merging pictures into a document template

[geegolly]

I need help inserting a code on the data source for a merge that involves
photographs. The mini-project is to take data and picture unique to each
document. I did some instructions but I guess I"m such a newbie that I can't
figure out where to start in this process. I'll paste the instructions below
so somebody can tell me exactly, from the first step and every step til the
end, how to do this. For me, there isn't enough info for me to follow the
directions. I get stuck at #3. Specifically, "by nesting the merge field in
an IncludePicture field." Where is this merge field? And I can't find
anything that says "IncludePicture" field. I'm just not in the right place
apparently. All help is gratefully accepted and appreciated.

Just to give you an idea, I need to merge info from 20 different resumes in
a common format and need to be able to change all 20 when someone comes along
and says "I think we should change that color to xxxxx." :-)


"Merge in a picture from a database
Word cannot merge a graphic or OLE-object directly from a database because
it does not understand the type of data the database sends across (long
binary). Therefore, you have to workaround this obstacle.

1) Save the graphics files in a folder (directory) on a drive
2) Place the file name (or path information) in a field in the database
3) Reference the graphic file information by nesting the merge field in an
IncludePicture field.
Example: { IncludePicture "C:\\Data\\Pics\\{ Mergefield Signature \* upper
}" }
4) You must now merge to a new document.
Update the field display so that each record shows the correct picture. (You
can press Ctrl+A to select the entire document, then F9 to update the fields.)
Note the double backslashes in the example, as well as the double-quotes.
Both are necessary if the field is to work correctly."

[AdamV]

I've not tried what you are talking about, but can help translate the
instructions:
You need to manually add a field into the document. You don't say what
version of Word you have, so if it's 2003 you go to Insert > Field
On 2007 or 2010 you go to Insert > Quick Parts > Field

In there you will find the field for IncludePicture. Insert this with
some dummy text for the UNC.

Select the inserted field and toggle field codes so you can see the
content, and replace the dummy text with a combination of the path and
some merge field with the last bit (eg the filename unique to that
document). This will now look more like the example given.

Basically this is a mergefield inside another field, so the merge gives
a unique value, adds this to the rest of the path and that is used to
find a picture to include.

Hope this helps

Adam

Post by geegolly
I need help inserting a code on the data source for a merge that involves
photographs. The mini-project is to take data and picture unique to each
document. I did some instructions but I guess I"m such a newbie that I can't
figure out where to start in this process. I'll paste the instructions below
so somebody can tell me exactly, from the first step and every step til the
end, how to do this. For me, there isn't enough info for me to follow the
directions. I get stuck at #3. Specifically, "by nesting the merge field in
an IncludePicture field." Where is this merge field? And I can't find
anything that says "IncludePicture" field. I'm just not in the right place
apparently. All help is gratefully accepted and appreciated.
Just to give you an idea, I need to merge info from 20 different resumes in
a common format and need to be able to change all 20 when someone comes along
and says "I think we should change that color to xxxxx." :-)
"Merge in a picture from a database
Word cannot merge a graphic or OLE-object directly from a database because
it does not understand the type of data the database sends across (long
binary). Therefore, you have to workaround this obstacle.
1) Save the graphics files in a folder (directory) on a drive
2) Place the file name (or path information) in a field in the database
3) Reference the graphic file information by nesting the merge field in an
IncludePicture field.
Example: { IncludePicture "C:\\Data\\Pics\\{ Mergefield Signature \* upper
}" }
4) You must now merge to a new document.
Update the field display so that each record shows the correct picture. (You
can press Ctrl+A to select the entire document, then F9 to update the fields.)
Note the double backslashes in the example, as well as the double-quotes.
Both are necessary if the field is to work correctly."