Request: A bank specializing in the trade of securities uses a host-based word processor with a large number of automated documents, which need to be migrated to PC-systems due to the Euro introduction in 1999. Document output is not restricted to one document, but to a set of documents, which are generated from the user-input depending on the business case (e.g. contract, attached letter for the client, reply form, internal memo with business case data - all printed in one print job on different paper trays).
Project cycle: After the pilot study a migration is planned to use a combination of Visual Basic 6.0 programs together with Microsoft Office 97 to generate the complex documents. My role was to analyze of the existing document assemblies and the development of the layout- and printing procedures in the Word/VBA-part of the project. Since 2000 I am supporting the client in the maintenance of the existing application and the creation of new document assemblies relying on the original architecture, which is now working with Windows XP and Office 2003. Document layouts have undergone two rebrandings.
Request: In the legal department of a bank, large contracts need to be assembled from textblocks and variables. Maintenance of the textblocks should be done at the department level, and not by IT administrators.
Solution: A Word AddIn is enabled on department level and contains the requested functionality. The user can select documents in a tree view (explorer view). Either the plain document is generated immediately from a template, or a dialog shows up to provide the missing data. The department can edit the document repository and the configuration file of the selection dialog.