I have a student enrollment database & layout from which I have to create a MS Word confirmation letter. Once we have enrolled someone in a workshop, I want FMP6 to tell MS Word to create a new document from a template, and to fill in merge fields with info from the database, such as student name, workshop name, dates, and so forth.

I know basic Applescripting but very little about MS Word. I need a suggestion as to the general approach, rather than being given the code. (I can do the legwork once I have the general approach.) Word can, I've read, pull merge data from a FM database, but it's not clear to me how my FM-driven Applescript would communicate to Word the criteria for selecting the requisite record (Person) and related records (Enrollments, Workshops). At least, I think that's where my blind spot is.

I could spend hours reading Word documentation but if someone could outline, in three minutes, what I need to do I'd greatly appreciate it!

Thanks for your consideration,

Chap

If you're using Word vX and FMP 6, there is a way to do this from within Word. Go to the tools menu and look for the data merge manager. there is a choice to pick a FMP file to use as a data source.

If you're using Word vX and FMP 6, there is a way to do this from within Word. Go to the tools menu and look for the data merge manager. there is a choice to pick a FMP file to use as a data source.

I have Word vX and FMP 6, and I have found the data merge manager. The problem is that data merge manager wants me to specify the record selection criteria in terms of a constant, rather than a variable of some sort.

Also, I have thus far been unable to use Applescript from FMP to tell Word to open my boilerplate document without it putting me through the same exercise each time of specifying what FM file and fields to use. I realize that, at this point, I'm asking Applescript/Word questions rather than FM questions, and I'll take that to a different forum if necessary, but I think I am missing something fairly simple.

Has anyone been able, with FMP scripting, to tell MS Word to *automatically* fill in a form letter from data fields in the current FM record?

Alternately, don't use Word at all. Don't merge. Don't use applescript. Instead, use XML. Look into EZXSLT; http://www.chapsoft.com/ezxslt/

Just a satisfied user.

It looks great, and I intend to trial it out when I get a chance. Thanks a lot! Chap