.dotx documents

[fmede]

I have ten .dotx documents that has a column of addresses in each table that
are each sorted alphabetically, is there a way to join all ten .dotx
documents and have all ten address columns sorted all together alphabetically?

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

You choices include:

1. Copy & paste.

2. Open the first, go to the end, use Insert File, insert the second,
lather-rinse-repeat.

3. Create a new document, insert ten {IncludeText} field codes with the
names of the 10 files. Use double slashes instead of slashes for specifying
the location, e.g.,
{ INCLUDETEXT "C:\\Users\\Herb\\Documents\\FileOne.doc" }. Press Ctrl+A, F9,
then Ctrl+Shift+F9 to select, update, and convert them into actual text.

Then use the table sort command (which isn't just for tables) to sort them.

The exact location of the Insert File and Sort commands depends upon which
version of Word you're using.

Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

....except that the extension will be .dotx, rather than .doc. Although, I
wonder why you have these files contained in template files rather than
regular documents.

However, .dotx suggests that you're using Word 2007, so for Insert File, in
the Insert tab, click Object - Text from Tile. The Sort command is located
in the Paragraph group in the Home tab, just to the right of the Increase
Indent tool.

For the field code approach, I would suggest that you insert the first one
using the Insert - Object - Text from File - Insert as Link method. Then,
press Alt+F9 to show the field codes. Copy the first field code and
replicate it nine times, and then edit to provide the names for files 2
through 10.

--

Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[fmede]

thank you herb
as a beginner and new to word2007 i'll give this a try but it appears that
i must learn some new terminologly
if i have trouble may I contact you at your website directly?

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

I check here for messages quite frequently. So right here is the best place.

--

Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[fmede]

herb
as a beginner i am having trouble executing any of the your suggested
methods could you pick the one you think is the easiest for me to understand
and try to give me the instructions in a line by line explanation
thanks

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

1. Open the first file--let's call this the combined file.

2. Choose File - Save As, and give it a new name so you don't disturb the
first file.

3. Press Ctrl+End to go to the end of the combined file.

4. Open the second file. Press Ctrl+A, Ctrl+C to select it and copy it to
the clipboard. Press Ctrl+F4 to close this file. (Depending on the size of
the files, you might be prompted asking if you want to retain the
clipboard--if so, say Yes.)

5. Display the combined file, and press Ctrl+V to paste the contents of the
clipboard.

Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the other 8 files.

If you had dozens of files to combine, one of the other methods would
certainly be more efficient. Since it's only 10, it's faster using the
copy/paste brute force method, IMO.


Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[fmede]

herb I wish to express my gratitude for your patience in this matter
I have successfully combined the documents per your instructions with the
cut and paste method, I did a test of just two .dotx files to see the
outcome, and they indeed are joined but when I sorted the address column
alphabetically the result was ok as to the alphabetical part but the lines of
the columns come out distorted and jagged not the horizontal lines just the
vertical lines formiing the columns of the table.
any thoughts why?
frank mede

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

My guess is that the original tables were not the same dimensions (different
column widths).

Select the whole table (i.e., after the 10 have been merged), move the mouse
pointer so it's exactly over any vertical cell wall, and double-click. Here,
that forces the merged tables to assume identical column widths for all
cells.

Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[fmede]

herb the project has been completed successfully and it could not have been
done without your help
having this forum is an absolute blessing thank you and all the others for
all the help you give on a daily basis
thanks again
have a great day

 

[fmede]

herb i guess i spoke to early when i said i was successful I
had only experimented with the first three joined .dotx docs, I have a
problem in sorting the address column in all ten joined docs
I tried highlighting the column and scrolling down it stays only for the
first 3 then jumps across covering the entire remainig tables
not just staying on the address column, I tried clicking above the address
column
producing the little black downward arrow
and then scrolling down all ten and the same thing occurs, your thoughts

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

Is it possible that some of the tables in the joined files have different
numbers of columns?

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com

 

[fmede]

hi herb
no all tables have exactly same number of rows and columns