PackRat 5.0 Macros: What They Do in Word

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a

SUMMARY

PackRat 5.0 installs several WordBasic macros from its "Program Integration Library." These macros integrate the PackRat 5.0 application with Word version 2.x for Windows.

To run PackRat 5.0 with Word 2.x, you must contact Polaris Software and obtain the "Polaris PackRat 5.011 Patch Disk," which contains the up-to- date PackRat Integration Library (PIL) version 3.0, dated 1/19/94.

For information about running PackRat 5.0 with Word 6.0, contact Polaris Software.

MORE INFORMATION

Below is a description of each of the Word for Windows macros supplied with PackRat 5.0, taken from the PackRat online Help file included on the PackRat 5.0 Patch Disk.

Insert PackRat Merge Fields (Insert menu)

This macro works with the PackRat Print Merge macro to enable you to create form letters or similar documents. The Insert PackRat Merge Fields macro lets you place merge fields in your word processing document.

After inserting the desired merge fields into the document, you can use the PackRat Print Merge macro to replace the merge fields with the selected PackRat information.

The following instructions describe how to use the Merge Fields function in PackRat:

1. Open your mail merge main document in Word. Position the insertion point at the location where you want to insert a merge field (or fields).

2. From the Insert menu, choose PackRat Merge Fields.

3. Select the field you want to insert into the document and then choose OK.

PackRat Print Merge (File menu)

After you insert the merge fields in your document, the PackRat Print Merge macro does the following:

• Searches your PackRat Phone Book for the records you want included in the merge.
• For each record that meets the search criteria, PackRat inserts the specified field information into each merge field in the document and prints it.

Using the Merge Function

With the merge document open in word processing application:

1. Select the PackRat Print Merge macro. The Phone Book Search form displays.

2. Enter your search criteria and choose OK. The Select Records dialog box displays the search results.

3. Select those records you want included in the merge document and choose OK. The Print Merge dialog box displays.

4. Select the desired options from the Merge Results box and choose OK.

5. Confirm the printer settings and choose OK. The merge document is created/printed as specified.

Insert PackRat Name (Insert Menu)

The Insert PackRat Name macro enables you to automatically insert a person's name, address, and related information from their PackRat Phone Book record into your word processing document. The fields that are inserted into your document depend on the Data Template being used. A default data template can be specified for the Phone Book form in the PIL.INI file (in the [FindName Defaults] section). If no default is specified, you will be prompted to select the data template you want to use.

Using Insert PackRat Name

From your open word processing file:

1. Place the insertion point at the location where you want to insert the fields.

2. Select the Insert PackRat Name command. The Phone Book search form displays.

3. Enter the search criteria for the name(s) you want to insert and choose OK. The Select Records dialog box displays the names found from the search.

4. Select the desired name(s) and choose OK. PackRat prints the name and associated information based on the data template used.

Insert PackRat Text (Insert Menu)

The Insert PackRat Text macro enables you to place any of your PackRat information into your word processing document using the available data templates.

Using the Insert PackRat Text macro

From your open word processing file:

1. Place the insertion point at the location where you want to insert the fields.

2. Select the Insert PackRat Text command. The Forms dialog box displays.

3. Select the form containing the information you want to add to your document. The appropriate Search form displays.

   Note: If a default template is associated with the form you selected, that template will be used and you will skip step 6 in this procedure. (Default templates are set in the PIL.INI file.)

4. Enter your search criteria and choose OK. The Select Records dialog box displays the search results.

5. Select the record(s) with the fields you want to insert (choose the Details button to view or update a record) and choose OK. The Templates dialog box displays.

6. Select the template to be used to transfer the desired information and choose OK. (Templates are preconfigured groups of fields.) Refer to: Data Templates.

Save and Log in PackRat (File Menu)

This macro saves your word processing document and automatically logs it into PackRat's Document Manager. This enables you to locate your files and documents using PackRat's powerful search capabilities.

Using the Save and Log macro (File Menu)

With the word processing or Microsoft Excel file you want to log open:

1. Select the "Save and Log in PackRat" macro command. The Document form displays.

2. Complete the form by adding a Summary, Key words, and Notes to the form. This will help you remember the contents of the document and make searching for it easy.

3. Choose OK. The file is saved in the Document form and you return to your document.

Save As and Log in PackRat (File Menu)

This macro works identically to the "Save and Log in PackRat" macro, except that it gives you the option to save the file under a new name and path. When you select this command, the Save As dialog box displays so you can supply the new name and path. Other than that, it is the same as the "Save and Log macro.

Find File in PackRat (File Menu)

This macro enables you to quickly locate and open files that you have logged into PackRat using the Save (As) and Log in PackRat macros.

Using the Find File in PackRat Macro

From your Word Processor or Excel:

1. Select the "Find File in PackRat" command. The Document search form displays.

2. Enter the search criteria for the document and choose OK. The Select Records dialog box displays.

3. Select the file you want to open and choose OK. The document opens.

Fax Using PackRat (File Menu)

The Fax Using PackRat macro integrates with your fax software and allows you to address a fax using the information in your PackRat Phone Book form. You must have a fax-modem board on your system to use this function. To use this macro properly, you must have your cover sheet stored in the directory specified in the [FaxDoc Defaults] section of your PIL.INI file (in the Windows program directory). For example:

   sCoverFilePath=c:\winapps\faxdocs\cover.doc

From your word processing application:

1. Select the Fax Using PackRat command. The Phone Book Search form displays.

2. Enter the search criteria and choose OK. The Select Records dialog box displays. You can update and modify any of the listed records by highlighting it and clicking the Detail button. This brings up that record in its form.

3. Select the name(s) to be faxed and choose OK. If your fax cover sheet is not in the same place specified in the PIL.INI file, you will get an error dialog box.

4. When prompted, enter any text that you want to appear on the cover sheet of the fax and choose OK. The Macro executes and the modem dials the fax number.

PackRat Financial Report (File Menu)

This macro creates a table in your word processing or spreadsheet application that prints the Date, Summary, and Amount associated with financial records. You can search by Summary and/or Date on a specific account, or across all accounts.

From your word processing or spreadsheet application:

1. Place the insertion point in the location (or cell) where you want the table to appear.

2. Select the PackRat Financial Report command from the appropriate menu bar. The Search Expense Records dialog box displays.

3. Enter the search criteria:

       - To search a specific account, select that account from the
         Account drop box. To search across all accounts, leave this
         field blank.
   

       - To search by the Summary field, enter the search criteria in the
         Summary box.
   

       - To search for items within a particular date range, enter the
         appropriate dates in the Start Date and End Date boxes.
   

4. Choose OK. The Select Records dialog box shows the search results.

5. Select those records that you want displayed in the Report and choose OK. The Financial Report displays in your document or worksheet.

REFERENCES

PackRat Online Help, supplied with the PackRat 5.0 Patch Disk