Need to Create a Catalog based off an Excel File

**tlb4327** · 03-05-2013, 12:07 PM

Here's what I need: A printed directory of all my clients in order by type. (Accountant, Legal Adviser, etc.). I want it to look like a professional directory and will need to create a cover page 'ad spaces' and notes for each section. I would typically create this in Publisher or Photoshop, but this resource is constantly updated and it is too time consuming to update these individually every month. The list of clients needs to be in alphabetical order for each type.

Here's a general idea of how I want the information to look

1st listing Name (First Last) - Bold
Company Name - Bold
Address, City Name, State Zip
Website|email address
Phone number
Short description - italic

2nd listing Name (First Last) - Bold
Company Name - Bold
Address, City Name, State Zip
Website|email address
Phone number
Short description - italic

etc, till the end of the page. I envision this going up to 4 columns on a 11 x 17 page of paper, folded in half, printed on 2 sides with cover page.

Here's what I have: a simple excel worksheet with all the information listed in the rows below each column title, like this:
Company | First Name| Last Name| Type of Client| Email| Phone Number | Street Address | City | State | Zip | Website | Description|

Here's what I think it's called and have googled: dynamic catalog/ dynamic directory. - I cannot program java, but there are lots of programs out there that sound great.

Here's my knowledge base of excel: I can do the simple stuff, and it's been over 10 years since I've done or attempted any macros - which I think I learned by accident anyway. I can learn almost anything if I put my mind to it, but I have not had any need for advanced use of excel, so I have had no need to learn or practice the few advanced moves I have learned.

Mail Merge has not worked because it repeats the same name with in that catalog in Publisher or Word, unless there is a trick I am missing.

Please help. Thank you.

**tgsekhar** · 03-05-2013, 12:51 PM

You can surely get this solved in Microsoft Word Mail Merge. Submit the Mail Merge document and Sample Excel to a Word Forum for any help on the same.

**newdoverman** · 03-05-2013, 04:37 PM

Word is the program to use for this. Use Mail Merge and select to use Labels. Select from pre-done labels or create a size to suit.

The source data (that you show) is entered into a Word Table that has single word column headings. Each column is a field and each row is one record.

Output to a new document. When you have new data to add, delete the old output document and re-run the mail merge with the updated source table as the data source.

**tlb4327** · 03-05-2013, 05:59 PM

Yes. I did get that far, but maybe I misunderstand the purpose of the <<Next Record If>> rule. I need each item to be categorized under the correct type heading example:
John Smith (information) needs to be under the Accountants heading.
Harry Smith (information) needs to be under the Financial Advisers heading.

I have not found that Word can categorize this information easily, even if it is in a separate column in Excel. I need a row of each Type, and then be able to edit the row to fit within a format to include 'ad space' as I can fit it in. Word requires a lot more work than I can dedicate to this project. I was hoping there was a way layout a set of parameters "if cell is 'Accountant'... etc... goes under "Accountant" heading. I may be trying to make this more complicated than the program will allow.

thank you.

**newdoverman** · 03-05-2013, 08:24 PM

From your expanded description, the easiest solution is a database if you have one. Using Word and Excel to do what you want isn't impossible but it is at least difficult especially if you don't want to repeat category headings.

**merryflip** · 07-16-2013, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by newdoverman

From your expanded description, the easiest solution is a database if you have one. Using Word and Excel to do what you want isn't impossible but it is at least difficult especially if you don't want to repeat category headings.
well, I just know such one tutorial: http://www.xflip.com/tutorials/creat...rom-excel.html

ok, it's wise to create online catalogs that contained pieces of visual advertising to send out the company's message, you may try to find some solutions on google search.