Merging letters and spreadsheets

Legal Enterprise data can be merged into letters (Word) and spreadsheets (Excel). This can be initiated from within the Legal Enterprise desktop or from within Word/Excel. From the desktop you select the context to merge against (e.g. client, matter, etc.) and then select a template for merging. To merge from Word or Excel, the template must be opened from Document Management first, you then select the context and finally initiate the merge. The documents created are then automatically stored in Document Management in a logical folder structure.

When referring to letters, this also includes any other type of Word document you may wish to create, e.g. statements, wills, etc. In connection with Excel, you can also merge multiple rows of data into spreadsheets. This allows you to select multiple database records and then merge against each, creating a single Excel spreadsheet.

Important: For Word/Excel integration to work, configure Office Integration.

To merge a letter/spreadsheet via Legal Enterprise:

Firstly, select the client from which you want to merge data.
Click the Document button . You are now prompted to select the merge template on which to base your document.

To view templates by folder, set Filter to Folder.
To view templates by tag, set Filter to Tag.
To view .doc, .docx and .xls templates, set Filter type to All. (Default setting)
To view .doc and .xls templates, set Filter type to *.doc/*.xls.
To view .docx and .xls templates, set Filter type to *.docx/*.xls.
To filter tags by work type, tick Filter by work type. Only available when filtering by tag.
To show all template versions, tick Show all versions.
To see a preview of the selected template, click the Preview button .
Note The filters are retained (per user) and presented the next time you merge.

Select the desired merge template and click OK. The document merge takes place, i.e. the appropriate pieces of data (as defined by the variables in the merge template) are 'pulled' from the selected record and inserted into the letter/spreadsheet. A progress bar indicates the status of the merge, after which you are prompted to enter some document details.
Click the Save button. You are prompted to enter the document details (e.g. a name, description, etc.). This information is not mandatory, but helps to identify the letter/spreadsheet in Document Management.

You can also click the Close & Minimise button on the Advanced Merge toolbar.

Enter the document details and click OK. The document is now stored in Document Management.

To merge a letter/spreadsheet via Word/Excel:

From Document Management, open the merge template on which to base your letter/spreadsheet. The template opens in either Word or Excel depending on the type of template. It contains the standard text, plus any variables.
Click the Merge button . You are now prompted to select a database record from which you want to merge data.
Highlight the desired record.

To help you find the particular record, use the filters provided.
To scroll through the entries, use the Next and Previous buttons.

Click Select. The document merge takes place, i.e. the appropriate pieces of data (as defined by the variables in the merge template) are 'pulled' from the selected record and inserted into the letter/spreadsheet. A progress bar indicates the status of the merge, after which you are prompted to enter some document details.
Click the Save button. You are prompted to enter the document details (e.g. a name, description, etc.). This information is not mandatory, but helps to identify the letter/spreadsheet in Document Management.

You can also click the Close & Minimise button on the Advanced Merge toolbar.

Enter the document details and click OK. The document is now stored in Document Management.

To merge multiple rows of data via Excel:

From Document Management, open the Excel merge template on which to base your spreadsheet. The template opens in Excel. It contains the standard text, plus any variables.
Click the Merge Rows button . You are now prompted to select the database record(s) from which you want to merge data.

Highlight the desired record(s). You can select individual records or a range of records.

To help you select the particular records, use the filters provided.

Click Select. The document merge takes place, i.e. the appropriate pieces of data (as defined by the variables in the merge template) are 'pulled' from the selected record and inserted into the spreadsheet. A progress bar indicates the status of the merge, after which you are prompted to enter some document details.
Click the Save button. You are prompted to enter the document details (e.g. a name, description, etc.). This information is not mandatory, but helps to identify the letter/spreadsheet in Document Management.

You can also click the Close & Minimise button on the Advanced Merge toolbar.

Enter the document details and click OK. The spreadsheet is now stored in Document Management.

Note: Each time a document is produced using a merge template, you can force a new document or create a new version. This behaviour is controlled by the Force new document attribute of the template. If ticked, a new document is created, otherwise a version. You can also decide to force a new document after a merge. Document Management, maintains a historical list of all documents.