How do I convert HTML Templates to Word Templates?

Why would I convert from HTML to Wordlink? 

HTML is extremely unforgiving.  If you get one symbol or character out of place it can cause major issues and is very hard to identify what is causing the issue.  Event experts in HTML have to spend time pouring over the code to identify one out of place or missing character.  

Wordlink is simple compared to HTML.  It's basically the same as editing a Word document (please see Microsoft Word tips if you need any help using Microsoft Word, although Microsoft forums are usually the best place to start).  

Additionally, each time you edit an HTML template, it leaves excess code in the background which will eventually start to cause issues. 

What is the difference? 

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is what web pages are built on.  It was the only option at the beginning of Expert Agent to allow the pulling of information from Expert Agent into Templates, but now technology has moved forward, Word can now work in the same way using similar merge codes to pull information into the documents.   

So will all my templates work in Word after converting them? 

Sadly, the answer is no.  Reports still need to be done in HTML, as do e-mails.  The reason for this is that they work in a different way.  

How do I convert my HTML Templates into Wordlink? 

Firstly, it must be noted that we strongly recommend starting from scratch and NOT using the method shown below as you will almost always achieve better results starting from scratch.

1. Open your HTML template (from Tools -> Configuration -> Output Config -> Templates).  Find your template in the list and click the "Edit" button next to it.  Then click the "Edit Content" button.  

2. Make sure you are in the Design Tab (1).  

3. Copy the entire area and paste into a blank word document.  

4. You then need to change the brackets of the Merge Codes.  HTML uses [ and ] whereas Wordlink using { and }.  There is an easy way to do this.  

5. Click Find and Replace (use CTRL+F on your Keyboard and click into the Replace option) 

6. In the top "Find box" put the [ symbol

7. In the bottom "Replace" box put a {

8. Then click Replace All 

9. You will then need to do steps 5 - 8 using ] and } instead.  

The template is now editable within Word, and most of the merge codes will work.  However, there will be some that don't due to the wording being slightly different.  The easiest way to identify these is to upload the template and try to using it.  

The Merge Code that are still showing will need to be highlighted and replaced using the merge codes for Word. (Editing letters using EA data) 

There is not a perfect way, but it does get the bulk of the HTML templates over to Word and save a little time.  

REMEMBER this is only a quick guide to try and help you save time.  They will not be final copied and you will still need to edit them to a degree to make them fully usable.