Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Software Query

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    172
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts

    Software Query

    Hi all,

    I'm looking to find some software to duplicate a txt file 100+ times, but with each txt file one containing a slightly altered body of text. I have an spreadsheet listing the variables (names & domains), but I'm lost as to the sort of software I'd need to create the individual files. I was considering using MS Word for the mail merge function, but thus far I've had no luck with it.

    Any suggestions would be appreciated.

    cheers


    tcqi

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Posts
    4,825
    Thanks
    161
    Thanked
    358 times in 288 posts
    • badass's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P8Z77-m pro
      • CPU:
      • Core i5 3570K
      • Memory:
      • 32GB
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 850 EVO, 2TB WD Green
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Radeon RX 580
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX520W
      • Case:
      • Silverstone SG02-F
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 X64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Del U2311, LG226WTQ
      • Internet:
      • 80/20 FTTC

    Re: Software Query

    Quote Originally Posted by =TcQi= View Post
    Hi all,

    I'm looking to find some software to duplicate a txt file 100+ times, but with each txt file one containing a slightly altered body of text. I have an spreadsheet listing the variables (names & domains), but I'm lost as to the sort of software I'd need to create the individual files. I was considering using MS Word for the mail merge function, but thus far I've had no luck with it.

    Any suggestions would be appreciated.

    cheers


    tcqi
    Are you prepared to learn something new?
    Vbscript can do that but you'll need to set aside a couple of weeks to learn enough to start writing scripts like that.
    "In a perfect world... spammers would get caught, go to jail, and share a cell with many men who have enlarged their penises, taken Viagra and are looking for a new relationship."

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    172
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts

    Re: Software Query

    Thanks for the reply. Unless anyone can suggest a simpler alternative, I'll go with the vbscript. Given this would be the first time I've attempted to write a script/code, do you think vbscript is an suitable language to start with?

  4. #4
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    37
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    2 times in 2 posts

    Re: Software Query

    I would use VB script. You can litterally write it in notepad and just save it as a .vb file.

    Make your variable something like $var$ and just do a replace function on the file contents and save it back to disk. Not too hard if you have done a bit of scripting before.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    269
    Thanks
    45
    Thanked
    30 times in 26 posts
    • cookie365's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus H87M Plus
      • CPU:
      • i3 4340
      • Memory:
      • 2x Kingston HyperX 4Gb
      • Storage:
      • 250Gb Samsung SSD 840 EVO + Seagate 1TB + WD Green 2TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Whatever comes with the i3
      • PSU:
      • bequiet StraightPower 600
      • Case:
      • Aquacool Dead Silence
      • Operating System:
      • W10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Rectangular
      • Internet:
      • Cable

    Re: Software Query

    What was the problem with Word mail merge? That's should do the job in minutes.

  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    172
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts

    Re: Software Query

    Thanks for the replies. cookie365 - I couldn't set word to produce the output as individual text files. I have MS visio on order and am doing some background reading in the meantime.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    269
    Thanks
    45
    Thanked
    30 times in 26 posts
    • cookie365's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus H87M Plus
      • CPU:
      • i3 4340
      • Memory:
      • 2x Kingston HyperX 4Gb
      • Storage:
      • 250Gb Samsung SSD 840 EVO + Seagate 1TB + WD Green 2TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Whatever comes with the i3
      • PSU:
      • bequiet StraightPower 600
      • Case:
      • Aquacool Dead Silence
      • Operating System:
      • W10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Rectangular
      • Internet:
      • Cable

    Re: Software Query

    Yes, you'd have to export to a single Word document saved as txt format. If you add a piece of trigger text to the end of the main document you can then feed it through an off the shelf txt file splitter. You could even e clever and put the filename within the trigger as a mergefield:

    blah blah blah <<merge1>>
    blah blah blah <<merge1>>

    ///~~~CUTHERE
    <<mergefilename>>
    ###\\\ENDCUT

    Might be the sort of thing you could do with Autohotkey. In fact, it might be the sort of thing that the old hands on the Autohotkey forum might even try to solve for you because it's an interesting exercise

    Incidentally, Visio? How will that help?

  8. Received thanks from:

    =TcQi= (26-11-2009)

  9. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    172
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts

    Re: Software Query

    Good spot - Visio is completely the wrong software. I should have put Visual Studio Pro 2008. Perhaps I should have done the reading before ordering the software.

    Thanks for the AutohotKey tip - I'll have a look later tonight.

  10. #9
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    172
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts

    Re: Software Query

    Heya cookie,

    Thanks the the heads up on AutoHotKey - it proved to be the solution. A very useful bit of software, and as you suggested the forums had a wealth of applicable info and examples. Again many thanks!

  11. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    269
    Thanks
    45
    Thanked
    30 times in 26 posts
    • cookie365's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus H87M Plus
      • CPU:
      • i3 4340
      • Memory:
      • 2x Kingston HyperX 4Gb
      • Storage:
      • 250Gb Samsung SSD 840 EVO + Seagate 1TB + WD Green 2TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Whatever comes with the i3
      • PSU:
      • bequiet StraightPower 600
      • Case:
      • Aquacool Dead Silence
      • Operating System:
      • W10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Rectangular
      • Internet:
      • Cable

    Re: Software Query

    Quote Originally Posted by =TcQi= View Post
    Heya cookie,

    Thanks the the heads up on AutoHotKey - it proved to be the solution. A very useful bit of software, and as you suggested the forums had a wealth of applicable info and examples. Again many thanks!
    Glad to be able to help

  12. #11
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    172
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts

    Re: Software Query

    Having since completed the original task, I happened to stumble across a add-on for MS Word that allows the user to do separate a mail merge into individual text files. It also allows you to choose the file name for each file.

    http://www.gmayor.com/individual_merge_letters.htm


    Also detailed on this site are a set of macros that allow the user to preform the same functions, albeit with greater control over the final product.

  13. Received thanks from:

    cookie365 (30-01-2010)

  14. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    269
    Thanks
    45
    Thanked
    30 times in 26 posts
    • cookie365's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus H87M Plus
      • CPU:
      • i3 4340
      • Memory:
      • 2x Kingston HyperX 4Gb
      • Storage:
      • 250Gb Samsung SSD 840 EVO + Seagate 1TB + WD Green 2TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Whatever comes with the i3
      • PSU:
      • bequiet StraightPower 600
      • Case:
      • Aquacool Dead Silence
      • Operating System:
      • W10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Rectangular
      • Internet:
      • Cable

    Re: Software Query

    Thanks for posting that =TcQi= that looks seriously useful

  15. #13
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    2,129
    Thanks
    13
    Thanked
    189 times in 160 posts

    Re: Software Query

    sounds like a job for a little shell script + sed.

    get cygwin installed

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. GPS Query TomTom v3/XL & Talex TT
    By rabbid in forum Automotive
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 05-11-2007, 07:42 AM
  2. Fax Software - Automate Receive and print?
    By sybrows in forum Software
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 09-02-2007, 06:09 PM
  3. Is anti virus software worth it?
    By ives in forum Software
    Replies: 70
    Last Post: 17-08-2005, 06:43 PM
  4. EU Software Patents: The Times' Take
    By Steve in forum HEXUS News
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-07-2005, 02:47 PM
  5. EU Parliament says no to software patent law
    By Steve in forum HEXUS News
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-07-2005, 03:28 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •