Link an Excel dropdown list into a Word form

[yotafan]

I need to create 27 forms/templates that are locked down which is easy. Each form will have 3-8 drop downs that will be used in each form. I want to make the drop downs in excel and then link them into all of the forms in the appropriate places.

The reason for doing this is it is easier to change the excel sheet instead of 27 forms with each drop down. Our users only have read rights to the templates directory also so i want to put hte excel file in a directory that a specific user can change the lists when needed.

If you can reccomend a different why to accomplish this, please share.

Thanks

 

[fumei]

I want to make the drop downs in excel and then link them into all of the forms in the appropriate places.

Not following this.

faq219-2884

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[yotafan]

What am i not following, which rule are you reffering too?

 

[Welshbird]

I'm not following completely either - what kind of forms and in what application?

Ta.

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[yotafan]

I need to create MS Word templates that will be locked. Each template will have anywhere from 3-8 dropdown lists ranging from names to month, day, year. Instead of me creating the month, day, year, for each list 4 times i wanted to make a list in MS Excel. The real reason is because so of the lists will need to be updated and it would be easier to update a master list than each list on 27 MS Word templates.

 

[fumei]

If I understand correctly, you are going to use Excel to hold data, and then - when the template is used - load Excel, get the data, and use it to fill items in the drop downs in the Word document.

Seems excessive.

1. Why do you have 27 Word templates?

2. Are they real templates, ie. .dot files?

Instead of me creating the month, day, year, for each list 4 times i wanted to make a list in MS Excel.

Not following this. Use arrays. There is no need to do this 4 times, although I am not sure exactly what you mean...or why.

You could also have these arrays in a global template so each of your 27 templates (which I find excessive) can grab it from there.

I fail to see why you want to use Excel to hold such minimal data like day, month, year for dropdowns.

faq219-2884

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[yotafan]

Fumei:

Yes they are goign to be all .dot files. They are legal documents that are all different. The real reason i wanted to use MS Excel is because in many of the templates there will be 3 specific dropdowns that wil be used in all of the templates that consist of Attorney Deputy Generals, Law Guardians, and Public Defenders. Those three lists only consist of 30 names but the lists do change. I figured if a list was created in MS Excel a specific user could just edit that one file which held the 3 main drop downs.

I am unformilar with the term arrays in MS Word. How can i make a single drop down for each (month, day, year) that can be used in all of the templates. Wouldn't i need to create a new drop down each time.

Thank you

 

[yotafan]

Bumping this up.

 

[fumei]

I'll say it again. Put them as public arrays in a global template.

I figured if a list was created in MS Excel a specific user could just edit that one file which held the 3 main drop downs.

The Excel file would just hold the list, the data. It is not going to hold the dropdowns themselves. So yes, in ANY case, you are going to have to populate the dropdowns in each template. In which case, again, hold the data as public arrays in a global template.

In each template have empty dropddowns. Populate them from the public arrays using Document_New.

Document_New is fired when you cloned a new document from a .dot (template file).

faq219-2884

Gerry
My paintings and sculpture

 

[ragnarok89]

Yotafan,

I have just been asked to do something very similar. I need several word documents each with a drop down linked to an excel file. I would be very interested in finding a solution to this. In my case, I would prefer not to use arrays, as users need to be able to edit this list. By using an excel file, users can add items they want to appear on the list whenever they please...

Ragnarok89

 

[yotafan]

ragarok89,

Still haven't gotten a solution yet either for my issue. I know who to contact now so probably this week i will contact an internal person who can help me with this.