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.
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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?
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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