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Terry wrote: Certainly not a new user but don't know where to post this one (Please tell me where may be better). Some time ago we prepared a Word 2000 template using a table and Autotext. Sentences (from a different document) were added to autotext (some were 700+ characters) and each given a code. Typing the code successfully inserted the text into the table (of the template and 'new' documents). This template still works OK on Word 97, 2000, XP. We are now trying to set up new templates on the same basis. However, we cannot enter more than 255 characters (on any version) into autotext. What has gone wrong/are we doing differently. Please help before I lose all my hair!!! If the original was a 'quirk', any other ideas for automatically entering text using a code? Many thanks Terry |
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#2
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AutoText
Certainly not a new user but don't know where to post this one (Please tell
me where may be better). Some time ago we prepared a Word 2000 template using a table and Autotext. Sentences (from a different document) were added to autotext (some were 700+ characters) and each given a code. Typing the code successfully inserted the text into the table (of the template and 'new' documents). This template still works OK on Word 97, 2000, XP. We are now trying to set up new templates on the same basis. However, we cannot enter more than 255 characters (on any version) into autotext. What has gone wrong/are we doing differently. Please help before I lose all my hair!!! If the original was a 'quirk', any other ideas for automatically entering text using a code? Many thanks Terry |
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#3
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How are you "entering" the text? To add an AutoText, you select the content
first (in the document), open AutoText dialog with Insert AutoText AutoText ..., then type in the name (your shorthand code) for the AutoText. The content can be very long and complex (I don't know limits and have never tripped over any) but the name you type is limited to 255 chars I think. As an aside, make sure also that you use the AutoText dialog and not the short "New" dialog as you will need to select the template to store the AutoText in. -- Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org "Terry" wrote in message ... Certainly not a new user but don't know where to post this one (Please tell me where may be better). Some time ago we prepared a Word 2000 template using a table and Autotext. Sentences (from a different document) were added to autotext (some were 700+ characters) and each given a code. Typing the code successfully inserted the text into the table (of the template and 'new' documents). This template still works OK on Word 97, 2000, XP. We are now trying to set up new templates on the same basis. However, we cannot enter more than 255 characters (on any version) into autotext. What has gone wrong/are we doing differently. Please help before I lose all my hair!!! If the original was a 'quirk', any other ideas for automatically entering text using a code? Many thanks Terry |
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#4
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Margaret, thanks for replying.
We are entering the full autotext entry in the 'enter autotext entries here' part of the dialogue. I think it is at this point it is going wrong - but has definately worked previously. We then give this text a code (4 or 5 letters) using Templates & Add ins/organiser. This is what worked 2 years ago (I think) on the same machine & software (Win 98, Office 2000) - no changes as far as I'm aware (may have downloaded an update). This original template still works using the original autotext; however, trying to add a new autotext entry does not. Terry "Margaret Aldis" wrote in message ... How are you "entering" the text? To add an AutoText, you select the content first (in the document), open AutoText dialog with Insert AutoText AutoText ..., then type in the name (your shorthand code) for the AutoText. The content can be very long and complex (I don't know limits and have never tripped over any) but the name you type is limited to 255 chars I think. As an aside, make sure also that you use the AutoText dialog and not the short "New" dialog as you will need to select the template to store the AutoText in. -- Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org "Terry" wrote in message ... Certainly not a new user but don't know where to post this one (Please tell me where may be better). Some time ago we prepared a Word 2000 template using a table and Autotext. Sentences (from a different document) were added to autotext (some were 700+ characters) and each given a code. Typing the code successfully inserted the text into the table (of the template and 'new' documents). This template still works OK on Word 97, 2000, XP. We are now trying to set up new templates on the same basis. However, we cannot enter more than 255 characters (on any version) into autotext. What has gone wrong/are we doing differently. Please help before I lose all my hair!!! If the original was a 'quirk', any other ideas for automatically entering text using a code? Many thanks Terry |
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#5
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Frankly I don't recall that method ever having worked, and I am not
surprised that the dialog box has a character limit - I am surprised it's as big as 255 characters. I would have thought 30 would have been nearer the mark  Type the text in the document - pages of it if you like - select the text then ALT+F3. Type your autotext name in the box. If you make a lot of use of autotext, then you might like to investigate GhostTyper XML, which will work in all applications including Word - you can even have two entries with the same name without conflict, or use an assortment of data files for different tasks. I use it for storing web links for reproduction here  -- Graham Mayor - Word MVP My web site www.gmayor.com Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org Terry wrote: Margaret, thanks for replying. We are entering the full autotext entry in the 'enter autotext entries here' part of the dialogue. I think it is at this point it is going wrong - but has definitely worked previously. We then give this text a code (4 or 5 letters) using Templates & Add ins/organiser. This is what worked 2 years ago (I think) on the same machine & software (Win 98, Office 2000) - no changes as far as I'm aware (may have downloaded an update). This original template still works using the original autotext; however, trying to add a new autotext entry does not. Terry "Margaret Aldis" wrote in message ... How are you "entering" the text? To add an AutoText, you select the content first (in the document), open AutoText dialog with Insert AutoText AutoText ..., then type in the name (your shorthand code) for the AutoText. The content can be very long and complex (I don't know limits and have never tripped over any) but the name you type is limited to 255 chars I think. As an aside, make sure also that you use the AutoText dialog and not the short "New" dialog as you will need to select the template to store the AutoText in. -- Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org "Terry" wrote in message ... Certainly not a new user but don't know where to post this one (Please tell me where may be better). Some time ago we prepared a Word 2000 template using a table and Autotext. Sentences (from a different document) were added to autotext (some were 700+ characters) and each given a code. Typing the code successfully inserted the text into the table (of the template and 'new' documents). This template still works OK on Word 97, 2000, XP. We are now trying to set up new templates on the same basis. However, we cannot enter more than 255 characters (on any version) into autotext. What has gone wrong/are we doing differently. Please help before I lose all my hair!!! If the original was a 'quirk', any other ideas for automatically entering text using a code? Many thanks Terry |
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#6
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Hi Terry
You are entering the text of the AutoText in the wrong place - that field is for the name of the AutoText and you can type your "code" in there directly - no need to rename in Organizer. Do make sure you are saving in the template though (select template name from Look in: dropdown.) See my previous post for the correct order of work - type what you want in the document, then select it, then open the dialog. What is probably confusing you is that when you select ordinary text you will see the same text in the Preview field (the content of the AutoText) and suggested as the default name for the new entry. -- Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org "Terry" wrote in message ... Margaret, thanks for replying. We are entering the full autotext entry in the 'enter autotext entries here' part of the dialogue. I think it is at this point it is going wrong - but has definately worked previously. We then give this text a code (4 or 5 letters) using Templates & Add ins/organiser. This is what worked 2 years ago (I think) on the same machine & software (Win 98, Office 2000) - no changes as far as I'm aware (may have downloaded an update). This original template still works using the original autotext; however, trying to add a new autotext entry does not. Terry "Margaret Aldis" wrote in message ... How are you "entering" the text? To add an AutoText, you select the content first (in the document), open AutoText dialog with Insert AutoText AutoText ..., then type in the name (your shorthand code) for the AutoText. The content can be very long and complex (I don't know limits and have never tripped over any) but the name you type is limited to 255 chars I think. As an aside, make sure also that you use the AutoText dialog and not the short "New" dialog as you will need to select the template to store the AutoText in. -- Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org "Terry" wrote in message ... Certainly not a new user but don't know where to post this one (Please tell me where may be better). Some time ago we prepared a Word 2000 template using a table and Autotext. Sentences (from a different document) were added to autotext (some were 700+ characters) and each given a code. Typing the code successfully inserted the text into the table (of the template and 'new' documents). This template still works OK on Word 97, 2000, XP. We are now trying to set up new templates on the same basis. However, we cannot enter more than 255 characters (on any version) into autotext. What has gone wrong/are we doing differently. Please help before I lose all my hair!!! If the original was a 'quirk', any other ideas for automatically entering text using a code? Many thanks Terry |
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#7
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Many thanks Margaret & Graham
However, neither method work when the text (to be used for autotext) is in another document. Yes, I realise the text could be copied to the template & then turned into autotext (& then deleted) as you suggest. But this way could easily lead to mistakes; ultimately it is not for me but for several (not particularly computer literate) users (my wife's colleagues at School) and the template and the phrases need to be in separate documents. (But I guess that's what we will have to do if there is no other straight forward way.) Oddly, I am *sure* we did it from a separate document first time round without the intervening paste into the actual template but direct into autotext, somehow! Regards Terry "Margaret Aldis" wrote in message ... Hi Terry You are entering the text of the AutoText in the wrong place - that field is for the name of the AutoText and you can type your "code" in there directly - no need to rename in Organizer. Do make sure you are saving in the template though (select template name from Look in: dropdown.) See my previous post for the correct order of work - type what you want in the document, then select it, then open the dialog. What is probably confusing you is that when you select ordinary text you will see the same text in the Preview field (the content of the AutoText) and suggested as the default name for the new entry. -- Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org "Terry" wrote in message ... Margaret, thanks for replying. We are entering the full autotext entry in the 'enter autotext entries here' part of the dialogue. I think it is at this point it is going wrong - but has definately worked previously. We then give this text a code (4 or 5 letters) using Templates & Add ins/organiser. This is what worked 2 years ago (I think) on the same machine & software (Win 98, Office 2000) - no changes as far as I'm aware (may have downloaded an update). This original template still works using the original autotext; however, trying to add a new autotext entry does not. Terry "Margaret Aldis" wrote in message ... How are you "entering" the text? To add an AutoText, you select the content first (in the document), open AutoText dialog with Insert AutoText AutoText ..., then type in the name (your shorthand code) for the AutoText. The content can be very long and complex (I don't know limits and have never tripped over any) but the name you type is limited to 255 chars I think. As an aside, make sure also that you use the AutoText dialog and not the short "New" dialog as you will need to select the template to store the AutoText in. -- Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org "Terry" wrote in message ... Certainly not a new user but don't know where to post this one (Please tell me where may be better). Some time ago we prepared a Word 2000 template using a table and Autotext. Sentences (from a different document) were added to autotext (some were 700+ characters) and each given a code. Typing the code successfully inserted the text into the table (of the template and 'new' documents). This template still works OK on Word 97, 2000, XP. We are now trying to set up new templates on the same basis. However, we cannot enter more than 255 characters (on any version) into autotext. What has gone wrong/are we doing differently. Please help before I lose all my hair!!! If the original was a 'quirk', any other ideas for automatically entering text using a code? Many thanks Terry |
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#8
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If the document is based on the template, then the template will be
available in the dropdown. Also, to add to what Graham and Margaret have said, once you have selected the appropriate template in the "Look in" dropdown in the AutoText dialog, it will remain active until changed, so you can use the Alt+F3 shortcut to add AutoText entries. They will be saved in the selected template until you return to the dialog and change the "Look in" setting back to "All active templates" (and don't forget to do this or you'll be wondering why you can't access the "standard" AutoText entries). -- Suzanne S. Barnhill Microsoft MVP (Word) Words into Type Fairhope, Alabama USA Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so all may benefit. "Terry" wrote in message ... Many thanks Margaret & Graham However, neither method work when the text (to be used for autotext) is in another document. Yes, I realise the text could be copied to the template & then turned into autotext (& then deleted) as you suggest. But this way could easily lead to mistakes; ultimately it is not for me but for several (not particularly computer literate) users (my wife's colleagues at School) and the template and the phrases need to be in separate documents. (But I guess that's what we will have to do if there is no other straight forward way.) Oddly, I am *sure* we did it from a separate document first time round without the intervening paste into the actual template but direct into autotext, somehow! Regards Terry "Margaret Aldis" wrote in message ... Hi Terry You are entering the text of the AutoText in the wrong place - that field is for the name of the AutoText and you can type your "code" in there directly - no need to rename in Organizer. Do make sure you are saving in the template though (select template name from Look in: dropdown.) See my previous post for the correct order of work - type what you want in the document, then select it, then open the dialog. What is probably confusing you is that when you select ordinary text you will see the same text in the Preview field (the content of the AutoText) and suggested as the default name for the new entry. -- Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org "Terry" wrote in message ... Margaret, thanks for replying. We are entering the full autotext entry in the 'enter autotext entries here' part of the dialogue. I think it is at this point it is going wrong - but has definately worked previously. We then give this text a code (4 or 5 letters) using Templates & Add ins/organiser. This is what worked 2 years ago (I think) on the same machine & software (Win 98, Office 2000) - no changes as far as I'm aware (may have downloaded an update). This original template still works using the original autotext; however, trying to add a new autotext entry does not. Terry "Margaret Aldis" wrote in message ... How are you "entering" the text? To add an AutoText, you select the content first (in the document), open AutoText dialog with Insert AutoText AutoText ..., then type in the name (your shorthand code) for the AutoText. The content can be very long and complex (I don't know limits and have never tripped over any) but the name you type is limited to 255 chars I think. As an aside, make sure also that you use the AutoText dialog and not the short "New" dialog as you will need to select the template to store the AutoText in. -- Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org "Terry" wrote in message ... Certainly not a new user but don't know where to post this one (Please tell me where may be better). Some time ago we prepared a Word 2000 template using a table and Autotext. Sentences (from a different document) were added to autotext (some were 700+ characters) and each given a code. Typing the code successfully inserted the text into the table (of the template and 'new' documents). This template still works OK on Word 97, 2000, XP. We are now trying to set up new templates on the same basis. However, we cannot enter more than 255 characters (on any version) into autotext. What has gone wrong/are we doing differently. Please help before I lose all my hair!!! If the original was a 'quirk', any other ideas for automatically entering text using a code? Many thanks Terry |
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#9
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Hi Terry
OK, given the new information here's what I think you might have done the first time. In the document(s) containing the original text, selected and made new AutoTexts, probably using the default method and ending up with everything in your Normal.dot with long names looking like the text itself. Used Organizer to change the names *and* to copy across to the template. Perhaps you'd find this safer and more direct, given that the documents already exist. Do note that although you are keeping the phrases in separate documents the AutoText won't update itself if you change the source documents. (Actually you could if you wished build that from INCLUDETEXT fields stored as AutoTexts, but I somehow think this is going to get way too complicated ;-) ) -- Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org "Terry" wrote in message ... Many thanks Margaret & Graham However, neither method work when the text (to be used for autotext) is in another document. Yes, I realise the text could be copied to the template & then turned into autotext (& then deleted) as you suggest. But this way could easily lead to mistakes; ultimately it is not for me but for several (not particularly computer literate) users (my wife's colleagues at School) and the template and the phrases need to be in separate documents. (But I guess that's what we will have to do if there is no other straight forward way.) Oddly, I am *sure* we did it from a separate document first time round without the intervening paste into the actual template but direct into autotext, somehow! Regards Terry "Margaret Aldis" wrote in message ... Hi Terry You are entering the text of the AutoText in the wrong place - that field is for the name of the AutoText and you can type your "code" in there directly - no need to rename in Organizer. Do make sure you are saving in the template though (select template name from Look in: dropdown.) See my previous post for the correct order of work - type what you want in the document, then select it, then open the dialog. What is probably confusing you is that when you select ordinary text you will see the same text in the Preview field (the content of the AutoText) and suggested as the default name for the new entry. -- Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org "Terry" wrote in message ... Margaret, thanks for replying. We are entering the full autotext entry in the 'enter autotext entries here' part of the dialogue. I think it is at this point it is going wrong - but has definately worked previously. We then give this text a code (4 or 5 letters) using Templates & Add ins/organiser. This is what worked 2 years ago (I think) on the same machine & software (Win 98, Office 2000) - no changes as far as I'm aware (may have downloaded an update). This original template still works using the original autotext; however, trying to add a new autotext entry does not. Terry "Margaret Aldis" wrote in message ... How are you "entering" the text? To add an AutoText, you select the content first (in the document), open AutoText dialog with Insert AutoText AutoText ..., then type in the name (your shorthand code) for the AutoText. The content can be very long and complex (I don't know limits and have never tripped over any) but the name you type is limited to 255 chars I think. As an aside, make sure also that you use the AutoText dialog and not the short "New" dialog as you will need to select the template to store the AutoText in. -- Margaret Aldis - Microsoft Word MVP Syntagma partnership site: http://www.syntagma.co.uk Word MVP FAQ site: http://www.word.mvps.org "Terry" wrote in message ... Certainly not a new user but don't know where to post this one (Please tell me where may be better). Some time ago we prepared a Word 2000 template using a table and Autotext. Sentences (from a different document) were added to autotext (some were 700+ characters) and each given a code. Typing the code successfully inserted the text into the table (of the template and 'new' documents). This template still works OK on Word 97, 2000, XP. We are now trying to set up new templates on the same basis. However, we cannot enter more than 255 characters (on any version) into autotext. What has gone wrong/are we doing differently. Please help before I lose all my hair!!! If the original was a 'quirk', any other ideas for automatically entering text using a code? Many thanks Terry |
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