Integration with Microsoft Word

[Michael Lerner]

Dear Michael,

I have a question about Microsoft Word A1 BookMark Merging.

The A1 Law help "Client Card - Letters - Word Integration" discusses the process for integrating A1 Law with Microsoft Word.

You first create the bookmarks in the A1 template part:

>
>
>

And then write the body in the Microsoft Word part inserting the specific bookmarks.

**Rather than having to go through this process with each document, is it possible for our office to create a list of common command bookmarks (client, date, ask, etc.), and have that list merged into the A1 Law document, and then use it for Microsoft Word documents?

So if we create an A1 document #2500 called "A1 MS Word Mege List" - Created all of the bookmarks we need there.
Then went to the document we are going to create: Say #3001 - which the A1 Law portion would only have >.
Then we would have all of those bookmarks available to use the corresponding Microsoft Word document?

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks!

Sincerely,
Michael Lerner
Lerner, Moore, Mammano, Strasser, and Silva
www.injuryatwork.com
(909) 889-1131

[Michael Appell]

Michael -

you really should not use bookmarks for Word integration. They may be Microsoft's recommended way of integrating Word with other programs (and is the only reason I have continued to keep this feature). However, I have developed my own methods for integration with Word and Corel Word Perfect which are far superior. There are several reasons my methods are better. First, it is more reliable. Second, you have to create a different bookmark everywhere in the document even if you want to merge the same field twice (ie: the client's name). Third, viewing the document in Word provides you with little information about what each bookmark is merging.

You are still free to use bookmarks if you want but they are not the preferred method. Please see the following link for the preferred method which is far far easier to implement:



Now, onto your questions:

1. is it possible for our office to create a list of common command bookmarks (client, date, ask, etc.), and have that list merged into the A1 Law document

Yes - this is also recommended for Method 2 for Word integration which is what I am currently recommending. Just put the commands in a separate form letter and use the MERGE command.


2. So if we create an A1 document #2500 called "A1 MS Word Mege List" - Created all of the bookmarks we need there.
Then went to the document we are going to create: Say #3001 - which the A1 Law portion would only have >.
Then we would have all of those bookmarks available to use the corresponding Microsoft Word document?

Ahh, correct, you have answered your own question as stated in #1. The only major problem are bookmarks. This was the first method and the Microsoft method which frankly I can't stand. There were several letters where the client's name or something else had to be inserted several times so I would have to create several bookmarks with different names and it was a real pain. Then on top of that, looking at a letter full of bookmarks and not knowing what is what was even more pain (pain on top of pain). Took forever to do a letter.

With Method 2, you have everything you need and you may edit the A1-law letter and the Word letter at the same time in the design phase. Once it is done, you can really crank out and design letters very fast.

Mike

[Michael Lerner]

Dear Michael,

I'm a bit confused about method #2.

Microsoft Word will be used for our PI department for its extensive pleading power.

If I get everything set up as described in method #2-

How do I get a header to merge properly?

Currently our header is A1Law Document #9000 which we use to merge into each of our WC A1 letters.

Can I create a header in A1 that would merge properly into Word?

Sincerely,
Michael Lerner
LMMSS

[Michael Lerner]

Dear Michael,

I'm still trying to figure out the easiest way to add a header to each of the Word Documents.

With just A1, all it took was creating a document that had just the header, then merging that into each document I created (eg. #9000 was the header... each of the documents I >.

For whatever reason, If I try to merge 9000 into the Word Document, the font and the spacing comes out differently.

Any ideas what would be the best solution for this?

Could I create a Microsoft Word document that would be just the header that I would merge into other MS Word documents? How would I do this?

Thanks again!

Sincerely,

Michael Lerner
Lerner, Moore, Mammano, Strasser & Silva

[Michael Appell]

You would insert the header and/or footer directly in the Word document. In Word click View, Header and Footer. Then, insert your header and / or footer in the document.

Mike

[Michael Appell]

I should again mention - whatever you do, do not use bookmarks anymore. Use method #2. It's much easier to create and maintain letters. Regarding footers, just create them directly in the Word document. There is no need to merge a header or footer from the A1-Law letter. The A1-Law letter is only used to supply the commands to use in the Word document for merging fields.

Mike