Andrew May Microsoft Corporation January 2004 Applies to: Microsoft® Office Publisher 2003 Summary: Create catalog publications and Web sites programmatically using the catalog merge functionality exposed in the Publisher 2003 object model. (12 printed pages) Contents Introduction You can quickly create catalogs, product and service datasheets, inventories, directories, photo albums, and other kinds of publications in Microsoft® Office Publisher 2003 by using the catalog merge functionality exposed through the Publisher object model. You can use text and pictures from a data source, such as a spreadsheet, to quickly create catalogs, directories, inventory lists, photo albums, and other publications that display multiple items per page. Overview of the Catalog Merge Feature The catalog merge feature is an extension of the mail merge functionality included since Publisher 2002. Both processes combine information from a data source with a template. The template repeats once for each selected record in the data source. I purchased a copy of MS Publisher 2010 as I heard this product would help me.basically just type in my information and.voila.print the directory. A: Search for the required phone directory template which is available online in the link below and edit it according to your specifications. Try Microsoft Edge A fast and secure browser that's designed for Windows 10 No thanks Get started. Office templates & themes. Featured categories. Unlike a mail merge, you can repeat the catalog merge template multiple times per publication page. Use the catalog merge feature to create catalogs, directories, photo albums, or any other type of publication that displays one or more items per page. Catalog merge lets you merge multiple records from a data source into a single publication. When you use catalog merge, you combine information from a data source with a catalog merge template to generate merged pages, which you can save as a new publication or add to the end of an existing publication. You can also save your catalog merge template and use it again, whenever you update the information in your data source, to create additional sets of merged pages. Try Microsoft Edge A fast and secure browser that's designed for. Use this membership directory template to keep your company's employee. Member directory Word. Try Microsoft Edge A fast and secure browser that's designed for. Use this membership directory template to keep your company's employee. Member directory. Example of Catalog Merge 1 - Data source with record information, such as item names and descriptions. 2 - Catalog merge template with catalog merge area containing merge fields that are placeholders for record information. 3 - Resulting merged pages displaying multiple records per page. For example, suppose you wanted to create a catalog of items your business sells. You have a database of product information with 33 items, including photos of each. You create a catalog merge template that takes up a third of a page. When you execute the catalog merge, Publisher would repeat the catalog merge template once for each record; in this case, 33 times. Based on the size of the template, three records would appear on each page. The resulting publication would therefore contain eleven pages. There are several steps to the catalog merge process: • Connect to the data source you want to use. Filter and sort the data source records as desired. • Create a catalog merge template that repeats once per record. • Insert text and/or picture data fields from the data source into the merge template as desired. • Add any other shapes you want to repeat to the catalog merge area. Position and format the fields and shapes as you desire. • Choose the destination of the merge results (a new or existing publication) and execute the catalog merge. The resulting publication pages (and the shapes they contain) retain no link to the catalog merge template; that is, they have no 'memory' of how they were generated. They are not connected to the data source. Connecting to a Data Source The MailMerge object represents the mail merge and catalog merge functionality in a publication. Use the OpenDataSource method of the MailMerge object to connect the publication containing your catalog merge template to a data source. Although you can have one catalog merge template on each page of a publication, you can have only one data source connected to a publication at a time. Use the IsDataSourceConnected property of the Document object to determine if a data source is currently connected to a publication. Once a data source is connected, the MailMergeDataSource object, which represents the data source, becomes available. The Name property of the MailMergeDataSource object returns the name of the data source connected to a publication. 'Add a text box to hold data text field 'and add it to the repeating region Set pbTextBox1 = ThisDocument.Pages(1).Shapes.AddTextbox _ (1, 100, 100, 175, 25) pbTextBox1.AddToCatalogMergeArea 'Insert a text label and the data field in the textbox With pbTextBox1.TextFrame.TextRange.Text = 'List Price: '.InsertMailMergeField 'List Price' End With Picture data fields Picture data fields act as placeholders for graphics listed in your data source. You can use any image format that Publisher supports, such as.jpg,.bmp, or.gif for the picture data. The actual image file is not stored in the data source. Rather, the data source should contain a file path to each image file. You must specify the file path in one of the following formats. The formats are listed in the order in which they are tried. For each image file, Publisher tries each of the following formats until it can resolve the image file path. If Publisher cannot resolve the file path and find the image file using any of these formats, the image file is skipped when the catalog merge is executed. For example, • Absolute file path. For example, C: Documents and Settings Username My Documents My Pictures House Listings 123SophiaLane_exterior.jpg. • Relative file path. Based on the saved location of the publication containing the catalog merge area. For example, House Listings 123SophiaLane_exterior.jpg, where House Listings is a folder in the same directory as the publication. • Relative file path. Based on the location of the My Pictures folder. For example, House Listings 123SophiaLane_exterior.jpg, where House Listings is a folder in the My Pictures directory. Before you can insert a picture data field, you must define the field specifically as a picture field. By default, data fields are considered to contain string data. To define a field as a picture data field, set the FieldType property of the MailMergeDataField to pbMailMergeDataFieldPicture. Picture data fields are inserted directly into the catalog merge area, using the Insert method of the MailMergeDataField object. The Insert method applies to the catalog merge area on the active page only. The picture data field is inserted as a Shape object whose Type property is pbPicture. The following example inserts a picture data field into the catalog merge area on the active page, and then sizes and positions it. Dim pbPictureField1 As Shape 'Define the Photo field as containing pictures With ThisDocument.MailMerge.DataSource.DataFields.Item('Photo:').FieldType = pbMailMergeDataFieldPicture End With 'Insert a picture field (Photo), then size and position it Set pbPictureField1 = _ ThisDocument.MailMerge.DataSource.DataFields.Item('Photo:').Insert With pbPictureField1.Height = 100.Width = 100.Top = 85.Left = 375 End With Add Other Elements to the Catalog Merge Area You can add borders, background images and other design elements to the catalog merge area. When the merge executes, these elements also repeat once for each selected data record. To add a shape to a catalog merge area, you must first add the shape to the Shapes collection for the page on which the catalog merge area appears. Use the various Add methods of the Shapes collection, for example, AddCallout, AddLabel, or AddPicture, to add the specific type of shape you want. Once you add the shape to the page, call the AddToCatalogMergeArea method to add it to the catalog merge area. Note that this method does not move the shape into the catalog merge area, but adds it at its present location on the page. If necessary, the catalog merge area expands to include the shape. Each shape that represents a catalog merge area, that is, whose shape type is pbCatalogMergeArea, contains a CatalogMergeShapes collection, which is accessible through the shape's CatalogMergeItems property. The CatalogMergeShapes collection contains the shapes included in the catalog merge area. This includes any data fields (text or picture) that you inserted into the catalog merge area. As discussed earlier, you can add shapes representing data fields to the catalog merge area using the Insert or InsertMailMergeFields methods; the AddToCatalogMergeArea method does not pertain to them. Sizing the Catalog Merge Area The number of times a catalog merge area repeats on the publication page when the merge executes is determined by the size of the catalog merge area. The width of the area determines how many times it repeats horizontally across the page. The height of the area determines how many times it repeats vertically down the page. The HorizontalRepeat property of the CatalogMergeShapes collection returns the number of times the catalog merge area repeats across the publication page; likewise, the VerticalRepeat returns how many times it repeats down the page. The catalog merge area automatically expands if necessary. For example, if you add a shape outside of its boundaries to it, or add a shape that is larger than the merge area, or if you move a shape in the area to outside the merge area's current boundaries, then the area expands automatically. However, the catalog merge area does not automatically contract if the area used by the shapes included in it decreases. For example, if you decrease the size of a shape, delete or move shapes closer together, the area remains the same size. Programmatically, the Shape object representing the catalog merge area behaves as any other grouped shape. You can use the Height and Width properties to get or set the dimensions of the catalog merge area. If you decrease the size of the catalog merge area to below the total area taken up by the shapes included in it, you can reposition or resize those shapes to remain within the merge area. This may lead to unpredictable results. Note that the ability to decrease the size of the catalog merge area to below the total area used by the shapes included in it is not available through the user interface. Executing the Catalog Merge The final step of creating a catalog merge-generated publication is performing the catalog merge. Using the Execute method of the MailMerge object, you can perform the catalog merge either to a new publication, or append the results of the merge to the end of an existing publication. Unlike a mail merge, you cannot execute a catalog merge directly to a printer. The Execute method applies to the catalog merge area on the active page only. The resulting publication pages and the shapes they contain retain no link to the catalog merge area or the publication that includes it; that is, the publication pages have no 'memory' of how they were generated. They are not connected to the data source. There is no way to distinguish publications, pages, or shapes generated through a catalog merge from elements created by any other means. Because of this, catalog merge results are not and cannot be dynamically updated if the data records they were based on change. However, you can always execute the catalog merge again to re-create the merge results with new or updated records. Deleting Catalog Merge Items There are several ways to remove catalog merge areas and the shapes contained in them from a publication programmatically. Each method differs in what shapes are removed, whether shapes remain connected to the data source, and whether the data source remains connected to the publication: • The Close method of the MailMergeDataSource object disconnects the data source from the publication, but leaves the catalog merge area and the shapes it contains unchanged. • If you apply the Delete method to a Shape that represents a catalog merge area, that is, a shape whose Type property is set to pbCatalogMergeArea, the selected catalog merge area and all the shapes contained in it are deleted. The data source remains connected to the publication. • Use the RemoveCatalogMergeArea method of the Shape object to remove the specified catalog merge area, but leave the shapes contained in the catalog merge area. All shapes contained in the catalog merge area are placed on the publication page at their current location, but are disconnected from the data source and are no longer a grouped shape. However, the data source remains connected to the publication. • You cannot programmatically delete a shape that belongs to a grouped shape such as a catalog merge area. Instead, use the RemoveFromCatalogMergeArea method of the Shape and ShapeRange objects to remove a single shape or selected shapes from the catalog merge area. The specified shapes are placed on the publication page at their current location. If the shapes represent data fields, they are disconnected from the data source. Once a Shape object is removed from the CatalogMergeShapes collection in this way, you can delete it using its Delete method. The following example tests to see if there is a catalog merge area on the first page of the active publication. If there is, each shape is removed from the catalog merge area and deleted, and then the merge area itself is deleted. Object Member Description Connect to a data source Document IsDataSourceConnected Returns True if the specified publication is connected to a data source. MailMerge OpenDataSource Attaches a data source to the specified publication. Create merge area template Shapes AddCatalogMergeArea Adds and returns a Shape object that represents the specified page's catalog merge area. Insert data fields into merge template MailMergeDataFields Insert Adds and returns a Shape object that represents a picture data field inserted into the publication's catalog merge area. FieldType Returns a pbMailMergeDataFieldType constant that represents the type of data contained in the data field (either text or picture). TextRange InsertMailMergeField Adds and returns a TextRange object that represents a text data field for a catalog merge. Add shapes to merge area and format them Shape AddToCatalogMergeArea Adds the specified shape or shapes to the publication page's catalog merge area. CatalogMergeItems Returns a CatalogMergeShapes collection that represents the shapes included in the catalog merge area. Type Returns a PbShapeType constant that represents the shape type. Catalog merge areas return a shape type of pbCatalogMergeArea. CatalogMergeShapes HorizontalRepeat Returns a Long value that represents the number of times the catalog merge area repeats across the target publication page when the catalog merge executes. VerticalRepeat Returns a Long value that represents the number of times the catalog merge area repeats down the target publication page when the catalog merge executes. Execute the merge MailMerge Execute Performs the specified catalog merge operation. Returns a Document object that represents the new or existing publication specified as the destination of the merge results. Remove merge shapes from publication Shape RemoveCatalogMergeArea Deletes the specified catalog merge area. All shapes contained in the catalog merge area remain in place on the page, but are no longer connected to the catalog merge data source. RemoveFromCatalogMergeArea Removes (but does not delete) a shape from the specified catalog merge area. MailMergeDataSource Close Disconnects the data source from the publication. Conclusion While the feature is called catalog merge, the type of publication you can create with this new functionality is really limited only by your creativity. You can create any kind of publication that takes information stored in a data source and presents it in publication form such as catalogs, product and service data sheets, inventories, directories. If you update your catalog publications regularly, or create a number of catalog publications for different audiences, programmatically automating the catalog merge process can make the process even quicker, and minimize errors and rework. When it comes to publishing any sort of document like a brochure or a card, the graphics and the look of the document itself take precedence over the content in it. These documents must first be attractive to a person’s eye, gaining their attention by the visual appeal. Microsoft’s Publisher is a program specifically designed to create publishing worthy documents. It focuses more on the design and look of the document than the content. MS Publisher are the skeleton format for different types of documents. They are available in different designs that a user can download from Office Online. Microsoft Publisher Business Card Template. Microsoft Publisher Fashion Flyer Template Microsoft Publisher Fashion Magazine Template Microsoft Publisher Real Estate Brochure Template Microsoft Publisher Real Estate Flyer Template Microsoft Publisher Sport Magazine Template Attractive Microsoft Publisher Templates to Make Your Documents Eye Catching The first thing you notice about any document, or any file, is its appearance. Yes, the content certainly has meaning and is important. But if it looks good, it sets the tone for the rest of the content. Ask yourself, would you take a second look at a card or a brochure or a pamphlet, if it was not eye catching and appealing? No, you would not. That is why Microsoft launched its MS Publisher, which gained immense popularity for its beautiful and extraordinary designs. It makes any document worth publishing, and that’s all one really wants. You can download any of the Microsoft Publisher templates and use it to make your document the best one out there. Microsoft Publisher Brochure Template Brochures are a great way to spread the word about businesses, especially when the user is starting a new venture. Good brochures are often the first introduction a potential client would receive about a particular business. The MS Publisher already has the basics of the templates already on it. The Various Uses of Microsoft Publisher For those who don’t have much of clue what Microsoft Publisher is, let’s simplify it for you: it is basically a specialized programme or application by Microsoft which appears to be a twin of MS Word, but it actually isn’t. Microsoft Publisher is more concerned about the artistic elements in a document. If you need to jazz up the look and appearance of a Word document, you open it in Microsoft Publisher, it allows you to edit freely and be creative too! If you have a creative side to you, and haven’t been able to express it as much as you’d like to, then you could try Microsoft Publisher. It allows you to be as creative and innovative as you want. You can write, do 3D artwork, carry out animation or even publication work. You can make posters, booklets, brochures and other such material. What more could you ask for? You can very well use Word for all this, but Publisher makes it all seem like a piece of cake, which we all know is not the case with Word. Whether it is designing the cover of a book, magazine or video game, you can count of Microsoft Publisher to give you all the assistance that you’re going to need for making it happen. The best part is, the program has got its own stack of templates which you can easily download and put to good use for the cause. Templates have made our lives much easier; since all we have to do is click on the download button and leave the rest to the template itself. Microsoft Publisher Coupon Template Coupons are useful in many businesses and even in personal endeavors. If you need to create coupons from scratch, well, you don’t have to. Microsoft Publisher has a easily-accessible coupon templates collection of its own. Make a choice and start working with it in the program itself! You can also see. A Few Tips if You’re Designing with Microsoft Publisher or Publisher Templates If this is your first time designing something with Microsoft Publisher, you might want to be a bit careful and follow instructions. You can keep these handy tips in mind if you’re planning to use MS Publisher or Microsoft office publisher templates – • While working on a design task in Microsoft Publisher, if you fear your work may get hit by a sudden computer crash or application shutdown or power outage, you don’t have to worry about the loss. With the help of ‘AutoRecover’ you should be able to retrieve all the work you had ‘saved’ last. • Add lots of images to your content. But make sure they’re all relevant and have a human touch. Your readers should be able to relate to the content. While adding a picture, make sure it is the right size. Otherwise you can easily change the resolution of the image. • Your designs need to be attention grabbing. Whether you’re using Publisher, or you’re simply planning to go for a template, just add a smart, bold border to your image. That makes it stand out from the rest of the text and also makes it appear vibrant and attractive. Also, you could add a border to important information to just spice up any document, which could easily become monotonous. • Also, think about the target audience while choosing your design or your templates. For example, if you’re targeting the design at people who are to purchase tickets, you need to look up publisher ticket templates and so on. Accordingly, you can add images and content to the document. • All the templates that you download, are customizable. That means how you design the brochure, or whatever it is you’re trying to create, is totally up to you. You can let your artistic temperament take over as you create the most amazing designs on Publisher. Microsoft Publisher Flyer Template Microsoft Publisher is a great tool for designing flyers. Be it personal or professional, you can definitely rely on the app to give you the creative results you need. If you’ve already got a flyer template existing in MS Word format, you can open it in MS Publisher and jazz it up with further using the tools in MS Publisher. You can also see. How to Use Microsoft Publisher? While Microsoft Publisher became immensely popular amongst graphic designers in the years 2016, 2015 and earlier, there are still some who find it slightly tricky to use. You could follow these simple methods to avoid difficulties while using Publisher- They are many ways to become a pro at MS Publisher, one of them is to know the shortcut keys for all the different actions and moves within the program. A surefire way to be able to do things faster, shortcut keys will ensure you’re through the task sooner! You can use character spacing, if you want to fit in more text within a limited space. Accidentally removing text can be quite a nuisance, you can avoid that with the help of its drag and drop feature. You see, there is no limit to what you can do with Publisher. However, if you feel that you do not have the time to sit and go through all the options available, you could just go for a publisher template. It has the designs offered by Publisher ready for print. All you have to do is go through the plethora of options, select the one that catches your eye and download it. Different purposes call for different publisher templates. For example, if you’re making brochures, you cannot use publisher coupon templates; each template has a specific use behind it. Microsoft Publisher Poster Template Posters can be a great mode for advertising in offices or businesses but one can stumble about on how to design an attractive poster. With that in mind, a user can download an MS Publisher from Office online and other online sources. All the user has to do is to fill in the details according to their preference. Do’s and Don’ts Do’s • Add relevant and attractive images of the correct size • Customize it to make it stand out from that of others. Don’ts • Don’t start without exploring all your options. Allow yourself to be innovative. • Don’t clutter the page with designs just for the sake of it, even a minimalistic look has a certain appeal. We Are Here to Help! At template.net, we have a large number of printable publisher templates which you can choose from. We even have publisher flyer templates, so that you can design your flyers and brochures. You can use our templates for a number of purposes, as they are versatile and can be easily customized.
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