Word Automation Multi page report based on a single template with bookmarks

Question

Word Automation Multi page report based on a single template with bookmarks

Nigel Hall 5

I have a single page template for producing a register of directors of a company. The template has several bookmarks for placing name, address, etc. If a company has more than one director I want to output each director on a separate page. At the end of the first page I insert a section break and insert a new template but the second director's details are added to the first page. Is there a way to force the data onto the second template? I've tried collapsing the data and selecting the last character of the active document before inserting the new template but to no avail. Any help appreciated.

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Nigel Hall 5

Problem solved by deleting all bookmarks before inserting the second template. Thanks for the assistance.

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Answer 1

Charles Kenyon 171.3K Volunteer Moderator

Hello Nigel,

While "template" has the meaning you are using in English, in Word jargon, it means a particular kind of file with a .dotx or .dotm filename extension. Here is my page on Templates in Microsoft Word. https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/templates.htm They are an incredibly powerful tool.

However, I think you mean a pattern.

I would suggest one of two methods.

Mail Merge - either letter which gives a separate page for each or catalog/directory which can give a list, perhaps in a table. Keep your data about the directors in a separate file, usually Excel.
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/mail-merge-using-an-excel-spreadsheet-858c7d7f-5cc0-4ba1-9a7b-0a948fa3d7d3
https://www.msofficeforums.com/mail-merge/38721-microsoft-word-catalogue-directory-mailmerge-tutorial.html
AutoText / Quick Parts - store your "template" as a Building Block, perhaps with Content Controls for the data.
You could set the paragraph formatting for the first paragraph of the Building Block to have a page break before. This would put it on a new page.
https://gregmaxey.com/word_tip_pages/building_blocks_autotext.html
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-reusable-text-snippets-0bc40cab-f49c-4e06-bcb2-cd43c1674d1b
https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/autotextautocorrect.htm#Saving_AutoText
https://gregmaxey.com/word_tip_pages/content_controls.html

You would want to use Content Controls rather than bookmarks because bookmark names must be unique in a document.

Nigel Hall 5 Reputation points

2026-10-01T13:03:56.26+00:00

Thanks Charles but no I meant "Template" as in a dotx file. I am trying to produce a multi page report using a single page 'template' from an Access database using Word Automation in vba something I have done many times before. Page 1 works fine but page 2 overwrites it.
Charles Kenyon 171.3K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-10-02T04:09:56.81+00:00
Hi Nigel,

Bookmarks must have unique names, meaning the same bookmark cannot be used in multiple places in a document. Content Controls need not have unique names and can be repeated as many times as you want in a document.

You can store a building block with your pattern in your template and use automation to insert it.

It is important that you learn to use the paragraph formatting of "Page Break before" to be at the start of each additional director. Ideally, this will be part of a paragraph style rather than directly formatted.

You can use Mail Merge with Access data. Your template would be the primary merge document; your Access data would be the secondary data source.

I am not at all knowledgeable about Access even though I've owned it as a part of Office for more than thirty years. Every time I get started on it, something draws me away from the project.

Here are some additional links:

https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/forms.htm

https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/stylesImportance.htm

https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/autotextautocorrect.htm#StoreBuildingBlocks

https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/autotextautocorrect.htm#UsingVBABuildingBlock

Someone else may be able to assist you with your vba code. You would need to actually share the code and possibly some sample documents. You may want to take a look at the resources at https://www.msofficeforums.com/word-vba/. A number of top-notch programmers contribute there who are very familiar with Office and Word. It is not a Microsoft site but is free and has great content. As a matter of etiquette, if you post something there, please link back to this question and put a link to your new question in a comment here.

I recommend strongly against inserting direct page breaks when paragraph formatting as part of a style is much more elegant. Learn to use styles in developing Word templates.