Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
Home
DiscussionsAccessExcelInfoPathOutlookPowerPointPublisherWord
DirectoryUser Groups
Related Topics
Outlook ExpressInternet ExplorerWindowsMS Server ProductsMore Topics ...

MS Office Forum / Word / Mailmerge and Fax / November 2005

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

Combining DDE Expressions

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
Ademar - 11 Nov 2005 03:02 GMT
I use GoldMine's (CRM Software) link with Microsoft Word to merge documents.
GoldMine uses DDE to feed data from its database to Word.  Here's an example
of a GoldMine DDE command that I can plug in to MS Word:
{DDEAUTO GoldMine Data CONTACT2->UACCTMGR \*CHARFORMAT}.

At the same time, I use some of Word's own merge commands to insert images
as a dynamic link.  Here's an example:
{INCLUDEPICTURE "../../../Sigs/ADEMAR.BMP" \* MERGEFORMAT \d}

In this case, I'm merging a picture called "ADEMAR.BMP".  What I need to
accomplish is have the picture file name be dynamic.  I need the filename to
be feed through to Word from GoldMine's DDE command shown above.  I tried
nesting GoldMine's DDE command into Word's DDE command but it didn't work.
It seems that Word is using whatever GoldMine feeds at the time I inserted
the DDE command and saved the document as a template.  Therefore, it always
links the picture that was used when I first created/saved the template.  I
have successfully combined GoldMine's DDE Commands with Word's DDE Commands
in the past but I have not had any luck with this one.  I've tried several
variations of the following:

{INCLUDEPICTURE "../../../Sigs/{DDEAUTO GoldMine Data CONTACT2->UACCTMGR
\*CHARFORMAT}.BMP" \* MERGEFORMAT \d}

Any ideas?

Thanks!
Ademar.
macropod - 11 Nov 2005 07:11 GMT
Hi Ademar,

A couple of points:
1. The path for an INCLUDEPICTURE field needs to be fully spelt out,
including the drive letter. AFAIK, you can't use network paths.
2. The \*CHARFORMAT and \* MERGEFORMAT switches are superfluous

Try something like:
{INCLUDEPICTURE "C:/My Documents/PicPath/Sigs/{DDEAUTO GoldMine Data
CONTACT2->UACCTMGR}.BMP" \d}

An alternative approach might be to use the DDEAUTO field to create a
bookmark and use that in the INCLUDEPICTURE field:
{SET PicName {DDEAUTO GoldMine Data CONTACT2->UACCTMGR}}
and
{INCLUDEPICTURE "C:/My Documents/PicPath/Sigs/{PicName}.BMP" \d}

Also, if the DDEAUTO field includes a path or filename extension, you should
delete them from the rest of the INCLUDEPICTUREfield.

Cheers
PS: INCLUDEPICTURE fields and the like normally use double back-slashes
(i.e. '\\') as path separators, but single forward-slashes, as shown above,
work just as well.

> I use GoldMine's (CRM Software) link with Microsoft Word to merge documents.
> GoldMine uses DDE to feed data from its database to Word.  Here's an example
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> Thanks!
> Ademar.
Ademar - 12 Nov 2005 04:13 GMT
Very educational.

But I still can't get it to work.
I tried your first one:
{INCLUDEPICTURE "C:/My Documents/PicPath/Sigs/{DDEAUTO GoldMine Data
> CONTACT2->UACCTMGR}.BMP" \d}
This one gave me the same problem I was having before.  When creating the
template, I update/toggle the DDEAUTO GoldMine expression and it plugs in
the correct value in its place.  Then I update/toggle the INCLUDEPICTUR
expression and it merges the correct image.  But then after I save the
template and do a merge, it merges the wrong image.  It basically reverts
back to the image that I originally pointed it to.

Then I tried the SET PicName.
First, I'm not sure I did it right.  How do I plug in the {PicName} field
without typing it in.  It doesn't look like I can just type it in because
then the { } don't look valid.  Also, are you sure you have the { }
positioned correctly because the way you have them it would make the "and"
be outside the shaded area.

Thanks!

> Hi Ademar,
>
[quoted text clipped - 54 lines]
> > Thanks!
> > Ademar.
macropod - 12 Nov 2005 07:25 GMT
Hi Ademar,

To insert the 'Picname' field, prepare your INCLUDEPICTURE like:
{INCLUDEPICTURE "C:/My Documents/PicPath/Sigs/PicName.BMP" \d}
Then select 'Picname' and press Ctrl-F9 to turn it into a field.

Cheers

> Very educational.
>
[quoted text clipped - 84 lines]
> > > Thanks!
> > > Ademar.
Ademar - 12 Nov 2005 19:10 GMT
Ok, got that.
I've tried several different variations  but still not working.  Any more
ideas?

Thanks!

> Hi Ademar,
>
[quoted text clipped - 95 lines]
> > > > Thanks!
> > > > Ademar.
Ademar - 12 Nov 2005 19:23 GMT
I did some more troubleshooting and it appears that GoldMine is feeding the
name of the currently logged in user as the filename.  I basically doesn't
care what we put in the field, it always overrides it.  That sucks.

Signature

Regards,

Ademar Nunes

> Ok, got that.
> I've tried several different variations  but still not working.  Any more
[quoted text clipped - 109 lines]
> > > > > Thanks!
> > > > > Ademar.
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.