RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
Here is some code that I use to create an RTF, attach it to an email, mail it to client...(from a form, recordset whatever on the server). !--- Step 1. Read the RTF file into a variable Step 2. merge the form data into it Step 3. write the file to the filesystem then email it --- !--- Step 12. Read the RTF file into a variable --- cfset ThisFolder = GetDirectoryFromPath(GetCurrentTemplatePath()) cfset TemplatePath = ThisFolder THCU_Consultation_Planning_Form.rtf cfset PDFTemplatePath = ThisFolder THCU_Consultation_Planning_Form.pdf cffile action=read file=#TemplatePath# variable=rtf !--- replace placeholder text with form content --- cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %request_dt%, DateFormat(rs_Plan.request_dt, dd mmm )) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %parentID_fk%, rs_Plan.parentID_fk) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %firstname%, rs_Plan.firstname) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %lastname%, rs_Plan.lastname) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %organization%, rs_Plan.organization) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %email%, rs_Plan.email) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %time_frame%, rs_Plan.time_frame) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %num_participants%, rs_Plan.num_participants) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %request_description%, rs_Plan.request_description) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %outcomes%, new_outcomes) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %desired_outcomes%, rs_Plan.desired_outcomes) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %other_outcome%, rs_Plan.other_outcome) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %client1%, rs_Plan.client1) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %client2%, rs_Plan.client2) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %client3%, rs_Plan.client3) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %client4%, rs_Plan.client4) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %client_contribution%, rs_Plan.client_contribution) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %client_contribution_other%, rs_Plan.client_contribution_other) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %notes%, rs_Plan.notes) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %submitdate%, DateFormat(CreateODBCDate(Now()), dd mmm )) cfset RTF = Replace(RTF, %consultant%, rs_Plan.consultant) !--- Step 3. Write file out to file system --- cfset NewTemplatePath = ThisFolder THCU_Consultation_Planning_Form- rs_Plan.plan_ID .rtf cffile action=write file=#NewTemplatePath# output=#rtf# Unfortunately I am still looking for answers for this one. From: Doug Allan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Fri 03/06/2005 21:15 To: CF-Talk Subject: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) This is a response to the original post by Andy McShane http://www. houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=m:4:39361:201256 Does anyone think the CF Report Builder could be used to accomplish this. I read a tutorial on the macromedia site where the report builder was used to print avery address labels http://www.macromedia. com/devnet/mx/coldfusion/articles/averylabels.html There wasn't a clear mention of a mail-merge but it sounded feasible. Anybody have any thoughts? Thanks ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:210741 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
Unfortunately I am still looking for answers for this one. I am playing with a couple of suggestions using RTF XML but these both have way too much overhead in terms of maintenance for my site (potentially 1000's of documents that would all have to be manually edited!). The search continues. From: Doug Allan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Fri 03/06/2005 21:15 To: CF-Talk Subject: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) This is a response to the original post by Andy McShane http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=m:4:39361:201256 I saw your post a couple of days ago and found it very interesting. I may have to do something similar. I was wondering if you found a solution that worked for you. I read all the other posts but haven't tried anything yet. The request is fairly new so I'm researching different ways to get the job done. Thanks. ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:208645 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
Unfortunately I am still looking for answers for this one. From: Doug Allan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Fri 03/06/2005 21:15 To: CF-Talk Subject: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) This is a response to the original post by Andy McShane http://www. houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=m:4:39361:201256 Does anyone think the CF Report Builder could be used to accomplish this. I read a tutorial on the macromedia site where the report builder was used to print avery address labels http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/coldfusion/articles/averylabels.html There wasn't a clear mention of a mail-merge but it sounded feasible. Anybody have any thoughts? Thanks ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:208657 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
a potential command line option - triggered by CF, but only watched not executed. [EMAIL PROTECTED] [ 9:39:34 AM ] Const ForReading = 1 Const ForWriting = 2 Set objFSO = CreateObject(Scripting.FileSystemObject) Set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(C:\Scripts\Text.txt, ForReading) strText = objFile.ReadAll objFile.Close strNewText = Replace(strText, Jim , James ) Set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(C:\Scripts\Text.txt, ForWriting) objFile.WriteLine strNewText objFile.Close [EMAIL PROTECTED] [ 9:48:58 AM ] http://www.rimrocksoftware.com/rsedit.html From: Andy Mcshane [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: cf-talk@houseoffusion.com To: CF-Talk cf-talk@houseoffusion.com Subject: RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2005 10:48:04 +0100 I did something like this some time ago, I created the word document, put place holders in for my data, saved it as an rtf file. I then had to copy the RTF text into a .cfm page, process my place holders to put my text in and then save the RTF text back out to another file. This worked well. This was fine when I could control content of the document. Where this requirement now differs is that I want the user to create their own RTF documents and then upload them to our web server into a template directory. Let me run this idea by you, If I provide the user with a list of pre-defined merge field codes, i.e. the coldfusion code that maps to a required peice of data in the database, so that they can create their very own RTF documents, let them upload the document to the template directory on the server, I could then read the RTF file line by line to replace the merge fields with data and write out completed letters to another file. Does anybody see any problems with this idea? Are text file read writes much of an overhead for the server? I envisage that anywhere between 1 - 300+ letters may need to be produced at any one time. you could generate RTF files on the files. add mailmerge fields to a word document - save as RTF and us CF to generate RTF and make available for download. ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201328 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
It would be great if you could point to an online data source in Word. Tell Word that your CSV file is at http://mysite.com/data.csv. Everyone would have a copy of the Word file. Then just schedule CF to update your CSV. Maybe some VBScript or .NET? Anyone know if that's possible? -Brad -Original Message- From: Andy Mcshane [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2005 5:48 AM To: CF-Talk Subject: RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) I did something like this some time ago, I created the word document, put place holders in for my data, saved it as an rtf file. I then had to copy the RTF text into a .cfm page, process my place holders to put my text in and then save the RTF text back out to another file. This worked well. This was fine when I could control content of the document. Where this requirement now differs is that I want the user to create their own RTF documents and then upload them to our web server into a template directory. Let me run this idea by you, If I provide the user with a list of pre-defined merge field codes, i.e. the coldfusion code that maps to a required peice of data in the database, so that they can create their very own RTF documents, let them upload the document to the template directory on the server, I could then read the RTF file line by line to replace the merge fields with data and write out completed letters to another file. Does anybody see any problems with this idea? Are text file read writes much of an overhead for the server? I envisage that anywhere between 1 - 300+ letters may need to be produced at any one time. you could generate RTF files on the files. add mailmerge fields to a word document - save as RTF and us CF to generate RTF and make available for download. ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201345 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
When I use CF to create mail merge type form letters, I first set up my format characters as a block of variables, like this: !--- Generic formatting variables. --- cfset crlf = #chr(13)##chr(10)# !--- carriage return, line-feed --- cfset cr = #chr(13)# !--- carriage return --- cfset lf = #chr(10)# !--- line-feed --- cfset tab = #chr(9)# !--- tab --- cfset dblquote = #chr(34)# !--- double-quote --- cfset pgbrk = #chr(12)# !--- page break --- cfset topmargin = #lf##lf##lf##lf##lf##lf##lf# !--- page break --- cfset ResidentLtrs = Then I just loop over the query with the data for the variables and build a variable with the letter text, like this: cfset ResidentLtrs = ResidentLtrs #topmargin# #DateFormat(qAnnexLookup.Anx_Date, d, )# #crlf# #lf# New City Resident #crlf# #oldstAddr# #crlf# Renton, WA #qOwnerPIDs.ZipCode# #crlf# #lf# SUBJECT:#qAnnexLookup.Name# ADDRESS CHANGES #crlf# #lf# Because of the recent annexation of your property at #oldstAddr# to the City of Renton, the address must be changed to correspond with the City's address system. The new address is: #crlf# #lf# #tab# #tab# #tab# #newStAddr# #crlf# #lf# In an endeavor to assist you through this transition, I have notified the local Postal Authority and the utility companies, as well as the attached list of other potential agencies. When you submit the enclosed card to the Post Office you will receive an information packet to assist in this notification. #crlf# #lf# Please post your new address numbers within 30 days and at a minimum size of 4 #dblquote# (four inches). #crlf# #lf# If you have further questions, please contact me at (123) 456-7890. #crlf# Welcome to the City of Renton! #crlf# #lf# Sincerely, #crlf# #lf# #lf# #lf# Joe Schmoe #crlf# Development Services Representative #crlf# Development Services Department #crlf# #pgbrk# After the loop, use cffile to write the variable contents to a file with a .doc file extension, then provide a link on the following display page for the user to download the file. It's not perfect; the user may need to set the font and tab stops for the document. But even so, it sure is a time saver for the users and it is pretty easy to do from a programming standpoint! ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201439 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
Then I just loop over the query with the data for the variables and build a variable with the letter text, like this: cfset ResidentLtrs = ResidentLtrs #topmargin# ... I think it's worth pointing out that if you're going to concatenate strings, you don't need to wrap pound signs around your CF expressions. If you want to embed those expressions within existing strings, then you need the pound signs. cfset mystr = var1 var2 cfset mystr = #var1##var2# Dave Watts, CTO, Fig Leaf Software http://www.figleaf.com/ Fig Leaf Software provides the highest caliber vendor-authorized instruction at our training centers in Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, Northern Virginia, or on-site at your location. Visit http://training.figleaf.com/ for more information! ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201440 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
I've always found pound signs make it hard for me to read stuff so I find myself organizing my code in such a way as to avoid them where reasonable. Nice solution Rebecca. - Calvin -Original Message- From: Dave Watts [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 5:28 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) Then I just loop over the query with the data for the variables and build a variable with the letter text, like this: cfset ResidentLtrs = ResidentLtrs #topmargin# ... I think it's worth pointing out that if you're going to concatenate strings, you don't need to wrap pound signs around your CF expressions. If you want to embed those expressions within existing strings, then you need the pound signs. cfset mystr = var1 var2 cfset mystr = #var1##var2# Dave Watts, CTO, Fig Leaf Software http://www.figleaf.com/ Fig Leaf Software provides the highest caliber vendor-authorized instruction at our training centers in Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, Northern Virginia, or on-site at your location. Visit http://training.figleaf.com/ for more information! ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201442 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
Thanks. And thanks for the reminder, guys, re: the pound signs. Sometimes when I'm in a rush, I just slip into old habits just to meet some deadline. I'm sure we all have moments when we look back on code we've written in the past and groan. There are probably developers somewhere who inherited some of my early applications (circa 1997-2001, if any of them are even still around) that *hate* me. I know what that's like, because now I get to maintain code written by my predesessors. I've always found pound signs make it hard for me to read stuff so I find myself organizing my code in such a way as to avoid them where reasonable. Nice solution Rebecca. - Calvin ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201448 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
All, I agree that RTF (or, possibly PDF, but that presents its own challenges) is probably the way to go. Rick, you're going to want to take your query, or whatever format your source data is in and just loop over it (this could produce several nested loops - don't be afraid to just do it) to produce one instance of your RTF document per interation of your outermost loop. Instance in this case could just mean a final line break so the whole mail merge ends up in one document. It could also mean a distinct file... that's going to be up to you. You could create a whole temp folder full of files for them to download (via checkboxes, maybe?) There's a bajillion ways to do it... but if they're used to Word, I think you're on the right track. Here's what looked like a handy link full of working, runnable examples of generating RTF text from within CF: http://rtflib.aciwebs.com/cf/index.cfm And remember, Google is your friend! Laterz! On Apr 4, 2005 5:43 PM, Rebecca Wells [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks. And thanks for the reminder, guys, re: the pound signs. Sometimes when I'm in a rush, I just slip into old habits just to meet some deadline. I'm sure we all have moments when we look back on code we've written in the past and groan. There are probably developers somewhere who inherited some of my early applications (circa 1997-2001, if any of them are even still around) that *hate* me. I know what that's like, because now I get to maintain code written by my predesessors. I've always found pound signs make it hard for me to read stuff so I find myself organizing my code in such a way as to avoid them where reasonable. Nice solution Rebecca. - Calvin ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201461 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
I did something like this some time ago, I created the word document, put place holders in for my data, saved it as an rtf file. I then had to copy the RTF text into a .cfm page, process my place holders to put my text in and then save the RTF text back out to another file. This worked well. This was fine when I could control content of the document. Where this requirement now differs is that I want the user to create their own RTF documents and then upload them to our web server into a template directory. Let me run this idea by you, If I provide the user with a list of pre-defined merge field codes, i.e. the coldfusion code that maps to a required peice of data in the database, so that they can create their very own RTF documents, let them upload the document to the template directory on the server, I could then read the RTF file line by line to replace the merge fields with data and write out completed letters to another file. Does anybody see any problems with this idea? Are text file read writes much of an overhead for the server? I envisage that anywhere between 1 - 300+ letters may need to be produced at any one time. you could generate RTF files on the files. add mailmerge fields to a word document - save as RTF and us CF to generate RTF and make available for download. ~| Discover CFTicket - The leading ColdFusion Help Desk and Trouble Ticket application http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=48 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201293 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
Hya I know this isnt a LOT of help, but a while back I did some stuff like this using ASP. Basicaly in ASP you can create a server object (like an instance of MS Word) and then run commands against it. How that translates to CF I dont know. If it cant be done with CF have a look at ASP and CF could trigger an ASP page to do the merge and then pick up the results Mark Drew On Apr 2, 2005 9:02 AM, Andy Mcshane [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ok guy's, here's something that has been playing on mind now for far too long and I need to try to come up with a definitive answer of either yes it can be done or no it can't. Here's what I have been asked to do; We have a web based product that a number of our clients use to store information specific to them. From time to time they want to be able to use that information to produce letters. The way that this is currently done is that they download the information that they require in a comma seperated file and then use Microsoft Word to perform a mail merge using the CSV as a data source, with me so far? What I need to know is if it is possible, and if so how, to be able to carry out this same type of mail merge on line and then have the choice of printing or downloading the completed word documents as a file, i.e. is it possible to run the same mail nmerge process on the web server? If so can anyone point me to a source of info for this? Alternatively would anyone know of any other way to acheive this whole letter/mail merge process efficiently? Any advice greatly apreciated, ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201257 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
A COM object may be able to do the same work directly in CF. -Original Message- From: Mark Drew [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, 2 April 2005 5:50 To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) Hya I know this isnt a LOT of help, but a while back I did some stuff like this using ASP. Basicaly in ASP you can create a server object (like an instance of MS Word) and then run commands against it. How that translates to CF I dont know. If it cant be done with CF have a look at ASP and CF could trigger an ASP page to do the merge and then pick up the results ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201258 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
Thats what I meant :) Early saturday morning with hangover... cant seem to get words out MD On Apr 2, 2005 11:01 AM, James Holmes [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: A COM object may be able to do the same work directly in CF. -Original Message- From: Mark Drew [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, 2 April 2005 5:50 To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) Hya I know this isnt a LOT of help, but a while back I did some stuff like this using ASP. Basicaly in ASP you can create a server object (like an instance of MS Word) and then run commands against it. How that translates to CF I dont know. If it cant be done with CF have a look at ASP and CF could trigger an ASP page to do the merge and then pick up the results ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201259 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
See this page how to convert a word document to html (as an example) http://livedocs.macromedia.com/coldfusion/7/htmldocs/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/wwhelp.htm?context=ColdFusion_Documentationfile=1585.htm Always remember that you have to have Word installed on the server (obvious I know) MD On Apr 2, 2005 11:01 AM, James Holmes [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: A COM object may be able to do the same work directly in CF. -Original Message- From: Mark Drew [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, 2 April 2005 5:50 To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) Hya I know this isnt a LOT of help, but a while back I did some stuff like this using ASP. Basicaly in ASP you can create a server object (like an instance of MS Word) and then run commands against it. How that translates to CF I dont know. If it cant be done with CF have a look at ASP and CF could trigger an ASP page to do the merge and then pick up the results ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201260 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
Thanks, this looks interesting. This would be ideal if all of the word document formatting was converted also, i.e. page breaks, header, footer, etc. I could then run m y mailmerge against the HTML page and print that off! Maybe wishful thinking!. Would you be able to point me any resource that demonstrates how to do a word mail merge using ASP? Is it actually possible to execute an ASP page from Coldfusion? I would simply need to be able to pass a document template and datasource to word, do a mail merge and then save the result to a file that the user could download and print themselves as word documents, this would be ideal. You can tell it is a Saturday, plenty time to come up with these wish lists! See this page how to convert a word document to html (as an example) http://livedocs.macromedia. com/coldfusion/7/htmldocs/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/wwhelp. htm?context=ColdFusion_Documentationfile=1585.htm Always remember that you have to have Word installed on the server (obvious I know) MD On Apr 2, 2005 11:01 AM, James Holmes [EMAIL PROTECTED] au wrote: A COM object may be able to do the same work directly in CF. -Original Message- From: Mark Drew [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, 2 April 2005 5:50 To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) Hya I know this isnt a LOT of help, but a while back I did some stuff like this using ASP. Basicaly in ASP you can create a server object (like an instance of MS Word) and then run commands against it. How that translates to CF I dont know. If it cant be done with CF have a look at ASP and CF could trigger an ASP page to do the merge and then pick up the results ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201261 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
Its not quite like that... the example I posted showed creating a new serverside word com object that you can then manipulate. What the process would be (and you have to find the methods, I cant find them at the moment) create a word object, make that object open your mailmerge template, tell the word object to get some data, merge and save the merge as a file on the server, then return that file. MSDN is a good source for these methods I hope that helps a bit! Regards Mark Drew On Apr 2, 2005 11:15 AM, Andy Mcshane [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks, this looks interesting. This would be ideal if all of the word document formatting was converted also, i.e. page breaks, header, footer, etc. I could then run m y mailmerge against the HTML page and print that off! Maybe wishful thinking!. Would you be able to point me any resource that demonstrates how to do a word mail merge using ASP? Is it actually possible to execute an ASP page from Coldfusion? I would simply need to be able to pass a document template and datasource to word, do a mail merge and then save the result to a file that the user could download and print themselves as word documents, this would be ideal. You can tell it is a Saturday, plenty time to come up with these wish lists! See this page how to convert a word document to html (as an example) http://livedocs.macromedia. com/coldfusion/7/htmldocs/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/wwhelp. htm?context=ColdFusion_Documentationfile=1585.htm Always remember that you have to have Word installed on the server (obvious I know) MD On Apr 2, 2005 11:01 AM, James Holmes [EMAIL PROTECTED] au wrote: A COM object may be able to do the same work directly in CF. -Original Message- From: Mark Drew [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, 2 April 2005 5:50 To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) Hya I know this isnt a LOT of help, but a while back I did some stuff like this using ASP. Basicaly in ASP you can create a server object (like an instance of MS Word) and then run commands against it. How that translates to CF I dont know. If it cant be done with CF have a look at ASP and CF could trigger an ASP page to do the merge and then pick up the results ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201262 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
I do this all of the time with straight HTML.. Use style sheets to format the pages nicely and to display the letterhead part, and just use cold fusion to insert the variables at the right place. Make sure they set the browser to not print a header or footer. I have a button on a page that whn clicked pops up this new window with just the mail merged pages.. you can use javascript to print it then close it, or let them do it manually. (I do this because the mail merged pages don't have your navigation bars) To get a little fancier, you can also use pdf.. search for dynamic pdf. Al At 03:02 AM 4/2/2005, you wrote: Ok guy's, here's something that has been playing on mind now for far too long and I need to try to come up with a definitive answer of either yes it can be done or no it can't. Here's what I have been asked to do; ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201264 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
Hi, Al... Would you explain a little more about how you cause the mail merge to execute? I'm still using CF 4.5.2...is what you're doing possible with that? I've created printable forms using CSS and CF variables, but only as single documents, not as multiple printouts from a mail merge... Rick -Original Message- From: Al Musella, DPM [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 10:19 AM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) I do this all of the time with straight HTML.. Use style sheets to format the pages nicely and to display the letterhead part, and just use cold fusion to insert the variables at the right place. Make sure they set the browser to not print a header or footer. I have a button on a page that whn clicked pops up this new window with just the mail merged pages.. you can use javascript to print it then close it, or let them do it manually. (I do this because the mail merged pages don't have your navigation bars) To get a little fancier, you can also use pdf.. search for dynamic pdf. Al At 03:02 AM 4/2/2005, you wrote: Ok guy's, here's something that has been playing on mind now for far too long and I need to try to come up with a definitive answer of either yes it can be done or no it can't. Here's what I have been asked to do; ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201266 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
I am actually using 4.5.2 on my server as well! (It is a small non-profit brain cancer organization - and they can't afford to upgrade:) As I see it, your problem is creating multiple pages. There are a few approaches. The nicest is to use CSS to force a page break after each page, but when I did this, I had to deal with older browsers, so I cheated by just using [br] tag to get to the next page. I have a setup page that you use to determine how many lines are printed on your printer, and save that number in a cookie. Then as I loop through each record I set a line counter to see how many lines are used (for example, if there is no address line 2, I don't leave an empty space).. then after the content, I figure out how many [br] tags are needed to get to the next line. Works remarkably well. The only problems: you have to have the user set the header and footer in their browser to blanks, and it only works for 1 font size.. if they set their browser to a bigger or smaller font, they have to figure out how many lines per page again Al At 10:45 AM 4/2/2005, you wrote: Hi, Al... Would you explain a little more about how you cause the mail merge to execute? I'm still using CF 4.5.2...is what you're doing possible with that? I've created printable forms using CSS and CF variables, but only as single documents, not as multiple printouts from a mail merge... Rick -Original Message- From: Al Musella, DPM [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 10:19 AM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) I do this all of the time with straight HTML.. Use style sheets to format the pages nicely and to display the letterhead part, and just use cold fusion to insert the variables at the right place. Make sure they set the browser to not print a header or footer. I have a button on a page that whn clicked pops up this new window with just the mail merged pages.. you can use javascript to print it then close it, or let them do it manually. (I do this because the mail merged pages don't have your navigation bars) To get a little fancier, you can also use pdf.. search for dynamic pdf. Al At 03:02 AM 4/2/2005, you wrote: Ok guy's, here's something that has been playing on mind now for far too long and I need to try to come up with a definitive answer of either yes it can be done or no it can't. Here's what I have been asked to do; ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201279 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
you could generate RTF files on the files. add mailmerge fields to a word document - save as RTF and us CF to generate RTF and make available for download. - Original Message - From: Andy Mcshane [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: CF-Talk cf-talk@houseoffusion.com Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 2:02 AM Subject: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) Ok guy's, here's something that has been playing on mind now for far too long and I need to try to come up with a definitive answer of either yes it can be done or no it can't. Here's what I have been asked to do; We have a web based product that a number of our clients use to store information specific to them. From time to time they want to be able to use that information to produce letters. The way that this is currently done is that they download the information that they require in a comma seperated file and then use Microsoft Word to perform a mail merge using the CSV as a data source, with me so far? What I need to know is if it is possible, and if so how, to be able to carry out this same type of mail merge on line and then have the choice of printing or downloading the completed word documents as a file, i.e. is it possible to run the same mail nmerge process on the web server? If so can anyone point me to a source of info for this? Alternatively would anyone know of any other way to acheive this whole letter/mail merge process efficiently? Any advice greatly apreciated, ~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201282 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
Hi, Eric... Can you provide more detail on how CF would generate the RTF? Rick -Original Message- From: Eric Dawson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 6:57 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) you could generate RTF files on the files. add mailmerge fields to a word document - save as RTF and us CF to generate RTF and make available for download. - Original Message - From: Andy Mcshane [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: CF-Talk cf-talk@houseoffusion.com Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 2:02 AM Subject: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) Ok guy's, here's something that has been playing on mind now for far too long and I need to try to come up with a definitive answer of either yes it can be done or no it can't. Here's what I have been asked to do; We have a web based product that a number of our clients use to store information specific to them. From time to time they want to be able to use that information to produce letters. The way that this is currently done is that they download the information that they require in a comma seperated file and then use Microsoft Word to perform a mail merge using the CSV as a data source, with me so far? What I need to know is if it is possible, and if so how, to be able to carry out this same type of mail merge on line and then have the choice of printing or downloading the completed word documents as a file, i.e. is it possible to run the same mail nmerge process on the web server? If so can anyone point me to a source of info for this? Alternatively would anyone know of any other way to acheive this whole letter/mail merge process efficiently? Any advice greatly apreciated, ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201285 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!)
Hi, Al... Thanks for the explanation. How do you code a page break in CSS? Rick -Original Message- From: Al Musella, DPM [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 4:53 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: RE: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) I am actually using 4.5.2 on my server as well! (It is a small non-profit brain cancer organization - and they can't afford to upgrade:) As I see it, your problem is creating multiple pages. There are a few approaches. The nicest is to use CSS to force a page break after each page, but when I did this, I had to deal with older browsers, so I cheated by just using [br] tag to get to the next page. I have a setup page that you use to determine how many lines are printed on your printer, and save that number in a cookie. Then as I loop through each record I set a line counter to see how many lines are used (for example, if there is no address line 2, I don't leave an empty space).. then after the content, I figure out how many [br] tags are needed to get to the next line. Works remarkably well. The only problems: you have to have the user set the header and footer in their browser to blanks, and it only works for 1 font size.. if they set their browser to a bigger or smaller font, they have to figure out how many lines per page again Al At 10:45 AM 4/2/2005, you wrote: Hi, Al... Would you explain a little more about how you cause the mail merge to execute? I'm still using CF 4.5.2...is what you're doing possible with that? I've created printable forms using CSS and CF variables, but only as single documents, not as multiple printouts from a mail merge... Rick -Original Message- From: Al Musella, DPM [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 10:19 AM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: Web Based Mail Merge? (not email!) I do this all of the time with straight HTML.. Use style sheets to format the pages nicely and to display the letterhead part, and just use cold fusion to insert the variables at the right place. Make sure they set the browser to not print a header or footer. I have a button on a page that whn clicked pops up this new window with just the mail merged pages.. you can use javascript to print it then close it, or let them do it manually. (I do this because the mail merged pages don't have your navigation bars) To get a little fancier, you can also use pdf.. search for dynamic pdf. Al At 03:02 AM 4/2/2005, you wrote: Ok guy's, here's something that has been playing on mind now for far too long and I need to try to come up with a definitive answer of either yes it can be done or no it can't. Here's what I have been asked to do; ~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:201287 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
