how can I merge multiple word documents?

I don't know how to do combine multiple doucments in the Mac version of Word.

Insert (as described above) allows you only one document at a time.

However, you could use the Automator app to create a workflow to do it.

First launch Automator (in your applications folder) and choose to create a Workflow.

Add the following Actions:

From the Files & Folders Library drag in Ask for Finder Items

From the Documents Library drag in Combine Word Documents.

Now when you run your workflow it will first ask you to choose the Word documents you want to combine. Shift click or Command click to select multiple documents. Click the choose button and Automator should complete the task creating a new Word document with all the other document inside of it.

Matt

I'm running OS X 10.8.3, Automator 2.3 and Word: Mac 2011

I've got this set up and it says that it completes successfully, however, I'm never able to open or locate the resulting file. Clicking on the resulting file (here Document8), doesn't do anything. Any suggestions?

I was able to get this to merge PDF files successfully, but the Word docs continue to elude.

almyton,

I had the same problem as you-- I couldn't see any resulting file. I added the additional action "Save Word Documents" which I found in the same "Documents" section where "Combine Word Documents" was. This now works for me.

Assuming you're using Word:Mac 2011...

Merging documents is used for comparing two documents, like an original draft versus an revisions.

It will flag the changes made to the document and identify the user that made the changes.

Is that what you're trying to do?

Or are you just trying to combine the contents of various document into a single document? For that you would use Insert>File.

Matt

Carlilee wrote:

Might be an language translation thing calling comparing documents, merging!

No. It's confusing.

I think at one time Merge was called Compare - which makes a lot more sense. It's also easy to confuse with Mail Merge which is a whole different thing.

Anyway, you're welcome. I'm glad I could help.

Post back if you have any other quesitons.

Matt

Hi All,

I'm trying to use this Insert>file... technique to merge multiple documents into one. But it only lets me highlight one at a time. I have multiple discs full of files that have to be merged. Is there someway I can highlight, say, 50 docs at a time and have them merge into one?

Giles

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the quick reply. I tried it, but got an error message saying Combine Word Documents Failed (1 error), Microsoft Word Got an Error - Can't Make Class Document (-2710).

I'm running OS 10.6.8, Word 11, Automator 2.1.1.

Giles

Giles,

That error message is indicating that one of the documents you've selected is not a Word document or is otherwise not compatible with Word. Maybe a PDF or JPEG slipped into your selection somewhere?

I know the workflow works as I tested it out before posting.

Matt

Message was edited by: Matthew Morgan

Yes, it looks like a nifty solution, and I'm sure it usually works.

My files are letters that were written on previous computers. The oldest ones were originally written in XyWrite on PCs. Others were written in previous versions of Word. Earlier today, however, I painstakingly opened all the ones that didn't have Word icons using TextEdit where necessary and did a Save As Word Document. I believe all of them will open with Word at this point.

I just tried it again, selecting documents from a different folder--items that were originally created in Word for Mac and have the Word icon in the Folder. Got the same error message.

I'm thinking about buying DocMerge for $15.00 which is meant to do this one thing of merging many Word files into one. But I'm thinking it might well run into the same problem.

gblunt99 wrote:

Earlier today, however, I painstakingly opened all the ones that didn't have Word icons using TextEdit where necessary and did a Save As Word Document. I believe all of them will open with Word at this point.

That could be the problem.

In my test I used about 20 Word documents from Word 97 on.

The Action says it requires "files of type .docx, .doc, .txt, .rtf, .htm, and .html".

I don't know what to say about the DocMerge app. It could very well have the same issue.

Matt

Message was edited by: Matthew Morgan

Yes, I did. Not sure what to say about that.

Here's a screen shot of my workflow and log indicating completion. As I said it was about 20 or so Word documents.

Matt

Thanks Matthew. That worked like a charm for me to merge about 20 Word documents into one big searchable file. One tiny tweak to your step-by step instructions.

From the Files & Folders Library drag in Ask for Finder Items

>>NEW>> In "Ask for Finder Items" window, click "Allow Multiple Selection".

From the Documents Library drag in Combine Word Documents.

You do so in your screen capture image, but just wanted to add this to your instructions. Otherwise you cannot select more than one docs at a time.

Yes, that's correct about Allow Multiple Documents.

I've had no trouble with this workflow (now that I'm just doing Word docs, as opposed to works converted fromXyWrite to TextEdit to Word). Truly an elegant little maneuver.

Tawmis, I believe it combines them in whatever order they are when you highlight them. So, arrange them in a folder in the order you want and then run the workflow.

Cheers, all.

I am trying to combine two files in Word2011 but every time I do, it seems to screw up the formatting. I am basically combining a front sheet and report with a candidates CV, I have tried removing all formatting for the CV and then copy and pasting it in, but that doesn't work either. Short of typing in the CV into the report page, I just can't see what to do.

Any help at all, would be gratefully received.

Thanks
Sean