Microsoft Word File Management Question

[corleone]

I have a folder with about 50 separate word files (representing different days of class notes). Is there any way that i can MERGE these all into one master [and consecutive] word file, other than copy and pasting each individual document into a separate new single document? It is important that they remain in order.


thanks to anyone who can help,

C.

[tomh009]

I have a folder with about 50 separate word files (representing different days of class notes). Is there any way that i can MERGE these all into one master [and consecutive] word file, other than copy and pasting each individual document into a separate new single document? It is important that they remain in order.

You could do a master document ... but I don't think that's what you want anyway.

I think you just need to grit your teeth and do it. If you use keyboard shortcuts, you can get it donw in less than an hour.

Start Word (you'll get an empty doc)
Alt+F N (to create new empty document)
Alt+F O
Double-click on notes file (it'll open)
Ctrl+A (selects all text)
Ctrl+C (copies the text to clipboard)
Alt+W 1 (switches to the master document)
Ctrl+V (pastes the text)
Ctrl+S (saves the master document ... just in case!)
Enter Enter (a few empty lines between different days)
Alt+W 2 (switches to the notes document)
Alt+F C (closes the notes document)

Now repeat from step 3 until you have copied the text from all the documents...

[hobbes]

This guy's site has a Word add-in that I think will allow you to do this, although I have no experience with it. Here is the download page and you want the first file, boiler.zip.

Don't know if this will do the trick or not, but it looks like it does what you want.

[Rob Mayercik]

I have a folder with about 50 separate word files (representing different days of class notes). Is there any way that i can MERGE these all into one master [and consecutive] word file, other than copy and pasting each individual document into a separate new single document? It is important that they remain in order.

How important is it that they become a single file?

I ask because back in Office 97 there was an application called "Microsoft Binder", which seemed to act like an electronic 3-Ring notebook where you could assemble files of any Office type.

I haven't seen Binder in newer Office versions, but there may be a free version floating about somewhere.

Rob

[Dngrsone]

From within Word, you can append a file by selecting Insert, File... and selecting the text file you want to insert.

You can select multiple files to insert at one time, but I can't tell you in what order they will be plugged in.