newsgroup
> >>
> >>
> >>"nige hamilton" >
> >wrote in message
> ...
> >>> Hi there,
> >>>
> >>> I sent this query to microsoft a week ago but haven't
> >>> heard anything, so I thought I'd try you guys out as
> >I've
> >>> found your site helpful in the past.
> >>>
> >================================================== ========
> >>> I have been working on a solution for a business
> process
> >>> for a couple of months. The process is quite complex in
> >>> that it:
> >>>
> >>> 1. takes data from spreadsheet
> >>> 2. stores the spreadsheet data in a SQL database
> >>> 3. produces reports in word based on that data
> >>> 4. collates these reports with other word reports to
> >>> produce approx 100 (different) reports based on this
> >>> information.
> >>>
> >>> I have written an application in VB6 which automates
> >>> Excel, Word and accesses the SQL database. The problem
> >is
> >>> with the final part (4), the collation is using master
> >and
> >>> sub documents - and I know the [your]recommendations
> are
> >>> not to use this feature, but I don't know of any other
> >way
> >>> to provide a solution. I think that because the master
> >and
> >>> sub documents are not based on a common template and
> >have
> >>> a mixture of styles etc, when the collation is complete
> >>> there are lots of blank pages and different paper sizes
> >>> etc. My question is that if I were to create a 'global'
> >>> template with all the required styles in it, which is
> >>> protected and has 'automatically update styles'
> disabled
> >>> would this allow me to control collation, pagination,
> >>> table of contents, paper sizes and orientation, and
> >>> printing? If this is the right way to go would I be
> able
> >>> to print different sections of the report to different
> >>> printers (e.g. colour printers) during the printing of
> >an
> >>> entire report whilst maintaining page numbering?
> >>>
> >>> Furthermore, would a progression of the solution be to
> >>> ship all the VB6 code into the global Word template and
> >>> use a customised version of Word with new menus etc to
> >>> automate Excel and access the database hence
> controlling
> >>> the business process from Word rather than VB6 forms?
> >>>
> >================================================== =======
> >>> I have since been investigating the problem and think
> >that
> >>> maybe the best way to go is split my application so
> that
> >>> my VB app handles the data (SQL) and Excel side of
> >things
> >>> and leave Word to deal with the viewing, editing,
> >>> printing, and collating processes. Anyhow the main
> >problem
> >>> is to get a decent global template together so that the
> >>> collation works (master and sub). If I am taking the
> >wrong
> >>> direction please tell me which path leads to the
> correct
> >>> solution :-)
> >>>
> >>> I look forward to any responses and please ask if you
> >>> require any furhter information.
> >>>
> >>> Best Regards
> >>> Nige Hamilton
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>.
> >>
> >.
> >

Doh!

I'll give it a shot :-) Many Thanks

(Sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees!)

>-----Original Message-----
>Print it as a .pdf file.
>--
>
>Charles Kenyon
>
>Word New User FAQ & Web Directory:
http://addbalance.com/word
>
>Intermediate User's Guide to Microsoft Word (supplemented
version of
>Microsoft's Legal Users' Guide)
http://addbalance.com/usersguide
>
>See also the MVP FAQ: http://www.mvps.org/word which is
awesome!
> --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------
--
>This message is posted to a newsgroup. Please post replies
>and questions to the newsgroup so that others can learn
>from my ignorance and your wisdom.
>
>"nige hamilton" >
wrote in message
...
>> Hi Jonathan,
>>
>> Progressing well with the RD fields - and strange beasts
>> they are! Several gotchas regarding show/hide paragraph
>> marks and the handling of the quotes and \f switch.
Anyhow
>> it looks like it will solve my printing, pagination and
>> TOC problems - I'm now applying it programmatically
>> through VB along with your handy macro(s).
>>
>> However, is there any way of viewing or saving an
entire,
>> collated document (electronically) - as defined by the
>> TOC? This is necessary as I have to 'archive' each
>> finished report (preferably in pdf format).
>>
>> Best regards
>> Nige Hamilton
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >Hi Jonathan,
>> >
>> >Many thanks for your prompt reply. Your article
>>
>http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp?
>> >ID=148 looks like it should help - I think I've been
>> >taking the option #2 approach, but a blend of the
>> >information in the article looks like it will provide
an
>> >answer. I'm in the process of creating my global
template
>> >at the moment (with all the required styles), so it
might
>> >be some time before I implement your suggestions but
I'll
>> >let you know how I get on :-)
>> >
>> >Cheers
>> > Nige
>> >
>> >>-----Original Message-----
>> >>Hi Nige,
>> >>
>> >>Its not entirely clear what process you are including
>> >in "collating these
>> >>reports with other word reports". I guess you mean
>> >grouping a set of files
>> >>into a single printed document, and adding a
>> consolidated
>> >table of contents.
>> >>If so, you might be interested in this article.
>> >>
>> >>Creating a Table of Contents Spanning Multiple
Documents
>>
>>http://pubs.logicalexpressions.com/Pub0009/LPMArticle.asp
>> ?
>> >ID=148
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>If this isn't what you are after, could you explain
in a
>> >bit more detail
>> >>what goes into stage 4 of your process?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>--
>> >>Regards
>> >>Jonathan West - Word MVP
>> >>http://www.multilinker.com
>> >>Please reply to the newsgroup
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>"nige hamilton"
>
>> >wrote in message
>> ...
>> >>> Hi there,
>> >>>
>> >>> I sent this query to microsoft a week ago but
haven't
>> >>> heard anything, so I thought I'd try you guys out as
>> >I've
>> >>> found your site helpful in the past.
>> >>>
>>
>================================================== ========
>> >>> I have been working on a solution for a business
>> process
>> >>> for a couple of months. The process is quite
complex in
>> >>> that it:
>> >>>
>> >>> 1. takes data from spreadsheet
>> >>> 2. stores the spreadsheet data in a SQL database
>> >>> 3. produces reports in word based on that data
>> >>> 4. collates these reports with other word reports to
>> >>> produce approx 100 (different) reports based on this
>> >>> information.
>> >>>
>> >>> I have written an application in VB6 which automates
>> >>> Excel, Word and accesses the SQL database. The
problem
>> >is
>> >>> with the final part (4), the collation is using
master
>> >and
>> >>> sub documents - and I know the [your]recommendations
>> are
>> >>> not to use this feature, but I don't know of any
other
>> >way
>> >>> to provide a solution. I think that because the
master
>> >and
>> >>> sub documents are not based on a common template and
>> >have
>> >>> a mixture of styles etc, when the collation is
complete
>> >>> there are lots of blank pages and different paper
sizes
>> >>> etc. My question is that if I were to create
a 'global'
>> >>> template with all the required styles in it, which
is
>> >>> protected and has 'automatically update styles'
>> disabled
>> >>> would this allow me to control collation,
pagination,
>> >>> table of contents, paper sizes and orientation, and
>> >>> printing? If this is the right way to go would I be
>> able
>> >>> to print different sections of the report to
different
>> >>> printers (e.g. colour printers) during the printing
of
>> >an
>> >>> entire report whilst maintaining page numbering?
>> >>>
>> >>> Furthermore, would a progression of the solution be
to
>> >>> ship all the VB6 code into the global Word template
and
>> >>> use a customised version of Word with new menus etc
to
>> >>> automate Excel and access the database hence
>> controlling
>> >>> the business process from Word rather than VB6
forms?
>> >>>
>>
>================================================== =======
>> >>> I have since been investigating the problem and
think
>> >that
>> >>> maybe the best way to go is split my application so
>> that
>> >>> my VB app handles the data (SQL) and Excel side of
>> >things
>> >>> and leave Word to deal with the viewing, editing,
>> >>> printing, and collating processes. Anyhow the main
>> >problem
>> >>> is to get a decent global template together so that
the
>> >>> collation works (master and sub). If I am taking the
>> >wrong
>> >>> direction please tell me which path leads to the
>> correct
>> >>> solution :-)
>> >>>
>> >>> I look forward to any responses and please ask if
you
>> >>> require any furhter information.
>> >>>
>> >>> Best Regards
>> >>> Nige Hamilton
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>.
>> >>
>> >.
>> >
>
>
>.
>