How to implement templates under the "Write" category in ACT

[bcmstech]

I have a folder full of templates that were used in the previous version of ACT.  How do I add them to my current version.  I can click "Write" > "Other Document (from template)" > and then access the template, however, no information is populating once the document opens.

Thank You,

Ryan

[jonmklub]

if the templates came from a really old version like ACT 6, they need to have the fields added again.  You would just open them up with write, edit template, and replace the old fields with new ones.  Otherwise, there could be something wrong with the templates. Either way, adding in the fields back in should fix this. 

Alternatively, you could create a new template, past in the text from your old templates and re add the fields.  This would most likely get rid of any garbage that is keeping them from working.

[bcmstech]

This is what's appearing...

Everything else is there, the body, my signature, etc.

[mscott821]

I don't do much with word processor templates anymore, however...

Those merge codes are not like the ones for ACT! 2012 with Word...

Any chance that you had previously been using ACT! word processor?

Your templates have square brackets - [[contact]]

My Word templates have <contact>

[bcmstech]

That is entirely possible.  I tested changing the brackets, but that didn't have an effect at all.

Thanks for your help.

Ryan

[mscott821]

Yeah, seems to me we ran into a similar situation and you can't just do that.

You most likely will need to manually update the merge fields replacing old ones with correct Word ones.  I believe this is because there is "code" behind the scenes that you cannot see, which is why you can't simply replace brackets with <>s.

Don't think there is converter from ACT! word processor to Word.

You might attempt switching back to the ACT! word processor and see if they work as a test (In Tools-> Preferences -> Communication Tab).  This would at least answer the question of what happened.

Also, if you haven't already, prior to testing, you may have to convert the templates from ACT! 3.0- 6 to current, also in Tools menu.

[jonmklub]

Try the demo database, it is going to be the best way to eliminate the potential that the problem is caused by bad templates.