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"Mail Merge" Word with SharePoint Lists

Last post 02-13-2008 4:06 PM by Chris Quick. 7 replies.
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  • 10-16-2007 9:21 AM

    "Mail Merge" Word with SharePoint Lists

    I am looking to see if this would be possible with limited development time. My HR department is planning on updating and collecting job descriptions for all positions in our organization. I am very attracted to the use of content place holders in Word to allow the HR department to format job descriptions in a manner consistent with our organizational branding. However, each of these descriptions will be submitted by directors in each department and therefore could come in with a blur of different styles (based on the preferences of the individual). What I'm hoping can be done is to make use of SharePoint, InfoPath and Word to provide an end-to-end solution for our HR department.

    I would like to make use of InfoPath to collect the information about the job descriptions, including enforcing rules about data entry of the items. While I'm sure this could be accomplished within Word, I'm afraid the development time would be overwhelming for the proposed timeline. The InfoPath form will post the results back to a Form Library. This Form Library would then be used to contain the job descriptions that will eventually be converted into word documents within the template HR is developing. This is where I'm hoping to be able to leverage SharePoint lists (treating the Form library as a list) to complete a word document as you would mail merge. However, I'm finding that there is no way to use this data as you would a mail merge. Any ideas on how this might be accomplished. I'm trying to minimize development time, but I'm not afraid of opening up VSTO SE or VBA to complete my requirements!

    Thanks!

  • 10-16-2007 10:17 AM In reply to

    Re: "Mail Merge" Word with SharePoint Lists

    Would it be feasible to leverage MS Access 2007 as an output mechanism for the list and do your document conversions from there? It is very simple export from the list and then you can access the data through all of your database functionality.

    Just a thought.
    Mark
    EndUserSharePoint.com

     

    Mark Miller, Founder and Editor
    Website: www.EndUserSharePoint.com
    My Motto: No GeekSpeak
    Filed under: , , ,
  • 10-16-2007 10:34 AM In reply to

    Re: "Mail Merge" Word with SharePoint Lists

    Great suggestion! I attempted to do that using a linked list, but Word (through the ODBC drivers) doesn't see SharePoint lists. It reports that there are no tables in Access. However, I haven't tried doing a full-fleged export of the lists into Access. I can definately walk them through doing that when they need to print job descriptions for applicants -- I was just hoping it would be easier for the end user.

    I also tried using the Export to Spreadsheet option and using the .iqy file created with no luck. I'm considering taking the template into Visual Studio with VSTO SE to create a template for their use that draws upon web services to gather the information. I'll let you know what I discover as I'm sure there would be interest for your EndUSerSharePoint site.

  • 10-16-2007 10:37 AM In reply to

    Re: "Mail Merge" Word with SharePoint Lists

    I feel like a moron... I used the Jet drivers. I just discovered the wonderful, powerful new Office 12 drivers... and there are my SharePoint lists! Thanks for making me go back and review the steps!

  • 01-10-2008 9:12 AM In reply to

    Re: "Mail Merge" Word with SharePoint Lists

     Hi Chris,

     can you give me more details about how do you did it?

    I didn't understand in full.

     
    Thanks in advance,

    JCintra
     

  • 01-22-2008 3:02 PM In reply to

    Re: "Mail Merge" Word with SharePoint Lists

    I've received several PM's about this topic, so I'll be including a blog post on it this at www.endusersharepoint.com. It should be posted by Thursday of this week, so please check the site.

  • 02-13-2008 4:00 PM In reply to

    Re: "Mail Merge" Word with SharePoint Lists

    I too am desperate for this functionality and how you did this.

     Brad

  • 02-13-2008 4:06 PM In reply to

    Re: "Mail Merge" Word with SharePoint Lists

    Sorry! I forgot to provide a postback that it's up:

    http://www.endusersharepoint.com/?p=101

     

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