Re: MS Word - management information

[Geoff Lane <geoff -at- GJCTECH -dot- FORCE9 -dot- NET>]

Hilary Phillips wrote:

>I have recently come across an interesting facility in File/Properties =
>on the custom tab. I have discovered that I can create my own management =
>information table about a document. If I want, I can even include =
>information from this list in the document, using bookmarks.
>
>What I would like to be able to do is use a standard table in all of my =
>documents and then create reports across the set of documents, sorting =
>the information by issued date, expiry date, author, or whatever else I =
>choose.  This would mean that I could hold all the document management =
>information I require inside a document, but have the value of being =
>able to display and sort it as required.
>
>Has anyone attempted this, or come across software that might help?  =20
----

I've created templates that contain custom information within the
custom document properties.  I access these properties via a Word (97)
macro.  This macro retrieves the custom properties into a dialog box,
allowing the user to edit them in a manner more friendly than
File->Properties->Custom.  When you click OK, the macro writes changes to
the custom properties and then updates all fields within the current
document.

I haven't used this technique for document management but you could
certainly adapt it for that use.  Let me know if you want a sample template.

Geoff Lane
Cornwall, UK
geoff -at- gjctech -dot- force9 -dot- net