Inserting a Dynamic Header in a Word Document

Question

Where many document templates have a header containing company contact information, there is a lot of work involved when that company information changes (you have to go into each template and change the header). Is there any way that all the template headers could be "linked" to the current company information, so that the headers in the templates would update automatically when company info. changed?

Answer 1

You can use IncludeText fields, each one with a bookmark pointing to a bookmarked range in an external document that can be updated as needed. See http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/TblsFldsFms/includetextfields.htm.

Answer 2

If you update the Building Blocks in the template that houses them, documents created from templates connected tot he Building Block template will automatically pick up the updated building blocks. 

Create your Building Blocks n a template and store that template along with the default Word template for Building Blocks (see Greg's web page I previously cited for more on that).

Then, when you create templates, use that BB Template a a source, but wherever you need the BB, use an AUTOTEXT field so that if the BB changes, you just update the field and the field content will update as well. As long as users have access to both the template and the BB template, it will all be done automatically, no macros!

Answer 3

Many thanks, but I've tried using Buidling Blocks, and they just seem to be autotext. I even tried putting a building block inside a content control, but the user would still have to select the relevant building block when they used the template. I need a system that requires no user intervention. I don't really want to go down the VBA route either, due to macro issues. It seems such a common issue that I'm surprised there's no obvious answer. I need some automated way of the template "looking up" the current value for a defined Building Block.

Answer 4

You would have to use Building Blocks.

For everything you ever wanted to know about those, and more... try this excellent page by Word MVP Greg Maxey.