Word - best model for inserting multiple docs into templates   

I wonder what is the best model for automating the process (using C# and Word 
automation) of taking many client Word docs (text, bold, bullets, images, 
borders, tables, shapes, etc) and adding these to a new doc that enforces 
overall layout and font/paragraph settings?

Our current process does not work very well, perhaps because we did not use 
Word templates (.dot). Our current process is: take many Word docs and 
appends each into a new doc, before inserting that new doc into a layout doc 
that contains place-holder tags for day, date, etc, and another tag for the 
content of the new doc. The basic automated process is: select-all and copy > 
find (and select) the tag > paste content.

After auto copy/pasting docs into a new doc, there are sometimes problems 
with:
1.	 Enforcing the font and paragraph settings of the new doc.
2.	Retaining the layout (bullets etc) of the source content.

Questions that come to mind:
1.	Should I instead be using a proper Word template (.dot)?
2.	With 1 above, should I also load the source content into auto-texts? 
3.	Should I look at basing it on Words XML/XLST? 
4.	Should I be using VSTO?
5.	Should I just concentrate on Word 2007 if the benefits are great?
6.	Can I ever successfully copy other Word content containing tables, 
text-boxes etc, i.e. what are the limitations.
7.	Is the bulk copy/paste process the right way to go, should I copy/paste 
individual sections/bookmarks/...?

So many questions, I hope someone can point the correct path!
Thank you.

date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:30:00 -0800   author:   Sam

Re: Word - best model for inserting multiple docs into templates   

Hi Sam,

The best way to ensure consistency is to base the formatting on a template with a suitable set of formatting styles that are 
strictly enforced. If your source documents lack this, then you're going to have to implement a process that inspects the formatting 
of each paragraph and determine the most appropriate style from your template to use for it. Ultimately, the choice of Word version 
or file format isn't going to help much in resolving this issue - unless perhaps the files you're working with have features from 
later Word versions that aren't supported in the earlier versions.

As for the tags you mention, have you looked at Word's document properties and the various date etc fields that are available?

BTW: Points 1 & 2 are in conflict.

Cheers
-- 
macropod
[MVP - Microsoft Word]
-------------------------

"Sam"  wrote in message news:3FE38892-E3B3-436C-943A-BFA48A7213CB@microsoft.com...
>I wonder what is the best model for automating the process (using C# and Word
> automation) of taking many client Word docs (text, bold, bullets, images,
> borders, tables, shapes, etc) and adding these to a new doc that enforces
> overall layout and font/paragraph settings?
>
> Our current process does not work very well, perhaps because we did not use
> Word templates (.dot). Our current process is: take many Word docs and
> appends each into a new doc, before inserting that new doc into a layout doc
> that contains place-holder tags for day, date, etc, and another tag for the
> content of the new doc. The basic automated process is: select-all and copy >
> find (and select) the tag > paste content.
>
> After auto copy/pasting docs into a new doc, there are sometimes problems
> with:
> 1. Enforcing the font and paragraph settings of the new doc.
> 2. Retaining the layout (bullets etc) of the source content.
>
> Questions that come to mind:
> 1. Should I instead be using a proper Word template (.dot)?
> 2. With 1 above, should I also load the source content into auto-texts?
> 3. Should I look at basing it on Words XML/XLST?
> 4. Should I be using VSTO?
> 5. Should I just concentrate on Word 2007 if the benefits are great?
> 6. Can I ever successfully copy other Word content containing tables,
> text-boxes etc, i.e. what are the limitations.
> 7. Is the bulk copy/paste process the right way to go, should I copy/paste
> individual sections/bookmarks/...?
>
> So many questions, I hope someone can point the correct path!
> Thank you.
>

date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 01:29:50 +1100   author:   macropod lid

Re: Word - best model for inserting multiple docs into templates   

Thanks for your feedback macropod. I've realised that I need to get stuck 
into learning about what templates/styles can do for us.

Meanwhile I've overhauled the processing to use InsertFile rather than 
copy/paste, and it is working so much better!

"macropod" wrote:

> Hi Sam,
> 
> The best way to ensure consistency is to base the formatting on a template with a suitable set of formatting styles that are 
> strictly enforced. If your source documents lack this, then you're going to have to implement a process that inspects the formatting 
> of each paragraph and determine the most appropriate style from your template to use for it. Ultimately, the choice of Word version 
> or file format isn't going to help much in resolving this issue - unless perhaps the files you're working with have features from 
> later Word versions that aren't supported in the earlier versions.
> 
> As for the tags you mention, have you looked at Word's document properties and the various date etc fields that are available?
> 
> BTW: Points 1 & 2 are in conflict.
> 
> Cheers
> -- 
> macropod
> [MVP - Microsoft Word]
> -------------------------
> 
> "Sam"  wrote in message news:3FE38892-E3B3-436C-943A-BFA48A7213CB@microsoft.com...
> >I wonder what is the best model for automating the process (using C# and Word
> > automation) of taking many client Word docs (text, bold, bullets, images,
> > borders, tables, shapes, etc) and adding these to a new doc that enforces
> > overall layout and font/paragraph settings?
> >
> > Our current process does not work very well, perhaps because we did not use
> > Word templates (.dot). Our current process is: take many Word docs and
> > appends each into a new doc, before inserting that new doc into a layout doc
> > that contains place-holder tags for day, date, etc, and another tag for the
> > content of the new doc. The basic automated process is: select-all and copy >
> > find (and select) the tag > paste content.
> >
> > After auto copy/pasting docs into a new doc, there are sometimes problems
> > with:
> > 1. Enforcing the font and paragraph settings of the new doc.
> > 2. Retaining the layout (bullets etc) of the source content.
> >
> > Questions that come to mind:
> > 1. Should I instead be using a proper Word template (.dot)?
> > 2. With 1 above, should I also load the source content into auto-texts?
> > 3. Should I look at basing it on Words XML/XLST?
> > 4. Should I be using VSTO?
> > 5. Should I just concentrate on Word 2007 if the benefits are great?
> > 6. Can I ever successfully copy other Word content containing tables,
> > text-boxes etc, i.e. what are the limitations.
> > 7. Is the bulk copy/paste process the right way to go, should I copy/paste
> > individual sections/bookmarks/...?
> >
> > So many questions, I hope someone can point the correct path!
> > Thank you.
> > 
> 
>

date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 23:37:00 -0800   author:   Sam