Template overlay

[Steve]

Is there a way to make Word 2007 open with a specific overlay or template(I'm
not sure if I am using the correct term here)? I was trying to think of a way
to open a blank invoice each time a specific Word document is opened and then
import preformatted data into the document and print the invoice. It would
basically be like an overlay. I would just lay the data on top of the form or
picture of the form. I would appreciate it if anybody could point me in the
right direction or suggest a better solution.

 

[SuperEasyTemplates.com]

Steve, you are really talking about a template. Not an overlay. Essentially,
if I'm reading you correctly, you would like to open a template with some
pre-formatted information each time. This is especially helpful at company's
where the invoice figures or description for the work rarely changes, like a
plumber or electrician. Often I see with daylabor as well, where a recruiter
might send someone for a job and the invoice is the same generic description
over and over.

Well, there are a few ways I've done in the past:

a) Very basic, very simple - I did it the old fashion way. I would open a
doc and then click Save As. Each month, I was responsible for generating
invoices at an old job years ago. I'd take the prior month's invoice, do a
'SAVE AS' and then open the doc and change only what I needed to change,
which was very little, then printed.

b) Next - simply create your own template Steve. It sounds like you have a
good idea of what you want on the form. Save it as a template file (in older
Word versions, its .dot. When you do a 'save as', in the file type, open it
up and look for document template. Select that. Then, every time you open
that template, the word file, the info is saved inside.

As far as 'importing' data, I think you are over-complicating what sounds to
be pretty simple!!! Lay the doc out, even in Excel. MOst of my old invoices
were formatted in Excel so that I could easily use the FORMULAS, but Word
does it just as nicely when you put in a table.

You should check the template gallery, there ar ea TON of invoices out there
already. Just download that with you need, then use it!

Hope that helps!