Hello everybody. I was wondering if it could be possible to share variable fields along all the .odt files inside a directory. I have to create multiple files with extremely repetitive fields, so if I use only one file it’s a mess, but the excelent solution to my issues would be to create ONE file with all the data and then retouch a couple things only inside the text files needed.
¿Can it be done?
Thank you.
Please, reopen your question: click on … below it then on the “pencil” tool. You’re now in edit mode.
Improve the description and provide an example. Word “field” is quite ambiguous; it has various meanings depending on person. Additionally, it is has a specific technical meaning in Writer.
I don’t understand your workflow (hence the request for an example) and your question could be answered with a template, AutoCorrect or AutoText.
Don’t forget to mention OS name, LO version and save format. An idea about your skill in formatting (styles vs. direct formatting) would also be useful.
Hello. I’ve looked everywhere and I don’t find how to edit the message. So I’m putting that information here.
I want to put “Name: Pepe Polo López” in the “Datos.odt” file in my USB memory at J:/Contrato/ directory, and to show “Name: Pepe Polo López” also inside the “Contrato.odt”, “Cláusulas especiales.odt” and the “Condiciones legales.odt” files too automatically, what are also inside that mentioned directory. I want NOT to have to type all the time the same data at every document. I’m talking about 30 times the same per paperwork. So I’m looking for some solution to this, is an almost daily headache to me.
I’ve looked to autotext but each time the work is done the data changes, so not something to store and recall each time in each “field” where it needs to be put. Also I’m looking to use it in different computers, so is not an option to have to use an specific computer for it every time.
I’m forced to use windows. I’ll use the version needed of LibreOffice for the task. I don’t know what is my skill in formating, to be sincere. I just know I’ve done some nice stuff and I’ve been using this for years.
Thank you in advance.
There are two ways to do it if you “only” want to include contents of Datos.odt in new documents. Contents of Datos.odt is used like it is formatted there.
If data is used as it is recorded at time of creation of the new document and will never be changed afterwards, simple Insert>Text from File to incorporate contents into the new document. If contents is styled (formatted with paragraph and character styles), the look will be governed by style configuration in the new document and thus be consistent visually.
If your Datos.odt does not change too often, you can write it in a template document (caution! this is a special type of Writer document with extension .ott). The new document is created by launching the template. All styles and initial contents are copied into the new document which becomes an Untitled.odt (avoiding the risk of overwriting the template).
If you change later the template contents, the new contents is not transferred to existing documents, preserving their state.
In this case, every time you open the document, you get the current contents of Datos.odt. This relies on the master document feature. The “receiving” document is created with New>Master Document. It contains standard text and references to other .odt (called sub-documents) whose contents is dynamically displayed.
It is frequently used to build contracts by referencing company-approved clauses. Each clause or clause variant is a separate file.
“Data is dynamic” part sounds great for my situation, could you please elaborate a bit so I can start testing it? Formatting would be the same in all documents and the parts are only common basic text strings, so I understand it shouldn’t be a problem.
In my situation is not rare to have to fix errors that affect like 10 documents, so it can be considered as “dynamic”.
You are helping me a lot just letting me know there are ways of working around this thing. Thank you very much.
The master document is the one you work upon. This is where you type specific text.
Sub-documents are secondary, auxiliary documents to be bound with the master. Consider sub-docs are kind of pre-printed pages you insert where appropriate in the master.
You’ll find detailed information in the Writer Guide.
Welcome leondante,
the UserFieldsMgr extension might be useful in your situation.
Open the first file, then, using the extension, save the fields to a CSV file (Export to CSV option at the bottom).
Open the other documents and, using the Import from CSV option, get the fields back into the other ones.
I’d suggest working on document copies, though, before validating the process.
Hello and thank you for these ideas. Sound like a good option, I’m giving it a try and I’m letting you know if it worked properly.
Thank you.